Management Of Recreational Fish Ponds In Alabama

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Turn-Overs

Many of the basic problems of farm pond management have already been discussed. These included how to maintain a good food supply for the fish, how to harvest to maintain a balanced population, how to check balance, how to control weeds, and how to avoid fish kills from algae bloom die-offs. These are not simple problems. Ponds are complex systems that take understanding and commitment to manage properly.

One common problem in Alabama is pond "turn-over." Turn-overs naturally occur when ponds cool in the fall, but fall turn-overs are seldom a problem. Problem turn-overs occur during warm weather when ponds are stratified: surface water is warmer than the water below and the two layers no longer mix. This causes the cooler water near the bottom to stagnate and become depleted in oxygen. Fish avoid this layer of water. A turn-over occurs when the warm upper layer suddenly cools and mixes with the stagnant layer. The two layers mixed together may not have enough oxygen to support fish and they die. This usually occurs after a cold, hard rain. If a turn-over occurs, quick aeration may save the fish. Similar fish kills can also be caused by oxygen depletions from a bloom die-off or rotting vegetation from herbicide treatment.

Enhancement Strategies

Many techniques can be used to enhance fishing in ponds. Some of these include stocking of fathead minnow forage, construction of fish shelters, supplemental feeding, manipulating water level, aeration, and destratification.

Fathead minnows stocked at about 500 per acre the first year of a new or renovated pond will improve bass survival and growth. Fatheads should be stocked in February or March before the bass are stocked in June. Fatheads will spawn and produce abundant forage for the young of year bass. Bass will eliminate the fatheads within a few months and turn to bream for forage.

Fish shelters or "attractors" can be made from many different materials (See illustration left). The purpose of a fish shelter is to provide a place for some small fish to escape predation and attract fish for anglers. These structures should be at a depth of 2 to 6 feet. Discarded Christmas trees and cedar trees make excellent shelters if anchored to the bottom. Stake beds (stakes driven into the bottom), rock piles, and tire reefs are also good shelters. Usually only one reef is placed for every 1 to 3 acres and no more than three per acre.

Supplemental feeding of commercial fish feeds increases bream and catfish growth. Bass do not readily consume artificial feeds but benefit from the increase in bream reproduction. Feeding can possibly double the average size of harvestable fish and total pond production (up to 600+ pounds per acre). Fish can be fed throughout the warm months of the year, but best results are obtained by feeding from March through May and October through November when most bream growth occurs. Feed three or four times per day. Feed in the same area and at about the same time of day. Feeding can be done by hand or with demand or automatic feeders. Floating feeding rings for containing the feed can be made from PVC tubing anchored in place. Provide one feeding station for each 3 acres of pond.

The protein level of the feed is not very important. Studies have shown that low protein (25 percent) will produce excellent growth. Therefore, it is not necessary to purchase high protein feed.

It is very important not to overfeed. Feed all the fish will eat in 10 to 15 minutes, but not more than 10 pounds per acre per day. Winter feeding is not necessary but may promote increased bluegill growth. In winter feed sinking pellets at a rate not to exceed 3 pounds per acre per day.

Feeding is expensive and can only be justified when there is an obvious need to increase production above that which can be supplied by fertilization and controlled harvest. Feeding stimulates plankton blooms similar to fertilization, thus fertilization is usually unnecessary if feeding is performed on a regular basis. If feeding is not done on a regular basis, it may be necessary to fertilize. Use the Secchi disk to determine if fertilization is needed (see Fertilization).

Ponds with drains have distinctive management advantages. Water level can be drawn down several feet (2 to 3) in late fall through mid-winter. This action helps control aquatic weeds by exposing them to drying and freezing. Draw-downs also concentrate the fish, making forage fish more available to the bass. This practice increases bass growth and reduces bream overpopulation. Caution: Drain valves must be well maintained or they may not open and close properly. The pond should be allowed to refill in February and March.

Ponds that have a history of fish kills will benefit from aeration or destratification (if deeper than 8 feet), or both. Many types of electric aerators are available commercially. Supplemental aeration requires approximately 1/2 to 1 horsepower of aeration per surface acre of pond. If a turn-over or bloom die-off occurs, additional aeration may be necessary.

Thermal layering (stratification) can be stopped by using blowers, underwater fans, and propeller aspirator type aerators. Destratification will eliminate the chance of a fish kill caused by a turn-over and increase the area of the pond inhabited by the fish during the summer months. However, destratification does alter algae blooms and may increase low oxygen problems during periods of overcast weather. For additional information on aeration and destratification devices contact your county Extension office or fisheries specialist.

Fish also can be encouraged to spawn where you want them to by providing them with a good spawning substrate. Place sand and gravel beds in several locations around the shoreline in 2 to 5 feet of water. The sand and gravel should be 4 to 6 inches deep and can be contained in a frame or box if the bottom is particularly silty. These beds allow the pond owner to concentrate seining efforts in areas where spawning should have occurred.

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