Great series of posts...well worth printing and saving....but I'm still negative on fertilizing for my situation.
Here's a view from a non-pro, amatuer who loves hands-on pond management almost as much as fishing the ponds...the fun is in the journey, not the destination...and building, stocking, and managing my own ponds is a significant part of the journey.
On the plus side, Bob Lusk's approach addresses one of my biggest concerns, i.e. the concern that once you start fertilizing you have to continue forever...or face serious consequences in the form of starving fish. Bob's limited approach seems to address that.
Bob's posts re-emphasize the need for professional, or at the very least very experienced pond managers to administer the fertilization program. As a do-it-yourselfer, I find that approach unappealing. I enjoy pond management, and have no interest in turning over the pond management to a professional....the fun for me is doing it myself, even if that means it may not be as efficient as a professional pond manager.
My experience says that fertilizing to eliminate existing weed problems does not work...but again maybe a pro could make it work, but I have serious doubts. I know I can accomplish weed control, (not elimination because I don't want elimination), myself with grass carp and Tilapia. Texas official pubs on fertilization now say DO NOT FERTILIZE ponds with existing weeds...get the weeds under control first and then fertilize, if you so choose.
Lastly, the big advantage of carrying a bio mass 4 or 5 times an unfertilized pond, I do not believe applies to my ponds. My ponds are naturally fertile and generally have a 24 inch visibility through out the growing season. I'm not interested in overloading or even maximum loading. I prefer working margins.
As a result, I'll have maybe less fish per acre, but I can also not have too worry all the time about too much or too little fertilizer...like when a cat 3/4 hurricane knocks out your aeration for 3 or 4 weeks accompanied by high temps over 100 degs and no wind. I don't have to worry about a fish kill. Not one bit. I'll use natural fertilizers and accept a lesser load to be able to do-it-myself and sleep good.
Thanks to all for a great discussion and to Deb for the new thoughts. It's a priviledge to be part of the Forum. Thanks.
