Digging existing pond deeper - 08/24/05 04:15 AM
I apologize if this has been covered in previous topics. I just found this sight and I am extremely overwhelmed with the information. I am subscribing to Pond Boss magazine tonight. This a very lengthy question also. Even if I could be steered to previous posts I would appreciate it. I will be browsing for sometime but my work begins in a few days.
I have had a pond for the past 10 or so years that is about a half acre when full. It is a run off pond so the level fluctuates up to 48” as it is down that much now. It is all natural clay and when full (full meaning to the run off drain) it is 12 feet deep. (So I am at about 8 feet now) I put an aerator in it 2 years ago which completely eliminated the muck that accumulated. The fish have done fairly well with Bream, Largemouth Bass being the primary fish with some Black Crappie. The Bass grow fast as do the hybrids with some pellet feedings. 2lb Bream with Largemouths caught in the 6 to 7 lb range.
The problem I have had in the past couple of years even with the aeration in the Winter keeping the ice open, is that the larger Bass are dead in the Spring, or did I kill them off with aerator as this is when I had a fish kill problem in the Winter?
The pond was originally dug with very steep sides that were well above the water level, so now I am having the sides modified with a dozer to be less steep (out of the water parts) so I can manage the trees and weeds that have grown up. I am also having it dug deeper to at least 12 feet now. (This will make it 16 feet in the Winter and Spring)
I have heard that clay ponds take a while to clear. This pond is crystal clear all of the time. As they will be digging in the water. I am slightly concerned about the existin fish. There is a huge amount of fry this year as the spawn was good for the hybrids (I know) and the Bass)
I am at the lowest now for good fish, I have not stocked in a few years and this past Winter took out most of the fish over 16”. Will this kill the rest of the fish? I have means of pulling the fish and putting them somewhere else until the work is done.
Thank you in advance.
I am in Michigan
I have had a pond for the past 10 or so years that is about a half acre when full. It is a run off pond so the level fluctuates up to 48” as it is down that much now. It is all natural clay and when full (full meaning to the run off drain) it is 12 feet deep. (So I am at about 8 feet now) I put an aerator in it 2 years ago which completely eliminated the muck that accumulated. The fish have done fairly well with Bream, Largemouth Bass being the primary fish with some Black Crappie. The Bass grow fast as do the hybrids with some pellet feedings. 2lb Bream with Largemouths caught in the 6 to 7 lb range.
The problem I have had in the past couple of years even with the aeration in the Winter keeping the ice open, is that the larger Bass are dead in the Spring, or did I kill them off with aerator as this is when I had a fish kill problem in the Winter?
The pond was originally dug with very steep sides that were well above the water level, so now I am having the sides modified with a dozer to be less steep (out of the water parts) so I can manage the trees and weeds that have grown up. I am also having it dug deeper to at least 12 feet now. (This will make it 16 feet in the Winter and Spring)
I have heard that clay ponds take a while to clear. This pond is crystal clear all of the time. As they will be digging in the water. I am slightly concerned about the existin fish. There is a huge amount of fry this year as the spawn was good for the hybrids (I know) and the Bass)
I am at the lowest now for good fish, I have not stocked in a few years and this past Winter took out most of the fish over 16”. Will this kill the rest of the fish? I have means of pulling the fish and putting them somewhere else until the work is done.
Thank you in advance.
I am in Michigan