Trout Pond Anyone?

[meadowlarkponds]

The excellent question you致e asked has a very complex answer and I致e tried to provide some of the fundamentals. You can稚 possibly read too much on this subject.

Ken

Regional differences also play a significant role in this question, and of course in the use of trout in our ponds.


In the south, we use grass carp to control most vegetation in our ponds and for the stuff they won't eat, e.g. filamentous algae, we use Tilapia. I never use chemicals (well only in an emergency).

When ponds are also used for watering livestock and the fishing is enjoyed by grandkids and their friends, the steep slopes mentioned for weed prevention can be problematic. A cow will go into a pond, and with steep slopes not be able to get back out and simply die....worse, much worse, is the potential for children falling into the pond and not being able to get back out. These are very real considerations in designing and building southern ponds.

If livestock and/or children are potential users of a pond, please consider shallow slopes, not steep. Certainly not disagreeing with using steep slopes for weed control, but trying to point out that unintended consequences may result.

I love trout fishing and would also love to have them in my southern ponds, but they are only a winter put and take option in our region.

Some folks do just that(put and take) to enjoy fishing for them and to provide winter forage for their largemouth bass (LMB). I have found, however, that trout can actually do more harm than good in terms of winter forage in a LMB pond. Trout are really terrific predators on BG. BG form the base of just about any southern LMB pond. Hence, the benefits of stocking trout for winter forage may actually be a long term negative in a southern LMB pond. This is what I have experienced in my ponds.

Thanks to K714 for an interesting thread.

 

[ETD66SS]

Ken, please take a look at my pond project here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/120720-my-pond-project.html

I have another 1/3 to go on the digging this summer, and am wondering how deep should I try to get the last section?

The first 2/3 I was only able to get 15 feet deep. I may try to change my excavation technique this summer and get closer to 20 ft.

Would digging the last 1/3 of the ~1 acre pond to 20 ft open up more options for me in terms of coldwater fish?

There is no creek close enough to feed this pond, it's a pond in a low water table area.

I'm not sure what types of fish I want yet, but if possible, I'd like to have options when it comes time to stock.