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Rod, good idea on the flags. I used a small electric post to mark my water level at the dam when it started going out the emergency spillway. Now that I'm looking at raising the water level about 3' I wish I would have done something like that to verify how much I can raise it before it overflows.

Will be getting some so I can mark it once we get enough rain to push it out the emergency spillway again.


2 Acre, Completed July 2022, CC,BG, Sept. 2022, LMB June 2023, 120 BG, 30 RES, 50 HBG all 4-6", 8 TGC 8-10", 1000 MF, Aug 2024, GSF, YBH washed in 2022.
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We had our fish fry at the neighborhood pond yesterday, and it was fairly successful. We wanted to remove (100) large adult bluegill, but only ended up with approx. (50) that we harvested, cleaned, cooked and ate. We used an approx. 8" length and over for keepers.

We probably caught another 100 bluegill that were under the size limit.

I was also surprised to see several LMB caught as well as a large channel cat and a large blue cat.


Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."

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I added pea gravel to Smallmouth spawning beds. It's easier when the pond is a foot and a half low.


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I walked by (yesterday) and tossed some bluegill pellets close to shore. Lots of fish, some pretty big, came to the feed. Thats different from 3 or 4 days prior when I tossed feed and nothing came.That’s never happened and I feared cormorants had been by. Evidently not but it reminded me that I need to re install my excluder lines over the pond. Well, actually my grown grandsons do it..


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we have had an unusual hot and dry spell for fall time in MI. We are hovering between 85-90 and yards are taking a beating. This is probably balmy for Texas but we are used to the nip in the air for sure by mid September. I have a very wonderful bloom going on for the past 2 weeks. Probably the heat and a little run off from my lawn fertilizer combined to produce. Hoping the shiners pull off one more spawn before water temps drop.

I note we now have 2 volunteer bulrush plants. They add a neat look but if they try to become 20 or 200 plants I'll be pulling them out again. Pickerelweed plants from last fall did not survive winter. I have a big crop of buttercup plants all volunteering to come up in more and more locations around the edge of the pond. Their single stalk doesn't do much for adding places for fish to hide but the blossoms are just coming out now and are a big favorite for the pollinator insects.

Clear sky last night and lots of bats swooping around the pond. Plenty of bugs to go around...

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Feeding continues at the neighborhood pond, however, the LMB seem to only eat a few of the 1" Optimal Handthrow before losing interest. Granted, these LMB are less than 12" long, but still, I would think they would gorge themselves.


Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."

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Cooler weather and rain, raised the pond 2.5 inches. Feeding activity is excellent, going to do some sampling by fishing with the grandsons this week.


2 Acre, Completed July 2022, CC,BG, Sept. 2022, LMB June 2023, 120 BG, 30 RES, 50 HBG all 4-6", 8 TGC 8-10", 1000 MF, Aug 2024, GSF, YBH washed in 2022.
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Originally Posted by Learninboutfish
Cooler weather and rain, raised the pond 2.5 inches. Feeding activity is excellent, going to do some sampling by fishing with the grandsons this week.

Good luck on the "sampling". I hope a great time is had by all!

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Sampling for catfish didn't produce what I had hoped, only 2 YBH, looks like seining is going to be the best option. LMB were active, caught 3 in 6 casts, 97%, 101% and 112% RW

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20240928_8-LR.JPG
Last edited by Learninboutfish; 09/28/24 08:23 PM.

2 Acre, Completed July 2022, CC,BG, Sept. 2022, LMB June 2023, 120 BG, 30 RES, 50 HBG all 4-6", 8 TGC 8-10", 1000 MF, Aug 2024, GSF, YBH washed in 2022.
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Looks like a good time to me. Is that a tag I’m seeing in the LMB?


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Yes, I have weighed, measured and tagged 8 of the 10 LMB that I have caught in order to track their growth, help determine how many are in the pond, and catchability, as I have read that may also be a trait that may be passed on.

I have not caught one that was previously tagged but have only targeted LMB a few times.

The other 2 were caught before joining PB and beginning to learn about pond management but were very similar in size, I took pictures and documented what they were caught on.

The Grandkids also caught 5 GSF (6-7") which were removed to be used for trotline bait and 1 HBG 6" which was released.


2 Acre, Completed July 2022, CC,BG, Sept. 2022, LMB June 2023, 120 BG, 30 RES, 50 HBG all 4-6", 8 TGC 8-10", 1000 MF, Aug 2024, GSF, YBH washed in 2022.
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Feeding at the neighborhood pond has been progressing. Today, it was bluegills, blue and channel catfish, and large adult shiners that showed up for the feed bell. Oddly, it took about 20 minutes before I even saw an LMB, and in the end, I only saw three or so.

Normally, they wait for me to arrive at the waters edge and follow me around to where I throw the feed.

I also got over to my neighbor Lee's pond. I'm almost certain that I see SMB hitting feed, but its so fast that I can't be 100% sure.

I did the old rope-a-dope by putting a rubber band on a 1" Optimal Hand Throw pellet, and then hooking the rubber band. Throw a pellet in, create demand, and then hang on. I failed to set the hook the first 5 times, and I think it was a SMB a few of those times. Finally did catch a nice HSB.

Good times.

Go Steelers.....for all you Dallas Fans!!!!


Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."

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Fun times indeed, good information on the rope a dope method, I will have to try a similar method for my CC. Can't catch one with conventional methods.

Caught a nice 9" BG in a Z trap while surveying a neighbors pond.

Trap was left in less than 2 hours. I don't like what I see in regards to the damage the trap does. Any suggestions for a trap that is less harmful would be appreciated.

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20241006_BG-9in-LR.JPG

2 Acre, Completed July 2022, CC,BG, Sept. 2022, LMB June 2023, 120 BG, 30 RES, 50 HBG all 4-6", 8 TGC 8-10", 1000 MF, Aug 2024, GSF, YBH washed in 2022.
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Originally Posted by Learninboutfish
Trap was left in less than 2 hours. I don't like what I see in regards to the damage the trap does. Any suggestions for a trap that is less harmful would be appreciated.

Lots of members use traps in their ponds for surveying and/or culling their fish populations. I don't remember any discussion regarding the fish getting beat up in the traps. (Was it you, or someone else earlier in the week that also mentioned the trapped fish showing damage?)

Seems like for surveying and returning fish to the pond, that limiting damage would be important!

Maybe some experts will chime in?

I think BG under a dock feel much more secure than BG out in full sunlight. Can you put your trap under a dock, or just put a piece of foam board over the trap so the trapped fish feel less exposed and anxious? (Just speculation on my part.)

Good luck on your ongoing BG enhancement project!

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A trap made out of fabric instead of wire mesh will damage less fins. Look into a small modified fyke net. Make sure the leade is a couple of feet taller than the opening for the first modified hoop.


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3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
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esshup (and others),

Can the people with commercial traps glue/zip tie some fabric onto the mesh in the trap sections and reduce the fish damage?

Do the fish beat themselves up in the corners of the traps trying to find a way to escape?

Would putting some gentle fabric curves in the corners help the fish?

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I visited with Memphis Net and Twine about this solution this morning, they did not think it would help. They also stated that It could be an option to try to make a Z Trap out of their Delta fabric on a wire frame but did not know of anyone who had done that, It would also be very time intensive and difficult to make the entries as they would need to be reinforced to hold their shape.

If anyone has done this please let us know.

I'm going to try it someday when I get time. Going to start a different thread to see if someone has done studies on mortality rates with using wire traps like the Z Trap.

Thanks all for your input.


2 Acre, Completed July 2022, CC,BG, Sept. 2022, LMB June 2023, 120 BG, 30 RES, 50 HBG all 4-6", 8 TGC 8-10", 1000 MF, Aug 2024, GSF, YBH washed in 2022.
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Originally Posted by FishinRod
esshup (and others),

Can the people with commercial traps glue/zip tie some fabric onto the mesh in the trap sections and reduce the fish damage?

Do the fish beat themselves up in the corners of the traps trying to find a way to escape?

Would putting some gentle fabric curves in the corners help the fish?


I am going to try putting some small mesh netting in the corners with Hog rings to see if this will help.


2 Acre, Completed July 2022, CC,BG, Sept. 2022, LMB June 2023, 120 BG, 30 RES, 50 HBG all 4-6", 8 TGC 8-10", 1000 MF, Aug 2024, GSF, YBH washed in 2022.
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We're under a bit of a cold snap for the past few, and the next few days.

Water temp in the neighborhood pond is around 64 degrees. Fish are feeding well.


Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."

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My water temp was 62.5 last night. Fish still feeding good here, too.


"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever."
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Mine is at 69 and feeding has slowed down???
I've been thinning out YBH and GSF so maybe the fishing pressure is impacting it.


2 Acre, Completed July 2022, CC,BG, Sept. 2022, LMB June 2023, 120 BG, 30 RES, 50 HBG all 4-6", 8 TGC 8-10", 1000 MF, Aug 2024, GSF, YBH washed in 2022.
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Spent all morning on the back of the dam. I had a bunch of cottonwood and locust trees growing up on the back of the dam. Plus lots of briars, and now some multi floral rose has shown up. What’s the deal with the back of a dam that only attracts plant life with thorns or barbs? I just don’t have the guts to back my tractor down the dam with the brush hog attached. I’m “pretty” sure I could get back up. But not 100% sure. So it’s a manual job done every two or three years. First pic is from above. Second pic is from below. There is no evidence that I still have seep or leak as there is no wet spots behind the dam.
Third pic shows how low the water level is with the continuing drought.
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10 yr old pond, 1 ac, 15' deep.
RES, YP, GS, FHM (no longer), HBG (decreasing), SMB, and HSB (only two have been seen in 5 yrs)
I think that's about all I should put in my little pond.
Otter attack in 2023.
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I think the hurricanes are sucking up all the moisture us midwesterners are looking for and shipping it to the SE. Just seeded last weekend in the continuing effort to get the bare spots filled in. Could definitely use a rain drop or 10,000. Is there anything you could plant on the dam or below it that you would like more than something with thorns?


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SetterGuy,

Wow, that is a ton of work!

I think at this point, herbicides are your friend.

If you clear all of it, or even just a portion, I believe it will be much less work to control it in the future by spraying.

Also, if you are hand-cutting through there, you may benefit by creating some access paths now and starting herbicide treatments on your big stuff. For example, I can easily kill my honey locust trees up to 20' tall when the basal bark is still smooth. Once it gets rough, then I have a lot more work! Sometimes, I spray the easy stuff that I can access from my "paths", and then expand my paths the next year.

Frequently, I just mix up a dose for my 2-gallon sprayer when I know I am going to finish my chores before dark. I always grab my respirator mask and then spray until empty. Then I throw those clothes in the laundry and take a shower. You will always get a little "drift" on you and your clothes. As you start spraying more as a property owner, your safety protocols have to get a little more stringent!

Go back out a couple of weeks later and spray the stuff you missed. I usually go when the effects of my previous treatment are obvious so I don't double spray.

Sometimes the next treatment is with a different herbicide. For example, your best treatment for locust trees may be different than the best for multiflora rose.

Finally, the more you beat back that stuff when it is only 2-3' tall, the more likely you are to get patches of grass established the will inhibit some of your undesirable plants from flourishing.

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The next time I spray the food plots I’m going to use that wand on the sprayer and hit some of that stuff. The back of the dam was all fescue 10 years ago. The briars invaded first, then the autumn olive, then the trees started. In the past I put toradon (I’m sure I butchered the name) on the freshly cut stumps. But the autumn olive, and locust seem to be immune to it.
Spraying does seem like a lot less work. I’m feeling it today.. Ha! Plus less blood loss!


10 yr old pond, 1 ac, 15' deep.
RES, YP, GS, FHM (no longer), HBG (decreasing), SMB, and HSB (only two have been seen in 5 yrs)
I think that's about all I should put in my little pond.
Otter attack in 2023.
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