Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Renovating a Pond or Lake? Pond Stump Removal.....without draining

Is there a piece of equipment in existence that can cut or grind a path through a large pond (53 acres) full of stumps. We have some jon boats and a pontoon for fishing on this lake and bounce off a new stump every 5 feet or so it seems like. These are old cypress stumps mostly with a few other types mixed in. I was told that the original owners who built the pond cut a path, but when they filled it with water, everything they cut floated back into the path and blocked it off. I would just like a way to get from one end to the other a little quicker without risking getting high-centered on a stump every few feet.

I know there are underwater chainsaws, but that would be an epic project and not worth it. I'm really looking for a floating stump grinder of sorts. Draining the pond is not an option for me, we have a pretty healthy fish population and I don't want to start from scratch.

Just looking for advice on ways to solve this problem. We use mainly electric motors on the boats, I can't even run those at full blast right now without risking running up on a stump just under the surface.

HI HB,
I'm not an expert and I'm not sure if what I'm thinking could work, but it's an idea.
What about to rent an excavator and a big pontoon, put the excavator on and simply extirpate those stumps?
My english is really poor so I hope you'll understand what I mean.
Something like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvj0ksYCSKE

Hi ItalyBass,

That looks intriguing and could be a possibility, although a lot of work would be required just to get it into our lake. It might be too big with that pontoon and I worry the stumps will be too tough to be pulled out while the pontoon moves. I will definitely keep this in mind as an idea. Thanks!

This is another possibility.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLxZlT9rwEo

Hog,

Would it be possible to drain the lake down 2-3 feet and then cut off the stumps? You would still have to cut the stumps but your fish would survive.

Fillipio, that's pretty neat.

I can't think if any way that would be cost effective, and I think you would have to drain it 2-3 for anything to work, but a track timber cutter or timber multcher on a barge should do the job. Just takes $, and probably lots of it.

Sorry HB, just forgot to tell you this:
REALLY??? 53 acres? And you call it pond? That is a LAKE and I'm really envying you so much....



LMAO Dave this is not a problem for sure, but just copy'n'paste my name next time.

$$$$

That looks better, I think I could find someone with that type of equipment maybe...I'll put it on the list....

I've considered this, but we're talking almost a mile of stump cutting. I'd rather find a large piece of equipment to do it if possible.

[quote=ItalyBASS]Sorry HB, just forgot to tell you this:
REALLY??? 53 acres? And you call it pond? That is a LAKE and I'm really envying you so much....

Ha, yeah pond/lake. It's pretty big. I still can't believe we got this piece of property.

Now that's cool, don't think I could afford that one though! Might actually be too big for my operation and depth.

Lowering the pond for a couple weeks would not harm your fish population much at all. In fact the LMB would love you for the concentrated meals!

What is your budget for this job?

I would think low end for barge,equipment and hauling, and labor would be at least $50K

No budget yet, really just exploring what options are out there right now. We had an excavator come and dig out a trail that had filled in on the other side of the property to get to one of our duck holes, but it was dry at that time and this won't be. Might end up draining a few feet and putting my nephews to work for the summer, just hoped it would be easier than that.

Can you use explosives?

Don't really want to mess with that, even though it would be fun! Plus, you're talking hundreds of stumps, so that's a lot of explosives and a lot of rigging.

It can be, easy cost money. But 3-4 chainsaws(you will loose one or two overboard), flat bottom boat, and nephews will be the cheapest.