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

Outstanding! Now the fun can begin.

You know, I was actually going to ask about that. I got at least 2-3' of water already in the deepest hole, maybe 30-40' across? Water is very turbid due to getting a rain storm the day after the pond was complete with all that exposed clay. Will FHM do ok in muddy water? I'd definitely like to get them started so I can stock it maybe later this fall if we get enough rain.

I’m not an expert, and I only have one pond, but I stocked FHM with about the same exact water level and clay content when we built our pond. The next year there were millions. I did put in a lot of pallets (all from the excellent advice I received here). If I remember correctly, FHM like to lay eggs on the underside of flat surfaces. The pallets worked well.

Mine was a mud hole when I put them in.

Awesome, I'll try to get some from the bait shop this weekend. And of course, from the valuable advice here, will hand-check each one before stocking. The nearest fish hatchery is over an hour away, and it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to drive all that way for a pound or 2 of FHM when my puddle is this small and once they spawn a few times, that 2 dozen will quickly turn into hundreds, and then thousands.

I started mine with 5 dozen FHM and 3 dozen GSH from the bait shop, visibility was zero when they went in. I'm still working on getting the GSH under control.

Did your FHM take off like your GSH did? I'll probably add GSH too, as I plan on adding HSB at some point.

They did, I still see few FHM in my seine surveys.

I got mine from the bait shop as well. I only wanted FHM but ended up with some GSH as well. I think I put 5 dozen in a couple of times and probably 6 weeks later they were everywhere.

We had an absolute deluge of rain this month (More than 7 inches!) that topped off the pond and then some. This opened up the option of FINALLY using the rest of my SoilFloc on my neighbor's pond and my pond. Absolutely no wind either day. Crossing my fingers and toes that it makes a difference as spot-treating feels like shooting blindfolded while on a Merry-Go-Round. However, the cloths I was wearing looked "interesting" when I cleaned up, like I got sneezed on by a sick dinosaur.

Otherwise have been so busy that I haven't fished, and only swam 3 times so far. The teenager has holed up in his room with friends on-line, and is near impossible to drag out. Good kid, but has low interest in outdoor things.

After the low water in winter tore the end segment of my dock out of it's footing, the dock is now a bit wobbly. The entire dock may need to come out and replaced by a pivot floater that can go up and down with the water level as the leak (if it still does after treatment) makes the dock look terrible as it sticks up like a sore thumb and only the last rung of the ladder is useful. I may pitch the buck and go aluminum if I can find a source (anyone?)

Checked on the grass seeding I did last weekend. I was pleasantly surprised to see 1-2" sprouts already after only 5 days, with no straw cover. I used a contractor's mix by Pennington, which I believe is a mix of perennial rye, annual rye and tall fescue. I used a stone rake to loosen the compacted clay on top of the dam and that seemed to be enough to get them started. Areas where I just tossed seed on the ground with no raking saw little to no germination, so I know what I'll be doing this weekend. More dreadful raking of compacted clay/soil. My blisters just healed from last weekend.

Steve, after all the trouble you had getting a pond, isn't it great to have these kind of problems for a change? Did you get some FHM yet?

Yes! I don't think I've ever watched the weather report as much as I have lately, lol. As much as I want rain to fill the pond, I really need to get all of this exposed clay covered with some vegetation, otherwise, I don't think my pond will ever clear up, and every rain will just make it worse. And I'm planning to take my son to the bait shop tomorrow and get some FHM and let him release them. He's just as excited as I am I think.

Found a new squatter today by the pond. It'll be evicted shortly.

We have regular visits from herons. Plenty of fish in our ponds to go around.

I’m with you Rah there is plenty to go around.... least for some birds...

I pulled a bunch of BG out of a cage and tossed em in the deadwell on the boat.

Then used them to bait some diddy poles and limb lines on the Missouri River.

Will rinse and repeat in the AM.

I allow the Osprey and now the Bald Eagle to eat all they want. The herons? There is a no vacancy sign out for them.

Steve_, what about getting a self propelled rototiller to do the raking for you? I have one that goes on the back of my John Deere 342, it tills a 42" wide swath with every pass. The local rental yard has a JD tractor and 60" wide tiller that they rent for $300/day.

I need to do something, because I have a LOT of exposed clay on steep sleeps and I’m just asking for major erosion problems. The pond guy said to throw down millet and said it would sprout in 2 days. For now, I laid down some brush around the perimeter to slow down the water flow.

Went to the bait shop for some FHM. They had “small, medium and large” which was a foreign concept to me in the minnow world. The last time I bought minnows was probably 20 years ago, and they sold them in 2 sizes, “perch minnows” and “bass minnows” which were FHM and GSH, respectively. Long story short, I bought 4 dozen of the small minnows @ $2/dozen. I get them home, and took a look at them, and they all appear to be small GSH. Insert face palm emoji here.

Kinda pointless to add GSH this late in the season, as I believe they only spawn in the spring. Looks like I might have to order my FHM from Amazon.

Doubt that I will do anything more than feed mine. 100 degree days for the foreseeable future have arrived.

Steve
If I’m not mistaken GSH spawn multiple times a year

It appears they begin spawning in the spring once water temps reach 68 and stop when they reach 81. Without a doubt my temps in my 2’ deep mud hole are higher than 81. Plus, I don’t really have any spawning habitat for GSH right now.

Steve_, if my memory serves me FHM stop brooding at 85 F, so the may not reproduce until mid to late September anyway. Just mention this because I think it would be OK to delay until you find a more reliable vendor for the species you want. Maybe fun to take a trip or you might could get a delivery where they drop them off or meet when going to another delivery.

Yep, those are small GSH.