The will float high and resist water logging for a fair bit of time.
Tiny BG should be seen flashing at them trying to eat the food. GSF or larger BG will be able to eat a whole Cheerio. If something is eating them whole, put a Cheerio on a small hook and see if you can catch one for examination. I think a cane pole (or even a stick) is easier than casting to catch fish 6' away.
The will float high and resist water logging for a fair bit of time.
Tiny BG should be seen flashing at them trying to eat the food. GSF or larger BG will be able to eat a whole Cheerio. If something is eating them whole, put a Cheerio on a small hook and see if you can catch one for examination. I think a cane pole (or even a stick) is easier than casting to catch fish 6' away.
6' Ultralight spinning rod, 2# test line and a large spool spinning reel, I can cast a 1/100th oz leadheag jig with a 1" twister tail 30+ feet. I can also toss a #10 Owner Mosquito hook with a single Stubby Steves pellet about 30'-40' with no additional weight or a bobber.
If I want really get a lightweight lure out there using spinning tackle and not a fly rod I can put a bobber on it, attach a split shot directly under the bobber so it barely floats and that added weight allows me to cast 60+ feet while not affecting how the lure/bait looks in the water.
Well as I await more rain, I’ll introduce Piper. From the time we established a level in the new pond, Piper showed up, at this point it’s his pond. He is a constant, a loner, and getting more and more comfortable having me around. He’s fearless and doesn’t hesitate to come very close. Since he first showed up there hasn’t been too many visit of mine he hadn’t showed up. I got a couple decent videos of him eating yesterday ……
Other than the villainous GBH that occasionally hunts our pond, the only wading bird we've seen has been the Wilson's snipe. (Not to be confused with the Kansas variety) Have you identified that piper? Those shorebirds can often be fiendishly difficult to ID.
Our ponds support a LOT of wildlife other than just our fish!
During out recent drought, I deepened one of my groundwater ponds to get it back below the water table.
At one point, it was the only open water for miles around. I had lots of tracks in the moist clay at the shoreline, but it even supported birds and insects that I would observe when I walked in quietly.
I wish I had left a game camera up on time lapse just to get a view of every organism that utilized the pond!
Well, it’s been awhile to this update. Got a bit discouraged because of the drought, we didn’t get any rain of note for 10 weeks and I was traveling a bit for work. Got to the point I was losing 1” a week. Closest the level got to the overflow before the drought was 10”.
Big turn of events, about 10 days ago we received downpours for a week. Pond got to the overflow and spilling over and then freezing temperature came. Now I have a full pond crusted over with ice …. 🤣🤣
Patience is definitely a virtue! Glad to see that your pond has finally reached the overflow.
P.S. I also like the number of Loch Ness monsters that you have stocked in your pond. I have heard that it is usually quite difficult to capture them in a photograph.
2025 should be an exciting year for your new pond.
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."
I like Zetts for their LMB, SMB when they have them, HSB and Yellow Perch.
I'm not quite sure what their bluegill really are because they call them 'red green' sunfish or something like that. I had asked about it, and just wasn't really sure I understood what they said about them.
As I mentioned before, you can get a decent amount of good bluegill from my neighborhood pond and be sure what they are.
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."
Update ….. Things are progressing after the long Winter. Started planting some grass and stocked fish a couple weeks ago.
I stocked a few thousand flathead in the Fall, just added another 5000, 500 bluegill, and a couple dozen carp. Had a Canadian couple come in, one chick and sadly I think it was taken by a predator and they left. Wood duck hanging around and I’m fighting with a heron. Got a couple decoys coming.
We have a couple CG we tolerate, keeps a wonderful Father/Daughter relationship wonderful, as should be. 4-5 Goslings hatch each year, Turtles or 26" CC knock them down to two every year , they fly out with Goose & Gander in June each year, take the land mines with them , Thank Goodness. I admit , it's fun to watch them grow . No other CG use the ponds , G&G open a 55 gallon drum of Whoop-**s on intruding CG , wish they would open 5 -10 drums of Whoop-A** on the Cormorants. Your Pond is Beautiful , Best of Wishes with it's development .
We have a couple CG we tolerate, keeps a wonderful Father/Daughter relationship wonderful, as should be. 4-5 Goslings hatch each year, Turtles or 26" CC knock them down to two every year , they fly out with Goose & Gander in June each year, take the land mines with them , Thank Goodness. I admit , it's fun to watch them grow . No other CG use the ponds , G&G open a 55 gallon drum of Whoop-**s on intruding CG , wish they would open 5 -10 drums of Whoop-A** on the Cormorants. Your Pond is Beautiful , Best of Wishes with it's development .
…… I’ll need to rig up for my grand kids.
