Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Product sources Electroshocker doo-dad

So how do I make one or where do I buy one and how much does it cost?

OK- I know that they're illegal in public waters in Texas. Having worked for TPWD for a few years back when, I've seen them in the Game Warden's evidence bag. Still, for a private pond, it should be fine I suppose and for taking a census, it would be a useful tool.

I don't even know what they're called officially so I can't do a proper web search. Can anybody direct me to a source or at least give me a name?

kjm, you sound like me when it comes to dangerous "doo-dads"!

For us, I think the proper search term to use is "instant death by electrocution device".

KJM

I was about to start this topic as well - we're in the same situation I think. I am facing the dilemma of either seining by myself or considering the alternatives...the only one of which I can think of is electrofishing doo dads.

I'd wager someone in the forum knows....

All previous opinions here on DIY electrofishing by in-the-know folks have been negative. Dangerous stuff to try and rig up yourself.

To quote ewest:


One thread to review: ELECTROFISHING

KJM

What do you say? I'll build it and you can be the first one on the water to "test" it? I'll be recording events safely from shore.

TJ

A few years ago TP&W had a "sting" operation on Lake Texoma.
Warden's from around the state, acting as everyday fishermen, hired a few suspected "outlaw" striped bass guides and arrested several lawbreakers.
Some exceeding limits, several selling fish to Asian markets, and one using a hand held shocking device.

The result of the investigation IIRC, that they were being made by employees of local "Telecom Corridor" and were quite effective shocking devises.

I'm clean - honest ...

In a small tank, why couldn't you put a "boom" in the water and stand on the edge?

It seems like a census using fishing data would be inaccurate as I fish for one species at a time. Rarely will a bluegill bite a spinnerbait, though sometimes bass take a worm nicely.

Seining would have worked prior to renovation, but the banks are now so steep that I don't think it would be practical or successful. I guess I have three years to think on it. Electrofishing seems to be the easy way.

BTW- I acknowleged that in public waters any device like this is very illegal to even have on the boat. This is for census techniques.

KJM

Let me know how you do...I'm eager to hear from you as I have 2:1 slopes and seining will be a challenge for me also.

Will post back, but because I don't have any real need for a couple years, I may resort to the old army phones...

One last note - I researched those backpack units and it looks VERY suspect - at best - in terms of safety for the user. Wading in the water one is sampling gets even my attention. No thanks - I'll just get a snorkel and float around for samplings. Still not sure if there's anything but a seine that will work for fish collection.

As long as you have waders on the backpack units are safe. It is also recommended to wear rubber gloves.

Hi Chris - thanks for the feedback - do you have much experience using them in field work for school? Do you find them as pretty useful tools for sampling in ponds or are they more suited for smaller bodies of water such as streams or creeks?

I would love to use one to assist collection efforts and also for sampling...any thoughts?

Thanks in advance -

TJ

We use in them in streams that are wadeable. You can't go deeper than your waist or you will get the battery wet.

I don't think they would work very good in ponds because there would be much area that you could sample. If you had a bunch of heavy shoreline cover where the fish can hide they may work ok.

Thanks Chris - I think I might try to devise some sort of a fish corral in my reproduction ponds and utilize the tool in that manner. Someone has to have better ideas than I do to acheive this...using fish gates or something.

You might try setting up a nearly-fenced-in shallow area to feed in for a while, with edge nets ready to pull to shore and trap fish in until the can be removed by seining/netting. I think ewest has posted a diagram of this kind of setup.

Good idea Theo - that's what I rudely had constructed in my mind. My obvious problem is my ponds I've chosen for reproduction are NOT conducive to seining - just wanted something more aesthetically appealing and knew I'd have to deal with issue of fish collection later. Pretty - but not practical.

I like the idea of a fish corral and either netting or electrofishing them at that time. I will look for Ewest's diagram - thank you!

TJ -- what is your water quality? Is it highly mineralized like Dr. Bruce's? If so, electrofishing is impaired when conductivity/mineral content is high. That's especially true with the backpack units that don't have as strong a field as the boat units.

Hello Dave - great to hear from you!

Yes mineral content is also high - I'm within 10 miles of Bruce. That's something I NEVER would have considered, so thanks for the enlightenment.

The impetus for this came after dragging seines overweighted with filamentous algae and convinced I was having a stroke I began thinking, "TJ - there HAS to be an easier way to collect fish..." I thought by reducing depth of pond from 9 to 2' and corraling fish into a corner of the pond and repeatedly "shocking it" I could not only make collection something I could do solo but would also save a ton of inefficient effort dragging seines thru FA and missing over half of them every time.

I'm fully prepared to admit that sometimes there exist no shortcuts or ways to improve efficiency and am a glutton for arse busting work. HOWEVER - I am ALSO prepared to buy several cases of beer and Green Egg a tenderloin and see if I can convince Bruce, Treeplanter and Shorty to come and "supervise" the seining!

What do you think of the electrofishing corral concept? Asinine?

This thread has one of the most classic subject titles ever.

Electroshocker doo-dad...

Kinda like if a president said, "Where's the start button for those nuclear thingies?"

TJ -- do you have some way to get a conductivity reading from you pond? I think that's has the potential to limit your success. Dr. Bruce, how do you get water quality measures?

Cody!

We used to have some simple "pens" that would give a reasonable measure of conductivity. TJ, if you are interested, send me a PM or email. I can find one for you to borrow.

Dr. Willis,

If I recall correctly, Bruce's water quality lab report stated that his conductivity was 7,000 uS!!! While I was on-site, I had some of his pond water splash on my glasses. I used my cotton t-shirt to wipe them clean and the salts in the water scrathed my lenses. I think of Bruce everytime I put on my sunglasses!!

I had a little 3000 watt generator, but the water was too "amp" hungry. It kept tripping my generator. I needed at least a 5000 watt unit (but a 7-9000 watt system would be ideal) with small diameter annodes.

Well, Shawn, if TJ has the same high conductivity water as Bruce, the electrofishing will be out! Even with our 5,000 watt generator, I really can't get a decent electrofishing field above about 2500 uS/cm, or maybe 3,000 (and that's after dark when the fish are least aware). We used to have a 7,500 watt gas generator, but honestly, it didn't do much better than the 5,000. Like you, we had very little surface area exposed on the positive electrode.

7,000 conductivity would float frogs, wouldn't it?