What would prevent a small LMB from swimming in, liking what it saw, and staying in the area, possibly growing larger than what could fit through the net to swim back out?
Just saying that because I have had small BG swim into cages that I hold fish in, and stay long enough to be too large to swim out.....
What you are proposing would work, but it wouldn't be 100% foolproof.
Foolproof? Ha! Nothing we do is... That's the fun of it! If it was easy...everyone would be doing it!
This is a yellow perch/ stocked RBT pond. Theoretically, none of the RBT or adult YP should fit. Obviously yoy YP will get in.
I'm planning to take some plastic shelves I have ( 2'x3') attach a 2'x3' 2" thick foam board on top for floatation. Cover it with a natural looking outdoor carpet ( got the idea from the turtle structure thread) The netting will be over the foam board, but under the carpet and drape down at least 4 feet. The edge of the net where it meets bottom I will zip tie old garden hose filled with sand to hold it on bottom until I get it sealed at the bottom with pond bottom clay, etc. The bottom of the plastic shelving has many rectangular boxes (to add strength and prevent sagging in its intended purpose) that look to be perfect FHM spawning structure. It would be easy to zip tie 4" black plastic drain tile sections for additional paternity wards underneath as well. My hope is that at least some FHM will be protected and bleed forage through this to the pond through the growing season. Better than the YP and RBT having a FHM spring blowout then little except yoy perch. I will be supplemental feeding as well.
Plan B is placing the FHM structure in a corner of the pond, then the netting across from dam to shore, this would leave about a 16' (net)x 16' (shore)x16' (dam) protected triangular cove to give the minnows a relatively safe place to procreate. If it appears to help with forage supply to the pond, I can duplicate it in the other corner next spring.
We have a LONG winter. Stuff like this helps keep the hope of Spring alive!
Just curious if it's already been tried. I'm sure it probably has but couldn't locate anything.
