FishinCricket Posted June 7, 2009 Posted June 7, 2009 So here's the issue. I live in Lebanon, Missouri. We have a public park called Nelson Park, it's right next to the baseball fields, skate park, public pool and football field. FAntastic location, right in the middle of town, and the best part? It's for kids and seniors only! Ok, so maybe that isn't the best part for me (cause I can't fish there), but it is simply fatastic (I think) for the local kids. It gives them one more wholesome activity to pacify them and keep them away from all the many pitfalls of youth (sadly some in our community actually disagree with me about that point, but they had more opportunities as a kid than I did.. LOL). We have a "Kids Fishing Day" where the parks department contacts sponsors and gets fishing poles and bait and even stock the pond with some big cats and bass and perch, then they have a contest with prizes and the whole works! So what's the problem? Someone at the Parks department has been slacking, apparently. I don't wanna be too hard on these guys, but yeeeeeeeesh.. look at this pond! It is absolutely covered in trash, first of all, but that can easily be attributed to the fact that the ball field gets overrun once a week with softball players and their families. Sometimes (like every week) some of their trash drifts off and ends up in the pond. Today as I walked around the Pond I counted over 30 pieces of trash on the surface, and I picked up an entire bag of trash off of the banks. This issue is not one that you guys can do much about. Here's where I need your help... This pond has Bass, Catfish, and Perch (looks like it's getting overrun with the perch actually), but there's so much GRASS in the pond, growing up from the bottom, that it's practically impossible to fish it. Soooooo... Any suggestions? Someone said grass carp, but someone else says they put grass carp in it years ago and it hasn't helped.. I am told there are chemicals you can get that kill certain types of grass while not hurting the fish, others have said to just drag it all out with a snagging rig.. Anybody know a good biologist who's willing to give free advice? cricket.c21.com
zander Posted June 7, 2009 Posted June 7, 2009 When my father lived in Florida he had a retaining pond behind his house that looked a lot like the pictures you have up there. We tried the whole snagging/raking thingbut the effects didn't last. Grass carp would work but you would have to get the right size and right number to have any effect. Also get ones too big to get eaten by herons. We had our first set of carp eaten by ospreys, so we upsized on our next order.
FishinCricket Posted June 7, 2009 Author Posted June 7, 2009 When my father lived in Florida he had a retaining pond behind his house that looked a lot like the pictures you have up there. We tried the whole snagging/raking thingbut the effects didn't last. Grass carp would work but you would have to get the right size and right number to have any effect. Also get ones too big to get eaten by herons. We had our first set of carp eaten by ospreys, so we upsized on our next order. Thank you for the reply.. I have read a little bit about grass carp and it seems as though the pond might already have grass carp in it.. At least if it doesn't, it has something that likes to roll on the top every 30 minutes during the evening hours! (It's carp that do that, right?) Also I read that you need to make sure that you get sterile carp? Thanks again for the reply, I am going to present as much to the parks board as I can, being a layman... cricket.c21.com
snagged in outlet 3 Posted June 7, 2009 Posted June 7, 2009 Looks more like algae bloom from fertilizer run off. Just a guess. SIO3
FishinCricket Posted June 7, 2009 Author Posted June 7, 2009 Looks more like algae bloom from fertilizer run off. Just a guess. SIO3 Thanks for the reply.. You may be right, the pond is directly downhill from the softball fields.. What would that mean? And how can I tell? cricket.c21.com
Quillback Posted June 8, 2009 Posted June 8, 2009 Here's a link to the state ponds info - looks like some good stuff - they also have biologists that might give you some help/advice. http://mdc.mo.gov/fish/ponds/
snagged in outlet 3 Posted June 8, 2009 Posted June 8, 2009 Contact your local Missouri Department of Conservation office and request pond management help. I think it's free. SIO3
cnr Posted June 8, 2009 Posted June 8, 2009 The problem looks like filamentous algae wich cannot be controlled with grass carp (they eat plants not algae). Here is a link to an MDC information sheet that may help. http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/13.pdf
FishinCricket Posted June 9, 2009 Author Posted June 9, 2009 Thank you all very much for the replys.. Looks like, after reading those links over, that some REALLY big grass carp could do the trick, but then I would have to get them back out of there after the algae goes away.. Also sounds like the problem could be fixed with chemicals at a pretty inexpensive price tag.. Thanks again for pitching in and helping me brainstorm... cricket.c21.com
denjac Posted June 9, 2009 Posted June 9, 2009 Looks more like algae bloom from fertilizer run off. Just a guess. SIO3 Thats my take on it too. Ever see the ponds, lakes at a golf course? Look just like that one. Dennis Boothe Joplin Mo. For a nation to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle." ~ Winston Churchill ~
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