Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Can i save my pond?

My question is kinda complicated. I have a 5 acre pond with all kinds of fish in it, including bass, bluegill, channel catfish, white crappie, green sunfish, bullhead, and grass carp. I have also been catching some giant snapping turrtles(over 20 pounds) on trotlines. I've caught more turtles than fish now. I have not seen any channel cats in a while, and I'm not catching any bass over 1 pound. The pond has not been stocked since 1993. Is there anything I can do to restore good fishing besides starting the pond over and maybe create breading structures for channel cats?

Hi Jake,

Welcome to PB, you came to the right place!

Sounds like you have a good "opportunity" here. What are your goals for the pond? Is it trophy bass and channel catfish? In a pond that size you have lots of options...

In any case - I would keep smacking those big snapping turtles...some folks here have built turtle traps out of various things. Try doing a search on turtle or turtle trap. It sounds like you are doing well with the trotline so far, keep it up. Perhaps you can knock out some of those bulls too.

: )

Jake,

Actually, your problem does not seem complicated at all. Most people have one or two problem fish...you have three...green sunfish, bullheads, and white crappie.

All three are very bad or very good depending on your viewpoint, at overpopulating the pond and smoothering out the BG and LMB.

Your answer to Gator's question about goals and objectives for your pond will help determine the best course of action.

There is a great wealth of info on this Forum at your disposal, and many good experienced folks who will help. As Gator said, you've come to the right place and you're most welcome here.

It appears from your post that your concern is about channel catfish and bass.

If that is your goal and if you have a decent bluegill forage base, I would start fishing the heck out of the pond to eliminate the unwanted fish.

You don't mention the size of the crappie or the bullheads. If you don't see any small ones, then they are probably providing the forage base for the rest of the fish. Are your bass stunted or just small? Are you seeing bass recruitment? It could be that the snappers are destroying nests. If your bass don't go over 12 inches and are skinny, they aren't getting adequate groceries.

I would, as Alligator and ML state, first determine goals. Then analyze the current status of the population(s). Next, build a management plan and implement it.

No way I would drain or rotenone it and start over unless you want quicker results. You'll never totally eliminate all of the problem fish but you can significantly reduce their impact. In addition to fishing, you might consider traps for bullheads and green sunfish.

I almost forgot. I have a very bad beaver problem. Over the past two years the beavers had made two dams. (One on the overflow tube and one on the inflow) I recently had those dug out with a backhoe, and was wondering if it was just a matter of time before they damed it up again. What is the best way to get rid of the beavers? Also the pond is now taken over by cattails. In some places it extends off shore 20 feet! How do I get rid of cattails?

"How do I get rid of cattails?"

One answer is to make the sides of the pond steeper. Cattails can't handle deeper water. Maybe someone else can think of a cheaper/easier alternative.

Check with your local wildlife officer for some names of trappers that will remove the beavers. They will continue to try to stop the outflow of water from the pond. That's what beavers do, along with destroying trees.

The cattails can be controlled with herbicides but with an infestation as you allude to it will take some time. Do a search under controlling unwanted plants for which herbicide to use. Look for posts by Kelly.
Like Dirtguy says, prevention is best. Deepening the edges will deter them.

Like they have said, determine what your goals are. Fish, fish and fish. Keep records of what caught, size, and weight. Discard what you don't want. Remove snapping turtles.

Beavers = shoot

Cattails = I'll give you some of my nutrias around here (just joking, don't wish that on anyone.)

Don't forget...eat snapping turtles!!!

BTW, on the beavers...years ago (high school) buddy's dad had problems with beavers on a small stream near his home. They got trap shy, and were causing all kinds of havoc. We spent 2 evenings out there with a spot light (red lens is a must!), a shotgun and (all right, you can forget this part-remember, we were all of 18) beer.

Went like this...drink beer, turn on light, spotlight beaver...boom...repeat. We managed to get 4 of the things in those 2 nights. The rest got the idea...problem solved.