Water Shield Driving Me Nuts - 02/23/22 03:51 PM
Hoping somebody has a good idea for me on this one! I have a 12 acre pond behind the house here in central NC. Roughly 15 years ago watershield found its way in and now skirts the entire lake completely covering the water from the bank out to roughly 3 1/2 feet deep. On the steeper banks that is only about 4 ft from the bank to the open water - on other flat banks the watershed mats are at least 25 feet. I don't mind the look of it - it is actually kind of pretty in the Summer - but the fishing has gone way downhill over the past 5 or 6 years and I am convinced the watershed is at least a contributor.
First question: I have come to believe that with the water shield being so dense and covering 90% of the water which is at appropriate depth for the bass and bream to make beds and spawn, that it is drastically reducing fish reproduction. There is one stretch where it does not grow for whatever reason and the bluegill literally just spawn on top of each other in that area. Am I correct in thinking thick watershield reduces available spawning habitat? I realize it provides good cover for fry - but I cannot see fish spawning under that dense mat which blocks 100% of light penetration and is just choked out with all of the stems.
Second question: How do I get rid of it! Last year I spent a HUGE amount of time and energy with the hand cutter and weed rake and managed to get the area immediately behind the house pretty clear, but to do the entire lake that way would take the rest of my life. I also tried using the Aquacide Pellets which are recommended for water shield at the recommended dosing level and it honestly seemed to have little if any effect.
Hopefully somebody out there can help! Spring is coming soon and I really want to get this issue correctly dealt with. Thanks -
- Cullen
First question: I have come to believe that with the water shield being so dense and covering 90% of the water which is at appropriate depth for the bass and bream to make beds and spawn, that it is drastically reducing fish reproduction. There is one stretch where it does not grow for whatever reason and the bluegill literally just spawn on top of each other in that area. Am I correct in thinking thick watershield reduces available spawning habitat? I realize it provides good cover for fry - but I cannot see fish spawning under that dense mat which blocks 100% of light penetration and is just choked out with all of the stems.
Second question: How do I get rid of it! Last year I spent a HUGE amount of time and energy with the hand cutter and weed rake and managed to get the area immediately behind the house pretty clear, but to do the entire lake that way would take the rest of my life. I also tried using the Aquacide Pellets which are recommended for water shield at the recommended dosing level and it honestly seemed to have little if any effect.
Hopefully somebody out there can help! Spring is coming soon and I really want to get this issue correctly dealt with. Thanks -
- Cullen