Day, don’t use fresh or green oak. It contains tannic acid that leaches out and is highly poisonous. (Tanins).

When I first impounded water in my 2 to 3 acre pond, we knocked down some big oaks and piled them in the bottom. We got a big rain and the pond filled. I bought and stocked a lot of bluegills and fathead minnows. Also, a heckuva lot of crawdads.

Then, the crawdads started leaving the water. I found no fish activity in a couple of weeks. In other words, none came to pellets. The water turned black.

I tried an experiment. I soaked a piece of green oak in a bucket and added some minnows. Within a short time, they were all dead. I knew a Texas Parks and Wildlife guy that was involved in lakes and ponds. I called and told him about what happened. He had no idea. We ran another test by putting some minnows in a floating bucket in the black pond. just to prove it to him. Yep, they died within an hour.m

I expect you could use oak that has been dead and dried out. But, why take a chance? I now use a lot of cedars.

Last edited by Dave Davidson1; 02/15/22 06:19 PM.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP Grandpa