Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations How effective is draining and freezing a pond

to eliminate fish populations? I may do this with one of my biggest ponds this winter to start over in the spring. Refilling is not a problem whatsoever.

I'm thinking I may have some ponding in the bottom and wonder if even though it will freeze if it's possible small perch and bluegill could survive the freeze. My other alternative is to treat the remaining standing water with rotenone in late summer if I drain that early, which would require an expenditure of $180.00 and then the rotenone to get the pesticide applicators license or hire someone to apply it.

I've contacted to commercial suppliers to get a ball park figure on application costs.

Thoughts?

Didn't we just (couple of weeks ago, maybe) have a thread that talked about killing fish in very low volume ponds with lime? I don't remember whether or not it was said to work. If a go, you wouldn't need a rotenone license and the amount of lime should not be excessive against the volume of the refilled pond.

We talked about using lime ot sterilize ponds and yes I guess it would kill fish. I was just thinking of how effective it would be to drain a pond and freeze it out. That way there would be no expense for chemicals or the labor.

Yes I'm aware about the license requirment to purchase rotenone. To get a manual and take a test I would have to shell out $180.00.

I believe I will completely pump the pond, suck up any pockets with the pump, and then let it lay idle for the winter. Come spring I will have my excavator come in and deeper some bank areas that have filled in to steepen the slope. That way with the bottom drying out somewhat, he can come in and put the fill directly into a dump truck. He can move it out rather than leave it on the bank where he would have to let it drain, later spread out and then I would have to reseed. Been there done that once.

That sounds like it should do a complete renovation. The pics from your empty trout pond show you have the equipment to handle the job.

Where are you? In TX, you can 'borrow' a neighbor's applicator license. I can apply chemicals to a neighbor's property, provided I do not receive cash. In other words, we can exchange labor/equipment or he can buy the beer while I pour the Rotenone. ;>)

In addition to killing fish, would draining and applying chemical such as lime kill all duckweed spores?

I don't have the duckweed problem but do have other plants which emerge when it rains. This is in small ponds that traditionally dry up in the summer.

No I'm in Indiana. If I go with starting over I will probably go with the draining option. Why? Because I will have to run the trout pond into this pond until the end of October. At that time the water will be too cold to use rontenone.