Alien Invasion - I want my pond back !

[RedNeckGeek]

Just thought I'd share a little TBN feature I've found very useful, though most of you TBN old timers probably know more about it than I do.

At the top of every forum page like this one, you'll find a MY HOME gear shaped button. Clicking on it will take you to another page where you can adjust your TBN settings, but most of the page is filled with a list of threads to which you have subscribed. You subscribe to a thread when you post to it, either by starting it to begin with or by replying. You can also select "Subscribe to this thread" under the Thread Tools menu at the top of each forum page.

The default list shows only threads that have entries you have not seen yet, and this makes it very easy to catch up on what you haven't read. There's a View All Subscribed Threads button at the bottom right of the list if you want to see all of the threads that you've responded to or started.

If you no longer wish to follow a particular thread, there's an Unsubscribe link under each one in the list.

Hope this helps... :laughing:

 

[texasjohn]

Redneck, you have well described the best way to view TBN...and, for me, the only way I use. Great to point it out...thought everybody did this.

And, now we are getting a lesson in fishing, UK style...very interesting!! I, too, have heard about the fish eggs on waterfowl and have never found it to be true, either. However, there are things which somehow seem to find their way to water.

Here in Texas we have had 5 years of extreme drought, my several stock tanks went completely dry...I mean, drive the tractor in the bottom and dig silt out with the FEL, DRY. This spring, we had good rains and my tanks filled up...from somewhere, the following critters have showed up...nearest water before latest rains is over a mile away.
red ear turtles
soft shell turtles
snapping turtles
three types of frogs, including bull frogs
all sorts of water bugs and water spiders
cottonmouth water moccasin snake, other water snakes

I have stocked three kinds of fish, catfish, bluegill, hog nose minnows...hoping for fun with grandkids next year.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Redneck, you have well described the best way to view TBN...and, for me, the only way I use. Great to point it out...thought everybody did this. And, now we are getting a lesson in fishing, UK style...very interesting!! I, too, have heard about the fish eggs on waterfowl and have never found it to be true, either. However, there are things which somehow seem to find their way to water. Here in Texas we have had 5 years of extreme drought, my several stock tanks went completely dry...I mean, drive the tractor in the bottom and dig silt out with the FEL, DRY. This spring, we had good rains and my tanks filled up...from somewhere, the following critters have showed up...nearest water before latest rains is over a mile away. red ear turtles soft shell turtles snapping turtles three types of frogs, including bull frogs all sorts of water bugs and water spiders cottonmouth water moccasin snake, other water snakes I have stocked three kinds of fish, catfish, bluegill, hog nose minnows...hoping for fun with grandkids next year.

Nothing says fun like Snakes and Snappin Turtles... Lol

Just made me laugh reading your post.

The kids will have a great time fishing I'm sure but the other critters would keep me on edge.

Chris

 

[Eric Salop]

Alien Invasion

Time to clear up that pond a little and then see about ordering some fish. With chest waders and a rake I set off to clear the pond surface, starting at the opposite end to where I had tried to fish.
Instead of stooping from the bankside I thought it would be easier on my back to just wade straight in and flick the weed out. Using the rake as a walking stick I carefully stepped off the edge of the bank into the pond. It was much shallower than I had expected. Another step further and I still wasn't going much deeper. The weed that was previously floating on the surface sank beneath my feet and I had the strange sensation of standing on what felt like a submerged piece of carpet. This wouldn't be the first time someone had parked by the roadside and thrown rubbish into the pond.

I tried another place a few yards further along the bank and it was just the same, except this time I got one foot tangled beneath the surface. Then came the sick feeling in my stomach. I wasn't feeling queasy from my unsteady position, it was the realisation of what was going on. How stupid do you have to be to not realise that the pond you once worked so hard to restore has, over a period of years, gradually been taken over ? That's where I fit on the scale of stupidity.:duh:

The weed I could see floating was nothing in comparison to what was going on under the surface. I had been invaded and this was an invasion of iceberg proportions. The pond had been engulfed by aliens and I was standing on them. An alien plant from the other side of the world.


The innocent looking water plant is called Crassula helmsii to those with a liking for Latin names, everyone else calls it Australian stonecrop or New Zealand pigmy weed.



Crassula was brought into this country many years ago as an "oxygenating plant" for aquariums. Someone must have thought they would then try it in an outside pool, from where it has managed to hitch a ride with waterfowl and spread out into the countryside. Nothing here has yet developed an appetite for it. Unlike other plants, it can continue to grow throughout the winter, eventually crowding out all other life. It was banned from sale in April 2014 - too late for me.


That first day I tried dragging it out with the rake. Apart from small pieces I made no virtually no impression. This was incredible, as Coots had been happily swimming through the Crassula, making it look as if it could be easily parted. Not so, all those little shoots intertwine beneath the surface.



Individually each shoot is weak, but once they have woven themselves together, it is the underwater equivalent of a Kevlar vest.



Raking would do nothing, so I admitted defeat for the day and retreated to consider my options, then come back better equipped to do battle.

 

[Garandman]

Well. at least Americans don't get blamed, for once.....

 

[jlgurr]

Reminds me of the infamous Kudzu vine we have here, imported from Asia IIRC. Some locals have reported you can see it grow inches per day.

 

[dave1949]

Eurasian Milfoil Eurasian watermilfoil - Invasive species: Minnesota DNR is the invasive alien invader water plant pest here. It will rapidly fill shallow waters around lake shores.

One little sprig carried in on a fishing boat or bird will spread it.

 

[TJP89]

Wow.

I just found this, figured when I saw the may start date it would be over. Nope, just got to the topic issue.

I've seen the stuff, it's a real pain. I'd suggest chemical warfare.

 

[Wagtail]

"everyone else calls it Australian stonecrop"

It wasn't ME! I haven't been to the UK since '91 at the Racal College in Heckfield (yes, that's it's actual name), between Reading & Bassingstoke.

 

[Jim Shooz]

It wasn't me who brought it over, I was last in the UK in 2010 and I never went any where Shropshire.