Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction What did you do at your pond today?

If there is a bright side to it the beavers and raccoons are not picky or wary of any kind of human scent like say a coyote or something.

I hear beaver soup is really tasty, especially before the bloated phase sets in.

Went fishing.

I took the loader tractor to the back to see about bringing up some dirt for the finish grade on my pond dam.

I barely made it out. I'll try again in a week or so unless it rains first.

Diffusers are getting cleaned today. It's not quite time to turn the air back on but I want everything to be ready when it is time.
I purged the water from the air line yesterday. Need to plumb in the new OPV (thanks esshup). I'm gonna need to buy
a new pressure gauge. When the air line froze up back in the winter it tweaked the old one. Now it won't drop to zero
when the compressor is shut off.

Ponds are much like boats. Holes where we throw our money. lol

Augie, will your over-pressure valve let you know if it squeaked open to relieve pressure? (There are lots of different types.)

I think it would be good to know if your system is approaching danger.

esshup that is a dandy YP!! a 15" YP in a public BOW would be close to a record in our states no?

Fishin Rod, are you in South Central Ks. ? Winfield / Arkansas City Area ?

I don't know. This was in a customers pond.

Out near Kingman. About 35" west of Wichita.

I do have a good buddy with a nice pond out by Winfield though.

Kingman works also, did you know Herb Cochran, State Trooper, stationed at Kingman, 30 years, wife was Patty.

Herb was born / raised at Winfield , Patty at Ark City.

I don't think I have met him?

Many years ago, Kingman County used to be notorious for the their speed traps. I always drive the limit there and literally have tried to stay off of his radar!

Retired 20 years ago. A small world , constantly seeing contributors to the threads , from places I have friends and/or family.
God bless, on this Holy Day.

Happy Easter, everyone.

Got to feed the last three days at the neighborhood pond. Ambient temps were low to mid 50's, so not as warm as I'd like, but the fish are all expecting feed now.

Today, I'm stunned again by the size of some of my GSH population. I swear I'm seeing like 8-9" length on some of them. These larger GSH eat Optimal Bass sized pellets.

Yesterday I had a nice big SMB, mebbe 16" long, come up and take pellets along with the YP and BGxRES. A rare treat. (For me, not the Smallie - he/she's been eating sinking pellets for a month and a half.)

Theos, what's the biggest SMB you grew in your pond?

I will check my records tonight.

With that much meaty forage, hopefully some kid will catch a pond record this year of one of your sport fish!

My creek went dry last year during the drought, but started running again this winter after the hard frost shut down all of the plants taking water from the aquifer.

A few small rains this spring, and it is really flowing well now.

Peeked into the deepest pool and it is already full of fish. The biggest are 4-5# and look to be some type of sucker fish (not common carp). I definitely need to get some on the bank and identify the species.

Questions: Any tips on catching them on rod and reel? (The pool is a little too deep to easily seine.)

Are they decent fish to eat? Some people on the internet say "yes", but some people on the internet are also nuts.

Thanks, FishinRod

Try a piece of worm on a #10 or #12 hood, no swivel, split shot on the line to keep it near the bottom and to slow it's movement in the current. Take pictures to post for an ID if you can't figure them out.

The pond record for SMB is 18", 3 lbs 8 oz.

I have a customer catching 9"-10" , measured GSH this spring, I caught 9" last fall. They love my Optimal BG . Hoping for a huge spawn this year. Lots of Skunk weed on bottom, a carpet, hoping it's good for GSH eggs. Transferred 45#'s in 2 groups in 2020 , been catching on hooks since 2022 , 5"-6" the first ones, was a shock when I caught my 1st one while RBT fishing. Originally stocked 2"ers. Oklahoma state record shows to be 5.28 Oz. Length not shown. May have to start weighing my 10"ers.

I think selling tinned "freshwater sardines" could be a nice side hustle for you!

Thanks esshup.

They have a funny behavior that indicates they are some type of schooling fish.

When I quietly walk up to the creek edge, the LMB and GSF barely react if I move slowly enough.

These sucker fish (and the bullheads when they are in the deep pools) all swirl around rapidly in a single mass at the deepest part of the pool. Looks to me just like the ocean schooling fish that exhibit that protective behavior.

I definitely want to identify them correctly. It is impressive how quickly they start working upstream when the water starts moving again in the tiny, shallow creeks!

hmmm , Fresh water sardines , maybe premium price while their color is bright gold. No, prefer the big SMB that are fattening up on them.

I would think you'd be able to grow some bigger and longer than that. Not that 18" isn't a sweet smallie.