Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction What did you do at your pond today?

Went to pond today, threw out feed for bg, and was surprised to see 4-5 cc and several bc coming up for first time since they were stocked in 2013! Bought some Purina 500 and the cats were hoovering the feed. Wonder what’s up with them now coming up!

Your catfish obviously read the Pond Boss forum.

When they heard you were starting to go after jumbo bass, they knew it was safe for THEM to be seen at the feeder!

(Or they know winter is coming?)

Them CC should be getting pretty decent size from 2013. I thought them things are the first ones to the feeder but I havent been seeing them much at the feeder myself the last 4 months, till the other day I did see a couple again. They probably feel the winter time coming.

G they are about5-7 # And one was close to 10 maybe. If they keep coming to feed they should put on some weight.

I'm well aware this will not be the most popular opinion but...... I think its kinda cool we have had such a drought as we have had. Believe me i wouldnt wish it on our farmers. I obliviously cant control it but it nice to be able to see whats below the surface again. Its helped me be able to re slope mine in some areas.

Well, Rusto, I've seriously considered doing a deliberate drawdown in time past. Good way to flush out the prey for my predatory LMB and HSB, or so I thought. But when nature did it for me, it hasn't worked out so great.

My predator density is high, particularly for my shrunken pond, so they almost eliminated all my mid-size CNBG in the initial feast. Afterward they didn't have enough left to eat. Relative weight on my LMB actually declined, the opposite of what I was expecting.

RStringer, I think its the old lemonade from lemons theory coming into play,, glass half full type of thinking. I like it!
So far Ive been extremely lucky, Im down about 8" maybe 10 at the most, thinking closer to 8.

I’m down closer to 14”. But I’ve got a very small leak, on top of the drought. Plus my trees are taking their share. Last good rain we had was back in July.
We now have one of the few water sources around for the deer heard. My pond may end up being a better attraction than my wilted food plots. Ha!

CC that size can gobble up lots of feed. I'd be eating a couple of them before cold weather.

I’m down about 4 ft.

Lake Louisa, our 54 acre lake @ Cooleys Rift in Monteagle is down 24"...10 day forecast looks moist, we need some of it to show up.

Today I replaced missing marker floats and put the boats away for the Winter.

Cold snap really put the fish out deeper, much less CNBG and LMB activity now. Last week, a buddy caught 20 LMB in 24 casts off the dock. Now you have to work hard to get a bite.

Still 3 feet low, maybe even a bit more. Desperately need rain. Some tilapia are still active, so the water obviously hasn't gotten to 52F yet. Feels like low 60s.

Rant: I hate the XY@#*@ stupid foot control electric motor on my pontoon boat! After a few years, no longer steered motor. Now, motor is completely dead even though battery registers as fully charged. Give me a simple, straightforward hand control electric motor every single time!

Bad news: First clear indication of poachers, a discarded beer can & fishing line on far shore opposite our dock. Good news: Happened within the last few days, after frost, so likely they didn't get many fish.

Fun news: We are setting up food plots for deer & my son & grandson got in some target practice this weekend. Hope the poachers will heed the dangers of trespassing on land where deer hunting is taking place.

Unless they poach deer too.

Hope it doesn't come to that. The more hunters we have, the less opportunity for poachers. But it might get tense if they start that stuff. Game warden, cops, confrontation.

Pond water in NW OH is down to low 50's. I pulled two of my diffusers for cleaning and winter storage. One left in the pond in case it is needed for thick winter extended snow cover.

Same temp in N Central Indiana. I think I saw 50°F when I was delivering fish on Thursday.

I hate the XY@#*@ hand steer trolling motor on my boat, I have a ft controlled one on my main fishing boat but a cheaper hand controlled unit on a little flat bottom boat that I leave at the lake, that way if they steal it they aren't getting much but trying to fish and steer a boat by hand is for the birds.
Is there a place the poachers cross to get in to your place that you could be set with a camera that transfers to your phone? some times a well placed down tree or brush pile will guide them to a regular crossing place, much like deer. how far do you live from your pond?

I agree with gehajake about a foot-steering motor. It is a must when YOU are also fishing.

We wore out one of the original Minn-Kota foot pedal motors. Turns out the cable could bulge out of the wrapping and therefore fail to turn the motor. The new motors do not operate in the same fashion. However, I would consider looking at it yourself or taking it into a dealer to see if there is some possible inexpensive repair. Depending on the model, you may just have a set screw that has worked loose or there is a cable adjustment that might bring your motor back into proper functioning.

If not, then maybe buy some of their '22 stock on sale at the end of the year when they are trying to clear the shelf for the new motors.

As for the trespassers, read the fine print on trapping regulations in Texas and hope you find approval for setting a few bear traps.

These catfish sure are growing fast in my new pond!


https://i.imgur.com/hktLWi3.jpg

Removed this prehistoric beast this weekend. My nephew was trying for LMB and snagged this guy on the bottom. I'd estimate ~ 40 lbs. The turtle was...annoyed with me. They can really snap that head out and around their shell, so gripping at the back 1/3 is highly recommended.

Wow!

Is that a blue?

What size and year were they put in and what size now?

Good job DrLuke!

I need to run some conduit to repair a bad electrical line. How much do you charge to run your automatic conduit cutter?

Had a nice chat with the county game warden today. Game camera footage & trespassing signs are helpful, though not absolutely necessary to convict poachers. Purple stripes at eye level on trees serve as valid markers of property line, too.

He said that, unlike a criminal case, bad intent need not be proven, just that any reasonable person would understand they were trespassing. Promised to add our property to their patrol, which I appreciate. I'd prefer not to prosecute, just to deter, but if it takes jail and/or hefty fines pour le encourager les autres, so be it. We've invested far too much time, effort, and money to let thieves steal fish!

Unfortunately, if not prosecuted, there is a good chance that you will be looked at as an easy mark, just like a dog that just barks and doesn't bite isn't much of a deterrent, especially if they are barking all the time.