Well, they got me again. Went to fish the other day(I don’t live there) and couldn’t get a bite. Only a couple came to feed. I’ve been here before.
My own fault. I have Tposts driven around the pond and string line over the water to exclude the birds. This year I didn’t get around to it. A guy deer hunting on the place saw one land. Too dang late to fix my oversight.
In the spring I’ll add minnows and bluegills. Later some bass.
Lusk says kill off everything and do a total restart to get a balanced pond. I just cant do that.
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
Neighbor stopped by the other day and told me there was a Cormorant on the pond, took 17 shots with the .22, some very close to it to scare him off. The hatchery about 5 miles from me gets 50 tags a year to thin them out. Going to see if that option is available for private ponds.
It flew in today while I was down there at lunch thinning out the GSF to help my BG population get established. He landed then promptly flew off. I fired a warning shot just to make sure he knows he's not welcome. They can eat up to 1.5 pounds each per day, wouldn't take long to clean out a small pond.
Dave if you want more GSF I've still got plenty to spare They are fun for the Grandkids to catch but I want something we can eat. While reeling one in today I had a LMB grab it to eat, wish I would have had a Go Pro on to film it. Fun stuff!!
Largest one in the picture was 7 inches, 5 OZ
2 Acre, Completed July 2022, CC,BG, Sept. 2022, LMB June 2023, GSF, YBH invasion in 2022. BG, CNBG, RES, 2025, TP seasonal.
I heard those Cormorants send out scouts to make sure the new territory is safe, When the first one doesn’t come back home they get the message real quick .
17 shots and no hits? Time to hit the rifle range and sight that sucker in!
I believe that was 17 shots to deliberately scare rather than kill.
If so, then cormorants clearly don't mind a loud crack and a nearby splash.
I think a high-energy dog might be the best deterrent if you are not allowed any kill tags?
An 8 y.o. kid with a drone might also be a great deterrent if that is not some type of illegal harassment?
Absolutely correct Rod, I have a lifetime hunting and fishing license and no desire to lose it and get a big fine for a bird whose just trying to make a living.
I have a drone and use it at least 4 times a week to check cattle and film the pond but didn't think about using it for that purpose. Could save some ammo and not even have to leave the front yard.
Also have a Lab/Shepherd cross that would enjoy a swim and the chase. She is gun shy so no danger in ruining a good hunting dog.
EXCELLENT suggestions that fit my situation perfectly!!!
2 Acre, Completed July 2022, CC,BG, Sept. 2022, LMB June 2023, GSF, YBH invasion in 2022. BG, CNBG, RES, 2025, TP seasonal.
when they start showing up at my house/pond I pull out the shotgun and shoot all around them - they get the message and after a few times they move on to other ponds - hate those suckers for sure
It's unfortunate that bird was a non-target victim of that conibear. I suppose accidents happen.
A trotline set in an appropriate location of a pond probably would be a fun fishing adventure right now. Fun story. I grew up fishing the Arkansas River. It's shallow so we always waded it. Best place to set a trotline was behind an underwater sandbar. One fall we had one set in about 2ft of water and had been doing well with 1-2lb channel cats on it. One morning we showed up and there were a couple of pelicans hooked on it. THOSE ARE BIG BIRDS! And they can beat the living crap out of a 10yr old with their wings. We eventually got them unhooked and they flew off seemingly no worse for the wear, but holy crap I was bruised and sore!
It's unfortunate that bird was a non-target victim of that conibear. I suppose accidents happen.
A trotline set in an appropriate location of a pond probably would be a fun fishing adventure right now. Fun story. I grew up fishing the Arkansas River. It's shallow so we always waded it. Best place to set a trotline was behind an underwater sandbar. One fall we had one set in about 2ft of water and had been doing well with 1-2lb channel cats on it. One morning we showed up and there were a couple of pelicans hooked on it. THOSE ARE BIG BIRDS! And they can beat the living crap out of a 10yr old with their wings. We eventually got them unhooked and they flew off seemingly no worse for the wear, but holy crap I was bruised and sore!
The Arkansas river used to backflow into my pond.. That is until I blocked off the inlet pipe. Bunch of nasty fish got in over time
I have 8 or 10 cedars, about 8 to 10 ft tall, laid in the water around the pond for small fish protection and structure. That evidently wasn’t enough or the fish didn’t get there.
Lusk once told me that I might as well rotenone the whole thing and start over. I can’t do that.
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
Feel for ya DD1. I know you have been praying rain on that pond for ages and now fish poaching birds adding to the challenges. Finger crossed there's a remaining resident population that will reward you with a bounty of spawns!
1.5acre LMB, YP, BG, RES, GSH, Seasonal Tilapia I subscribe to Pond Boss Magazine
It's unfortunate that bird was a non-target victim of that conibear. I suppose accidents happen.
A trotline set in an appropriate location of a pond probably would be a fun fishing adventure right now. Fun story. I grew up fishing the Arkansas River. It's shallow so we always waded it. Best place to set a trotline was behind an underwater sandbar. One fall we had one set in about 2ft of water and had been doing well with 1-2lb channel cats on it. One morning we showed up and there were a couple of pelicans hooked on it. THOSE ARE BIG BIRDS! And they can beat the living crap out of a 10yr old with their wings. We eventually got them unhooked and they flew off seemingly no worse for the wear, but holy crap I was bruised and sore!
The Arkansas river used to backflow into my pond.. That is until I blocked off the inlet pipe. Bunch of nasty fish got in over time
I grew up in Ark City near a large pond called 6th Street Pond (it's now called Veterans Pond). When I was a kid the Arkansas would flood into it once in a while. It would get large schools of gizzard shad (as well as drum, gar, and carp). Bass fishing around the schools of shad was some amazing fishing!
It's unfortunate that bird was a non-target victim of that conibear. I suppose accidents happen.
A trotline set in an appropriate location of a pond probably would be a fun fishing adventure right now. Fun story. I grew up fishing the Arkansas River. It's shallow so we always waded it. Best place to set a trotline was behind an underwater sandbar. One fall we had one set in about 2ft of water and had been doing well with 1-2lb channel cats on it. One morning we showed up and there were a couple of pelicans hooked on it. THOSE ARE BIG BIRDS! And they can beat the living crap out of a 10yr old with their wings. We eventually got them unhooked and they flew off seemingly no worse for the wear, but holy crap I was bruised and sore!
The Arkansas river used to backflow into my pond.. That is until I blocked off the inlet pipe. Bunch of nasty fish got in over time
I grew up in Ark City near a large pond called 6th Street Pond (it's now called Veterans Pond). When I was a kid the Arkansas would flood into it once in a while. It would get large schools of gizzard shad (as well as drum, gar, and carp). Bass fishing around the schools of shad was some amazing fishing!
We had a few of those carp and gizzard shad wash into the pond, they create a mess
![[Linked Image from i.pinimg.com]](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ed/b5/e7/edb5e7f935843b996cf52be593c9ebd2--smoothie-smooth-collie.jpg)
They are fun for the Grandkids to catch but I want something we can eat. While reeling one in today I had a LMB grab it to eat, wish I would have had a Go Pro on to film it. Fun stuff!!
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