Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Fish Hotels

I'm making some habitat for the small fish with the goal of increasing their survival rate to grow larger.

These are 4'X4'X2' I'm thinking of placing them about 10 feet from my spawning beds. This one is a test and fastened together with plastic zip ties. I will be using stainless steel cable ties for the final product. Any suggestions?

Looks good to me!

Are you trying to give a refuge to fish fry to reduce their predation losses?

Are you trying to provide a source and concentrator of small forage species for when you predator species start feeding on that food source?

I think your hotels might possibly work for both goals. Should be interesting to observe the future results with your drone videos.

Finally, you are creating lots of new surface area in your pond! Within one year, I suspect that plastic will have a solid coating of periphyton to supply the organisms that rely on that source for their sustenance.

Rough up the plastic for better periphyton growth and put a couple of cinder blocks on top to hold it down.

I use a cedar tree, about 8 or so ft tall, with a cinder block tied to the base. They last for years.

Yes to both, I'm no expert but I think the general growth rate for Bluegill in my area would allow them to be about 3 inches in a year. So if I can create habitat that will promote growth and shelter it's a win win.


That is my end goal, but for now I have to depend on Mother nature to supply the water.

My wife keeps telling me "It's just not our turn yet, be patient" LOL Patience is not one of my traits.

I'm no expert but I think the general growth rate for Bluegill in my area would allow them to be about 3 inches in a year. So if I can create habitat that will promote growth and shelter it's a win win.
[/quote]

In your area you should get 5+ inches of growth in year one by well-conditioned BG in one year.

This BG (deep south with supp feeding) is about 10 - 12 mths old.

In your area you should get 5+ inches of growth in year one by well-conditioned BG in one year.

This BG (deep south with supp feeding) is about 10 - 12 mths old.[/quote]

Thanks, Nice CNBG. I stocked 100 4-5 inch CNBG about a month ago. They were $1.50 each.
LMB are a little over 2.5 # so hopefully they don't eat too many.

Hopefully those CNBG are already headed to the spawning beds, which is the BG's best strategy to long-term survival with hungry LMB.

Further, if your water level comes up soon, then hopefully the terrestrial weeds that become submerged will also help the survival rate of your fry and/or fingerlings.

I've got video of several on the beds, there are beds in several areas in the pond.

This LMB just cruises right past some eating size BG. EDIT - After looking closer this is a TGG, the tail is forked.

I've enjoyed your aerial videos; keep them coming!

Same! The drove video is awesome!

Nice drone work !