Overview of Recreational Pond Management extension November 13 th 2013 Forrest Wynne State Extension Specialist for Aquaculture Kentucky State University
Ponds are built for some of the following purposes: Livestock watering Domestic use Fire control Irrigation Recreation Aquaculture Aesthetics Flood control Borrow pits Retention/Detention
Ponds may serve either single or multiple uses Not all uses are compatible with fish production! Prioritize uses Manage the pond accordingly
Pond well suited to sport fishing At least ½ acre in surface Good water quality Minimum depth of 6-8 Banks and dam free of woody vegetation Shoreline depths of >2.5 feet to reduce aquatic vegetation and filamentous algae growth Secure location No conflicting uses
To establish good fishing: fish species you want!
Objective: to produce harvest size bluegill and largemouth bass Bluegill > 1/4 lb Largemouth Bass > 1 lb
Bass Bluegill Pond Advantages Ponds may produce 200 lbs or more of fish per acre per year without additional inputs May be able to use already established ponds Self sustaining predator prey population Low cost method of fish production Environmentally friendly native species
Species you don t want!
Lets improve fishing!
Proper steps in getting started: Assess the current fish population: Good fishing balanced population? Remedial stocking may be an option for unbalanced populations Reclaiming entire fish population
How to determine if the fishing is good? Fish the Pond!!!! Most ponds are under-fished! Determine quality of fishing by fishing!
Test seining to determine fish Conducted during summer or fall Should see relatively low numbers of 3-5 inch long bluegill compared to larger and smaller bluegill No unwanted species population balance
Young of year present? Both species should be present If larger fish are caught - check their overall condition
Balanced fish population 6 bluegill and 12-15 bass are caught may harvest up to one third of fish by weight per species/acre/year. For example: A fertile KY pond may produce 200-300 lbs/acre of bluegill and100 lbs/acre of bass.
Unbalanced populations may be good? Overcrowded bluegill Many 3 5 bluegill present produces larger bass, but they may be more difficult to catch. Overcrowded bass produces larger bluegill >9 - bass may be small and in poor condition.
Kentucky Fingerling Fish Stocking Rates by Season for a New or Reclaimed Pond Bluegill fingerlings 400 per acre during fall Channel catfish (optional) 50 per acre during fall Largemouth bass 120 per acre in spring Check with your state s fish and game agency as stocking rates vary from state to state
Stocking bluegill and largemouth bass populations is a widely accepted fisheries management practice in the south and mid west Swingle and Smith conducted the initial research at Auburn University in 1930 s to 1950 s Practice adopted by many state fish and game agencies
Stocking ponds smaller than 1/2 acre Small ponds are difficult to manage for balance bass and bluegill populations. Stock only 25-50 channel catfish and provide fish feed or fathead minnows as forage
Larger fish for remedial stocking May be unsuccessful and expensive! 25% - 33% of initial stocking rate per acre for small fish Stock >10 bass, catfish or grass carp where mature bass are present!
Crappie and bluegill from a pond that contained no bass
If all else fails reclaim the pond with rotenone Restricted use pesticide Works best at water temperatures of 60 o F May take 1-4 weeks to dissipate depending on water temperature 1 to 3 mg/l treatments are common Cost ~ $90.00/gallon
Quality fishing may be difficult to achieve in some ponds due to: Excessive depth Low fertility, acid soils Rapid water exchange Extensive in-pond structure or cover Poor security Size, too large or too small Conflicting uses
Optional inputs to increase fish production to 400 lbs/acre, or more Agricultural limestone Fertilizer Prepared fish feed Aeration Adding structure in larger ponds
Agricultural Limestone Add if total alkalinity of water is less than 30 mg/l Pond mud should be near ph 7.0 Have pond mud or water tested May be hard to get smaller quantities in bulk
Adding Agricultural Limestone To increase total alkalinity by adding Calcium Carbonate Best done before flooding!
Fertilization Program Only if the Pond will be fished hard! Check for lime requirement No vegetation problems Apply every 2-3 weeks during spring once water temperatures reach 60 o F Liquid is easiest to dilute and apply Look for transparency of greater than 24 inches and reapply Continue through October Must apply year after year
More fish, larger fish! Many states have recommendations that stock double the rate, or additional fish per acre in ponds with fertilization programs.
Feeding Fish No more than 25 lbs/acre/day without aeration Largemouth bass have to be feed- trained early in life Everything else will eat it! Use a complete feed
Aeration/De-stratification systems = Aerates and or destratifies pond water during warm months Surface aerators may be put on a timer Provides a refuge for fish when dissolved oxygen becomes low Good Insurance!
Pond aeration/de-stratification may help prevent fish kills
Adding pond structure or fish Not generally a good idea in ponds less than 2 surface acres habitat Mark structure with a buoy and use types that can be removed from the pond bottom from a small boat
Pond Management Things to avoid: Shallow areas less than 2.5 feet when building ponds Depth over 8 or 10 feet if possible submerged structure for fish in ponds less than 2 acres Catfish spawning containers in small ponds as bass consume the young Fish from other ponds or bait buckets Excessive nutrient loading Do not over harvest bass Minimize algaecide or herbicide use during hot weather
Things to do: Fish the pond! Keep catch and other management records Manage vegetation and water quality Control fishing access Control shoreline vegetation Check the pond often and though-out the year Make the pond and its surrounding environment an enjoyable place to be!
The end Website: http://ces.ca.uky.edu/aquaculture