Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Lost time...

Hello mighty pond meisters.
I have been MIA for some time and wanted to follow up with things happening in my world.
As some of you know, I've had some issues with syncope. Countless neurologists, surgeons, Docs of all sorts have tested me in every way possible only to find I have a rare form of spinal stenosis that-until really bad-can't be surgically fixed, although I can function as my body allows.
This summer has been a fight in many ways and the reason I'm here is to explain how I ruined a great fishery in a fashion only I could manage.
I will start by saying if you feel you have a good handle on fish and pond management and also feel you have answers to why one thing works but another doesn't.... Be prepared to get schooled.
This summer I was going into my 8th year of focusing on the best SMB genetics I could raise, rinse and repeat.
In early April I noticed a floating, fresh-dead SMB of about 5lbs one day. Considering the possible age of some of my fish I was comfortable with seeing a few morts.
Over the next 60 days, I collected 67 adult SMB from 3 to 8lbs-nothing else, no YP no BG no SAE no RES no WAE, no small fish of any species during this time.
Over the next 20 days I collected another 9 SMB that averaged 3.97lbs each, then not another fish found.
So in 80 days from my HALF ACRE pond, I collected 345.24lbs of adult SMB that appeared in perfect condition.
I cannot begin to explain how many thousands I spent on testing at some of the best Universities in the nation to include USFWS.
Many theories erupted from several individuals involved in the hunt for the problem.
17 water samples were tested over the main part of the 80 day span. Every parameter we could test for on-site was done with some pretty serious equipment, the rest were sent to very well known locations to find the problem.
As some of you know, some parts of complex pathology, bacteria, viral, fungus testing can take months depending on the testing required.
At this time, the agencies and parties involved have tested and tested for every possible condition that CAN BE TESTED for, that is known in the industry at this time.
The final results from testing and countless hours of collaboration have been collected and reports have been received..
The findings you ask????????????????
NOTHING was detected in ANY of the 41 sample fish sent out.
NOTHING in any water sample was detected that was anywhere near any level of concern that would have affected only SMB.
Some of you can see this already...
I am the reason my fish died. I killed them with my mindful wisdom.
You CAN kill a fish that has a RW of 100-140 without it looking unhealthy at all.
In this half acre of water, I managed over 600lbs per acre-standing weight-of adult SMB right up to the point Mother Nature said no way, not any more.
Fast-forward to end of July...
Working on a few projects at fish farm one day, felt a jabbing pain in low gut, reached down to feel a baseball size blob of "something" under my shirt. It was my intestines.
I had a surgical procedure 21 years ago to repair an umbilical hernia. Well, sutures pulled out years ago, this time the mesh split along with my gut. Load up, head to hospital trying to figure out if I'm really going to make it there. Ended up in Denver for emergent care, found out infection had caused the main issue, so home I went all sewed up with a nice drain tube. 2 weeks later had to go back because infection had set in again and had surgery #3.
So now we are into last week of Aug, couldn't just stop there. If you don't want to read anymore of this, I don't blame you, but here's more....
In 9 days, I had 11.25" of rain. (ave moisture 13.9" annually). A bit of water-though very little-came over the berms because it couldn't drain around from my sediment traps quick enough.
Day 9 showed how it can rain 6.25" in less than 50 min.. Found my 16' alum boat 3-3/4 miles SE of my pond, 7.5hp Johnson on back has not been found yet. Texas Hunter LM 70 went about 65yds with 4 pieces of 6" diameter concreate with ready rod about 2.5'. Legs of feeder stayed on but no longer pristine condition.
2 400w solar panels, an Ingersoll Rand pump with 2 100Ah LiFePO4 batts all in the pond basin somewhere.
Found 1 dead 11lb grass carp, 2 YP, 1 Walleye and 1 RBT was all I found.
This doesn't count any of the 350,000 Saugeye I haven't been able to move in Nebraska yet.
My point is greed will get you nowhere, especially when you already know better but try it anyway.
I have single handedly ruined what I started by not being NEARLY as smart as I thought I was, I've had some great successes, and a few bad turns but this stupid, dumb, right in front of my face deal with the SMB will be the demise of my business.
I paid the ultimate dumb-tax, so when you get to thinking you might be pretty sharp, consider you might be in line for a very rude awakening.
Miss being here..
Best to all!

Good grief. My condolences.

So sorry Kenny on multiple issues!

Prayers sent your way.

I hope you have now turned a corner towards greener pastures.

Kenny, I'm praying for you. Just remember the story of Job. GOD has a purpose for all things.

He will provide you with everything you need to overcome these overwhelming circumstances.

Praise the LORD you are still alive. Try to be the best for dealing with your stressors.

Always wondered if fish kills were the result of over managnent of your pond.

Wow, what a series of catastrophes. So sorry about all of it! Praying for you. Sincerely hope you can land back on your feet with great success.

Honestly I cannot believe you managed to get so much poundage of fish crammed in a half acre pond. That must be some kind of record unto itself. It must have been absolutely heaving with life. I can only speculate what went wrong, but it would be very interesting to get a better understanding.

A thought that comes to mind is how we would feel in a house that had so many people shoved in it. You would never got a moment’s peace. Can’t sleep well, fighting, smelly, jostling, annoying people… just unpleasant. Well fed perhaps, but low quality of life. Did they simply give up out of desperation? Recent experience has showed me LMB are quite intelligent with little personalities.

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That level of rain is something to behold, it’s like having an entire pond dropped on you at once. I experienced a rain like that years ago, before we had a pond. A slow moving storm parked itself right over the house. It filled a 8” rain gauge to overflowing, so we don’t know the final amount as there was some water in it before this event, about 2”. It did its damage in a small area. My neighbor’s long 0.5 mile driveway downhill went missing, nothing but a deep gulley. It lifted sheds, trees, any spare backyard items and put them halfway up trees miles away. Amazingly it only flooded basements, no injuries, except for two idiots that went for a boat ride in the flood waters and just stuck up in a tree and needed a rescue when water receded quickly. No, it wasn’t me, though if I had a small boat at the time, I would have considered it. My wife and I were unscathed as we are on a hilltop. Thank God.

Some years are like this, it too shall pass. Concentrate on your health and well being first, faith will guide you. Then learn from mistakes and try again. Very happy you are still here, drop in more often!

That's just the SMB. How many pounds of other fish are in there, including forage fish?

I'll give ya a shout this evening. If the boat went for a ride, what about the pole barn?

This is a completely different set of problems. Undermanagement usually causes problems which is basically what I did. I targeted one size of one species and did not consider the consequences of the target itself.
When we get to thinking we got this figured out, we find we can't see the forest for the trees, the Bear sneaks in and attacks.

Building is on the highest point Scott, still had 6-7" of water inside though.
Gotta be hundreds and hundreds of pounds of fish of other species left. 5' to go, should know by tomorrow some time. Don't know how many fish I can hold in 6000 gallons but we're a day from finding out.

EDIT: I guess I could put fish in ponds above but we'll see, I'd like to extract any and ALL remaining SMB to sell. Have about 450 7-10" and around 3000 3-4" left. Hoping to get another 2-3000 of all sizes.
I have some 2-3lb YP and some BG and RES over 2lbs-not many, but they will be moving somewhere else as well.
Sauger will be transported to TJ.

Call me when your up to it. You were on my schedule to call this week for a Saugeye, SMB , run this fall. Nebraska to pick up fish isn't too far for me . My prayers are with you . You have enough on your back, so I'll wait for your call . I don't want to wake you from seriously needed rest at this time. God Bless You and Yours.

My condolences and prayers as well. I have had heart regulation issues for a couple years and in April they found me unconscious on the parking lot of Lowes. Fortunately someone called 911. My wife points out that if I had been out in the field, she would no longer have me to worry about. So, my bottom line is just to be thankful for each day, Maybe, sometimes pond management is a good analogy for life.

Retired on 40, the last 10 years it has been an extreme obsession. My wife has been very patient with me on this, as she knows my "buddies" that are leaders, mentors and hands on helpers have been super good to me. Very fortunate to be in a situation I can ask, receive and give at the same time. These are my State guys that have treated me as one of their own for going on 38 years now.
The last 5 years, these people have actually reached out to me for advice and help, the point at which I realized my take and experience meant something to them. Given that, this is a hard pill to swallow.
I feel you on the syncope, That's been a fight I am also battling, due to extreme PVC's and bricked nerves, but I consider myself the frog in the Heron's neck, my hands are tight around his neck..

Snipe, any time to send us an update on your health, your pond endeavors, and the future of the Saugeye project? How are the young saugeye doing that have been stocked in various pond locations in terms of their growth and also the foraging on and keeping the bluegill or crappie in check? CC