Thanks for the forage pond and rotenone information, Bill. That was my assumption on the reason for drawing down the pond, I was in a hurry and posted hastily. So it sounds like the rotenone plan may not provide much more benefit than trapping, since using it to remove all the GSF might not be a sure thing.
So I guess I better get to building some Z traps. I read somewhere that if you don't check your Z trap often enough, all the fish inside will find their way back out again. I hope this won't be an issue since our pond is 1 hr from our house, so we won't be there every weekend.
Goals were mentioned above. Since my main goal is a good YP fishery, I shouldn't have LMB. And if I don't have LMB, I'll have a harder time controlling the GSF with SMB alone. This is the thought process I've generated after all the posts I've read on the forum. The same reason I'm not introducing bluegills.
I'm hoping I'll be able to convince the gang to let me dig out a forage pond while we have the dozer next weekend, so at least we have the pond dug out if we decide to proceed further. I'd have to line it if I want it at a higher level than my main pond, but I could do that later.
Dumb question and I'm assuming it's a NO since I've never seen it mentioned
before - since the GSF like to hang out near the shore (and our pond currently has an overflowed shallow plateau on one end that I think most of the minnows and GSF congregate at) - would it be possible for me to electrofish them from shore with a generator and scoop them up? I know people do it from boats obviously, but I wonder if it could be effective from shore. I'd be willing to be the guinea pig and report back unless the consensus is a flat out NO.
Last edited by Angler8689; 06/15/24 08:41 PM.
