To much to type but long story short: Old 5 acre sand and gravel pit. Added 26 tons ag lime by barge March 10th. Started fertilizer (perfect pond)March 20th, water temp was mid 70's. Never could get secchi reading past 5 or 6 feet. Continued fertilizing at a high rate trying to get it past the 5-6 foot mark. Nice crop of FA in July. Stopped fertilizer, killed FA, and water cleared back up to around at least 7-8 feet during this time. Started back with fertilizer. Got bloom back to 5-6 feet, hit it again with fertilizer and a few days after this application water went back to 7-8 feet vis. The lake has gentle slopping banks so if I can't get a good bloom I'm just gonna grow FA.
I have no idea where to go from here. Simple pool test strips show around 7pH and 40PPM alkalinity. Not sure where to go from here. I have put a LOT of fertilizer in this spring and summer. Fish are doing well. I know cause I can see them! LOL Had at least 3 great BG spawns so far. Lake bottom is fairly clean, no dead trees, decaying material like leaves in the lake (don't know if this would help or hurt). Only a small amount of "muck". Before I started working on the lake in March it was swimming pool clear. We have had a lot of rain this year.
I'm not trying to grow trophy fish. Just want to have a nice place to fish and catch some LMB and BG.
Any thoughts? I am willing to answer any and all questions or provide as much detail as to what I have done to date. If there is an expert that is interested in discussing over the phone or email that would work too. I can send the notes I've kept since starting in March.
Thanks in advance!
Last edited by SteveC; 08/28/17 04:42 PM.
