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

I no longer burn my prairie areas. Even with lots of help, it just seems too risky. I don't burn brush piles anymore either. Just put them where wildlife can use them, or add to ponds.

Tested my pH again. Initial readings on my digital tester were in the low to mid 5's. Come to find out, apparently the digital ones need to be calibrated, even a brand new one, which was giving me bad readings. I bought some pH test strips, the ones with the 4 colored panels on them, and got a 6.75 average reading from them. Phew! Crisis averted.

Yay! I was hoping you could avoid a big liming project.

Caught one 5# LMB and next day a 6# LMB on pop-R top water. Bunch of smaller ones too.

By my math, that means you will catch a 7# bass on Saturday and an 8# bass on Sunday.

Good job checking up on your big bass!

I like your new math!

Good job Pat!! make sure and measure the 8 pounder on Sunday!!

Congrats Pat. Pop R's are greatness.

I normally use 3-1/2” pearl cane thumper and tear them up

Wife started killing willows on our 3rd pond using "the glove of death". Deep trench on 4th pond is about 3/4 full. Lotus is still struggling in our 3rd pond due to clay pond bottom. Not much rain in the near-term forecast, but we got enough to germinate the grass and oilseed radish around the 4th pond. Very pleasant weather in central Indiana right now. Got the ratchet straps tightened up on my ladder stands.

1.) What is the "glove of death"?

2.) Do I want to entrust my wife with that kind of power?

1) Glyphosate on a cotton glove over a plastic glove.
2) You are delusional if you think your wife does not have that kind of power already.

Very pleased to see multiple small schools of threadfin shad breaking the surface this evening! My pond is naturally infertile, wasn't sure how they'd do. My smaller LMB and HSB are undoubtedly having a good time chowing down, and I'm sure my CNBG appreciate a break from predatory pressure.

Still no cormorants, but I know it's only a matter of time.

Monday I caught a 1.25lb plus bass with two holes in his side, like 22 bullet holes going all the way thru and out the other side, one thru the meat and the other thru the stomach, I'm saying a blue heron. it must have just happened because when I caught him he was completely lively and normal otherwise and the holes were completely pink and fresh, almost bleeding. but he died within 5 minutes in the live well. I detest those damn birds, I dont mind them catching a few baitfish and eating them but just killing a big fish for the fun of it is crossing the line, goes in line with otters, and I hate otters.
Ive caught and relocated these birds before and I may have to start doing that again.

I hear you. Once I found a giant dead BG rotting on my dock, pierced through. Heron speared him but couldn't swallow. Stupid bird!

A few months ago I found one of the LMB I stocked last year up on the bank. Looked nice, fat, and healthy other than a hole in it's side. With it being at least 12" and very fat, I figure it was way too big for a GBH to eat, and then I started worrying about how many others they might of killed. I run them off when I can, but I don't live there yet. Like Gehajake said, I don't mind them getting a new bait fish now and then but killing large fish is another thing. Maybe when I need to start removing fish I won't mind but for now I do.

Had a bald eagle pay a visit to pond .... wow what a sight to see.... landed on bank and waded in for a drink. Beautiful bird

Yesterday, drained the sediment pond, as it was getting low anyway. Found a couple of straggler CC from last year's grow out attempt, moved them to one of the bigger ponds. If this drought continues, I may be able to clean it out with the tractor bucket.

That is cool! I hope to see that someday. I'd be willing to share a few fish with a bald eagle, as long as he doesn't get too greedy.

Ran out of the optimal feed. So I stole some gravy train from the dog and gave it a try. Those HSB I got from Snrub hammered it. Second night in a row iv did this. They hit them harder the second night than the first. Im sure the proteins isn't the best for them but it was fun to watch still.

Rusto,

If you are training your HSB to eat dog food, you might as well go all the way and train them to retrieve frisbees that you throw into the pond!

Prepping for vacation. Pulled all of the traps from the cow pond. Released the captive RES back into the pond.
Took some BG catfishing on the MO Saturday. The survivors went into the bait pond.

Mrs. Augie has been after me to hook and line some BG for a fish fry. She will get her wish next week.

All RES/YP/HSB/SMB that are caught will go back in. All BG <9" will come out. It's my hope that a handful of jumbo BG will keep the smaller
specimens off the beds, and result in lower overall numbers of YOY coming out of the spawn.

Someone please correct me if I'm thinking wrong there.

Look at the back page of the latest Pond Boss Magazine for a good recipe for the Bluegill.

What smaller BG don't spawn that month will most likely spawn the following month.

That does look tasty. I generally farmer-clean BG, but it's not really any more work to filet them out.

But it will have to wait another week. Mrs. Augie called a few minutes ago to tell me that she just booked five nights on Pensacola Beach. lol

It's quite a sacrifice, but i'll find a way to cope.

I have heard that there is a really big pond right beside that beach!