I earned my MS degree for aquatic biology at CMU Mt Pleasant and I am familiar with the area. In Beaverton MI Several very important things come into play for trout surviving year round in the new pond. All items will be important for trout success during mid-summer and winters having significant snow cover.
1. The percentage of pond area that is 20ft deep. The more deep water 18ft-20ft there is in the pond the longer the dissolved oxygen will last each year. Consider making 20%-25% or more of the basin 20-25 ft deep.
2. Average annual water clarity. Buy or build a Secchi disk, learn how to use it. Use it monthly during open water season esp Jun, Jul, Aug. Record or document (computer) the Secchi readings. In your situation when the Secchi disk is 8ft to 10ft your trout will survive year round. You need the water clarity for dissolved oxygen (DO) production below the thermocline in the cold water basin.
3. Amount of tree leaf litter that enters the pond each year. Generally the more leaves into the pond the less chance of trout surviving especially longer than 5-8 years. As tree leaf organics accumulate over the years in the basin the more loss of dissolved oxygen will occur in the deep colder basin during the year; esp mid summer when water is the warmest. It is all about biochemical oxygen demand. Lots of leaf litter in the pond significantly increases the chances winter kill as the tree leaves accumulate after the first 3-5 years.
4. Mid-summer air temperatures. Warm spells can occur even in mid-MI. When air temps are above 78F there is more chance of trout dying in the deep water.
I would not use bottom aeration in the pond during summer. Shallow (5-7ft) bottom aeration could be beneficial during winter with long weeks of snow cover. When the Secchi disk readings over time are less than 6 ft it will be beneficial to have bottom aeration for other cool water fish survival such as yellow perch, smallmouth bass, walleye. IMO you will be able to get trout to survive year round for the first year or two. Then after year 2 all the above four factors become more much important for trout to survive year round.
It will be very informative and helpful to all of us if you come back to this PBoss forum thread of Types of Fish To Choose and keep us updated about your success with trout in Mid-Michigan. This will be your payment to the forum for receiving the free trout raising information. Also include where you bought the trout and the species that you used for stocking. Thanks.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 07/19/24 09:42 PM.
