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Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 32 Likes: 3
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Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 32 Likes: 3 |
Building a new trophy bass pond. 2.5 acres. All female. Low population. Would you use all artificial habitat (such as Mossback Fish Habitat) or real (such as uprooted oaks place in the new pond)? I keep telling myself the fish will use whatever I put in there. Seems like the artificial would be more angler friendly but I may be wrong about that. I’m specifically interested in what’s best for holding larger, older bass. Really enjoying this forum and everyone’s knowledge.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,555 Likes: 411
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,555 Likes: 411 |
I use cedar because I haves lot of them. They work.
Don’t use oaks. They have tanins which is lethal to fish. I found that out the hard way. To test for yourself, put a fresh cut piece of green oak in a bucket. The water will blacken and kill fish.
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
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 14,674 Likes: 509
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 14,674 Likes: 509 |
I use both. Plastic, concrete, and osage orange will all last longer than the pond. And for a scrounger (who owns about a mile of osage fence lines), they are all free.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling ![[Linked Image from i.pinimg.com]](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ed/b5/e7/edb5e7f935843b996cf52be593c9ebd2--smoothie-smooth-collie.jpg)
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,993 Likes: 1496
Moderator
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Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator
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Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,993 Likes: 1496 |
I would use a variety of habitat types. Variety creates diversity of forage. Diversity of forage grows fish. Anger friendly habitat IMO leads to more hook smart fish. An all female fish population has many benefits however it will be very vulnerable to creating hook smart fish. Have plans of how to deal with this definite problem. See lots of habitat and structure ideas in our Q&A Archives Thread. https://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92463#Post92463
Last edited by Bill Cody; 08/11/25 10:10 AM.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management
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