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MANAGING MISSISSIPPI

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FARM PONDSAND SMALL LAKES

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Mississippi State University Extension Service

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks

Natural Resources Conservation Service

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CONTENTS

Planning ................................................................................. 4

Construction .......................................................................... 5

Stocking ................................................................................. 7

Management ......................................................................... 10

Aquatic Vegetation Control .................................................. 13

Lime and Fertilization .......................................................... 16

Feeding ................................................................................. 20

Fish Kills .............................................................................. 20

Drawdowns .......................................................................... 21

Fish Attractors ...................................................................... 22

Pond Renovation.................................................................. 23

Turtles .................................................................................. 24

Waterfowl Habitat ............................................................... 25

Beaver and Muskrat Damage ............................................... 25

More Information ................................................................ 29

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MISSISSIPPIFARM PONDS

Mississippi has morethan 130,000 farmponds totaling 230,000acres, ranging in sizefrom 1/2 to 5 acres.There are also an addi-tional 150,000 acres ofponds ranging from 5 to40 acres.

Because of poor planning,improper construction, or lack ofproper management, many Missis-sippi lakes and ponds are relativelyunproductive. A pond that consis-tently produces good catches of fish isa result of proper planning, construc-tion, and management. The purposeof this publication is to encourageMississippi landowners to plan,construct, and manage their pondsand lakes properly for recreationalfishing.

A good pond depends on loca-tion, design, construction, stocking,and management. After the pond iscompleted, success or failure dependson the landowner’s using necessarypractices to establish and maintaingood fish populations. Properstocking of the right species andnumber, a balanced harvest of maturefish, proper fertilization, water qualitymanagement, and aquatic weedcontrol are basics that the pond ownershould understand. Manyunmanaged ponds could producemany more pounds of fish than theynow produce if good managementpractices were followed. The annual

harvest of fish can provide hours ofrecreation, pounds of nutritious food,and supplemental income.

If you need assistance in planning anew pond or in managing an old one,contact one of the following agencies orone of their field offices locatedthroughout the state:

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries andParks

P. O. Box 451 Jackson, MS 39025601/364-2200(6 district offices)

Department of Wildlife and FisheriesMississippi State University ExtensionService Box 9690 Mississippi State, MS 39762 662/325-3174 (Extension office in each county)

Natural Resources Conservation Service100 West Capitol StreetSuite 1321, Federal BuildingJackson, MS 39269601/965-4339(District office in each county)

and small lakes

Managing

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Figure 1. Layout of a typical farm pond

of the valley floor permits a largearea to be flooded. Such sites areideal and minimize areas of shallowwater. Avoid large areas of shallowwater because they become tooshallow for use during late summerand fall dry periods, and theyencourage the growth of undesirableaquatic plants. If possible, avoidlocations with constantly flowingcreeks or streams.

Water SupplyWater should be adequate, but

not excessive, and may be providedby springs, wells, or surface runoff.For ponds where surface runoff isthe main source of water, thecontributing drainage area should belarge enough to maintain a suitablewater level during dry periods.However, the drainage area shouldnot be so large that expensiveoverflow structures are needed andwater exchange occurs too fre-quently. As a rule, a pond shouldhave 5 to 10 acres of drainage areafor each acre of impounded water.The amount of runoff that can beexpected from a watershed dependson several factors: topography, soiltype, and plant cover.

SoilSuitable soil is one of the

primary factors in selecting a pondsite. The soil should contain a layerof material that water will not seepthrough. Clays and silty clays areexcellent for this purpose. Sandyclays are also usually satisfactory. Todetermine suitability, take soilborings at frequent intervals andhave them analyzed. The localNatural Resources ConservationService can assist in this evaluation.Failure to evaluate hidden soil strataproperly could result in a pond thatwill not hold water.

Your Extension county agentcan advise you how to collect soilsamples for analysis to determine thelime requirements (of the pondbottom) for the site you haveselected. A minimal fee is chargedby the State Soil Testing Lab for thisanalysis.

PermitMississippi law now requires

that all landowners constructing animpoundment capable of holding25 acre feet of water file an applica-tion with the Mississippi Depart-ment of Environmental Qualitybefore constructing a dam. There isno fee required, but there arepenalties for failure to file.Under the guidelines and recom-mendations in this publication,

PlanningSite

Site selection is extremelyimportant. Natural ResourcesConservation Service personnel canassist in site selection, soil suitabil-ity, engineering survey, and designat no cost to the landowner. Theycan provide an estimate of the costof the earth work, quality controlchecks during construction, andinformation on other aspects ofplanning, design, and construction.

Consider the following sitecharacteristics before you design andconstruct your pond: (1) topogra-phy, (2) water supply, and (3) soiltype. If possible, consider more thanone location and study each one toselect the most practical, aesthetic,and economical site. A typical layoutof a properly constructed farm pondis shown in Figure 1.

TopographyConsider topography first

because it directly affects construc-tion costs and management. Locatethe pond where an adequate volumeof water can be impounded with theleast amount of earthfill. A good siteis usually one where a dam can beconstructed across a narrow sectionof a steep valley, and where the slope

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most properly constructed pondsgreater than five surface acres willrequire this permit. Please consultyour local Natural ResourcesConservation Service office andrequest form BLWR-PDC81.

Wooden or earthen piers provide increased access to the pond for anglers and swimmers.Fish feeders and fertilizer platforms can be conveniently attached to these piers.

Fish Stocking While you are in the planning

stage, so also are the fish hatcheries!Gamefish are available from privatehatcheries for stocking into newponds. Consult Mississippi Depart-ment of Agriculture and Commerce

(601-354-6720) (MDAC), districtoffices of the Mississippi Departmentof Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, yourlocal Natural Resources Conserva-tion Service, or county Extensionoffice for a list of licensed game fishhatcheries in Mississippi.

Construction

SizePond size should be determined

by the needs and desires of theowner. Bigger is not always better.Small ponds can provide enjoyablefishing if good planning and propermanagement guidelines are fol-lowed. Larger ponds and lakesprovide many other uses, such aswater supply, limited irrigation,swimming, boating, and hunting,and they are less susceptible to waterlevel fluctuations and overfishing.

DepthPonds in Mississippi should

usually be at least 6 feet deep over20 percent of the area to maintainmaximum production of sportfishes. To prevent aquatic weedinfestations and other managementproblems, avoid shallow water areasless than 3 feet. Depths greater than12 feet seldom provide any produc-tive fisheries benefits because of lowsummertime dissolved oxygen levels.

DamsDams should be at least 8 to 12

feet wide at the top, depending onthe height of the dam. Dams lessthan 12 feet high require an 8-foottop width. Dams between 12 and15 feet high require a 10-foot topwidth, and those higher than 15 feetrequire a 12-foot top width. Damswith tops wider than the required

minimum are much easier tomaintain. In many areas of Missis-sippi, soil types are such that damsmust be cored with clay to preventseepage. The dam should haveslopes no steeper than 3:1 on eitherside. On the backside, a 4:1 slopewill allow the pond owner tomaintain the vegetation on the dam.For example, a dam with a 3:1 slopewill have a 1 foot rise for every 3 feetof horizontal measurement. Estab-

lish suitable vegetation, such asBermudagrass, fescuegrass, Bahiagrass,or other perennial cover on the damas soon as possible to prevent erosion,muddy water, and maintenanceproblems. Do not allow trees togrow on dam.

Drain and Overflow PipeA combination drain and

overflow pipe, as well as an emer-gency spillway, are necessary forgood management. The emergencyspillway is designed to carry exces-sive runoff from heavy rainfall. Theoverflow pipe is the outlet fornormal waterflow through the pond.The bottom drain allows the waterlevel to be lowered, which is oftennecessary for weed control and

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fishery management. A drain givesthe pond owner a necessary tool tomanage his pond efficiently.Overflow and drain pipes may becorrugated metal, aluminum, steel,or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Somematerials are more durable thanothers, and thus may be preferred.For example, PVC pipe, althoughinexpensive, is prone to breakageand vandals. Be sure that the pipemeets the standards for use in apond dam. Drains can be added toexisting ponds, but you will needprofessional assistance.

BanksBanks should be sloped with a

water depth of 3 feet near theshoreline to eliminate shallowwater areas around the pond edgewhere aquatic weeds often start.Cattle may cause bank erosion andmuddy water; fencing the pondmay be necessary to limit or preventdamage.

SeepageSeepage in new ponds some-

times develops. Seepage can oftenbe corrected by draining the pondand compacting the bottom. If thebottom soils have marginal water-holding capacity, a blanket of clayor other soil sealant packed with asheepsfoot roller may reduce theseepage. If the problem persists,contact any Natural ResourcesConservation Service office orMississippi Department of Wildlife,Fisheries and Parks district office.

Pond BasinMany pond sites have trees in

the basin, most of which should becut and salvaged, or piled andburned. However, it is acceptable toretain some trees, bushes, and brushpiles. Underwater cover provideshabitat for certain aquatic organismson which fish feed, as well as coverfor gamefish. Be sure you can findthese areas after they are flooded.

Usually, up to 10 percent, andnot more than 25 percent, of thepond area should have some treecover (fish attractors) where pos-sible. It is important to leave treecover in the right areas. Leavebushes and trees in deeper waterareas, along creek runs, and in themiddle of the pond or lake. Leavetrees in small clumps. Cut standingtrees about 2 feet above the normalwater level, and anchor brushy topsto the base of the tall stumps. Thiswill serve as a permanent marker tobrushtop locations and avoid thedangers of falling limbs in lateryears. Do not leave trees or bushesin shallow areas, narrow coves, oralong the bank, because these areaswill become difficult to fish andmay develop aquatic vegetationproblems. Too much cover inshallow water will make it hard forbass to control the bream. Youshould be able to navigate the entireshoreline by boat.

If no trees or brush are presentto leave for cover, fish shelters canbe established during pond con-struction. See the section on fish

attractors for more detailed informa-tion. Prepare the pond basin duringconstruction because equipment andlabor are available at that time. Mostlandowners are reluctant to drainthe pond later for necessaryimprovements, so it is important tocomplete all work during construc-tion.

Lime the pond bottom after allother excavation and dirt work arecomplete. Liming is extremelyimportant and is discussed in greaterdetail later. During construction,decide which trees to leave, clearunwanted trees, and develop fishattractors. Before flooding, preparegravel beds for bluegill spawning.Build wooden and earthen piers,and deepen the pond edges. Plantwheat, rye, millet, or other suitablegrasses in the pond bottom toproduce an abundance of aquaticlife when the pond is filled and toreduce erosion and siltation.

The dam should be limed,fertilized, and seeded with anappropriate grass as soon as con-struction is complete. Mulching ofthe dam and other sloping areas isrecommended. It is criticallyimportant to prevent erosion of thedam. The pond should be com-pleted during summer beforestocking fish in the fall. If practical,do not allow the pond to fill withwater until just prior to stocking.This will prevent the pond frombecoming contaminated withunwanted species.

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Table 1. Recommended stocking rates (number of fish fingerlings per acre) and species combinations for farm pondslarger than one acre.

Channel Hybrid FatheadStocking Combination Bass Bluegill Redear Catfish Sunfish Minnows

Bass-Bluegill 50 500 - - - -Bass-Bluegill-Channel Catfish 50 500 - 50 - -Bass-Bluegill-Redear 50 350 150 - - -Bass-Bluegill-Redear-Channel Catfish 50 350 150 50 - -Bass-Hybrid Sunfish 50 - - - 750 -Channel Catfish-Hybrid Sunfish - - - 100 350-500 -Channel Catfish Only - - - 100-150 - -Bass-Bluegill-Redear-Fathead Minnows 50 350 150 - - 500

* No other fish stocking is necessary after this initial stocking. It is usually a waste of money to stock additional fingerlingsinto a pond that contains adult fish. Supplemental stocking should be done only upon advice from a competent fisheriesbiologist.

Stocking

Stock ponds with fish fromreliable fish hatcheries to eliminatethe introduction of undesirable fishspecies, parasites, or diseases.Gamefish for stocking purposes areavailable from licensed commercialfish hatcheries. A list of the licensedcommercial fish hatcheries isavailable upon request from theMississippi Department of Agricul-ture and Commerce, MississippiDepartment of Wildlife, Fisheriesand Parks district offices, Coopera-tive Extension Service, and NaturalResources Conservation Service.

Bass and Bream CombinationsFor the best recreational fishing

in Mississippi, the recommendedspecies for stocking all new im-poundments are largemouth bass,bluegill, redear sunfish, channelcatfish, and fathead minnows atrates and combinations listed inTable 1. Channel catfish may alsobe stocked with bass and bream orstocked alone. (Crappie are notrecommended for impoundmentsless than 500 acres. Crappieshould not be stocked into farmponds because they tend tooverpopulate, resulting in a pondfull of stunted fish.)

Largemouth bass are predatoryand eat a variety of foods. Their dietincludes small fish, frogs, crawfish,and insects. Largemouth bass arewell adapted to ponds and repro-duce successfully, usually spawningonly once a year. They grow rapidlyin a pond where food is plentiful,generally reaching sexual maturityand spawning at one year of age. Inthe spring, when water temperaturesreach 60 °F, mature males fan outdepressions or “nests” on the pondbottom. Females lay their eggs in thenest. The male fertilizes the eggs, andthey usually hatch within four days.

The two strains of largemouthbass commonly stocked in ponds andlakes are the northern largemouth(native to all parts of Mississippi) andthe Florida largemouth. Crossesbetween these two, called intergrades,are also available. Although someresearch has been conducted todetermine which, if any, of theselargemouth strains or intergrades isbest for stocking farm ponds andsmall lakes, no conclusive answer hasbeen found. A few observations, basedpartly upon science and partly uponfield experience, may be helpful as youdecide which largemouth strain to stock:

•Natives, Floridas, and intergradeshave all been used with success inMississippi.

•The Florida strain and theintergrade have the greatest potentialto attain trophy size (greater than 10pounds).

•Growing evidence exists that theFlorida strain is, on the average,harder to catch than northerns orintergrades.

•Many hatcheries no longermaintain pure Florida strains, butrather intergrades with varyingpercentages of mixed northern/Floridagenes.

•It is not known at this timewhether all intergrades are equivalentin growth, catchability, etc. Forexample, an intergrade that is 50percent Florida and 50 percentnorthern MAY perform differentlythan an intergrade that is 25:75, etc.

•There is usually no difference incost among the strains.

7. Your ultimate success inproducing trophy size fish witheither northern or Florida bass willdepend more on the quality of yourmanagement program than onstrain selection.

Bluegill and redear sunfish(bream) are also well adapted toponds and eat a variety of foods.When small, they eat microscopicplants and animals. As they grow,their diet changes to include insects,snails, crawfish, and small fish. Ifsufficient food is available, these fish

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grow rapidly, reaching sexualmaturity at one year. When watertemperatures reach 70 to 75 °F inthe spring, redear sunfish beginspawning, followed by bluegill whentemperatures reach 80 °F. Bluegillsmay spawn as many as five times inone season while redear sunfishnormally spawn only twice. Breamspawn in groups, and their collec-tions of nests are called spawning“beds.”

The two strains of bluegillscommonly stocked in Mississippiare native bluegills and a Floridastrain called coppernose bluegill.Biologically, the two are verysimilar, as are general growth ratesand other characteristics. Ap-pearance differs slightly, withcoppernose easily distinguishedfrom natives by a broad copper bandacross the top of the head, whitemargins on the fins, and a pro-nounced pattern of vertical bars onthe sides. Opinions vary regardingthe pros and cons of stockingcoppernose instead of nativebluegills, and many questions haveyet to be answered. A few generalobservations may be helpful:

• Both are readily available fromhatcheries around the state.

• Either bluegill is an acceptablechoice. Some biologists (and pondowners) prefer natives; other prefercoppernose. There is no advantageor disadvantage to either.

• Costs are currently the same.• There is some opinion, though

not conclusive, that coppernose maynot be quite as prolific as nativebluegills. Depending upon otherfactors in a management program,this can be either a positive ornegative attribute.

• Ultimate performance of thebluegills, regardless of strain,depends more on the quality ofyour management program thanon strain selection.

pond that is to be stocked withbream and bass should be at leastone acre in size, preferably larger.Although small ponds can nor-mally provide unlimited breamfishing, there is a potential foroverharvesting the bass in pondsless than one acre.

Stocking Rates and SequenceFollow these fingerling stocking

rates and sequences: channel catfishat 50 per acre stocked in the fall;bluegill and redear sunfish (com-monly called bream) at 500 per acre(mixed) stocked in the fall or winter;fathead minnows at 500 per acrewith bluegills in the fall or winter;largemouth bass at 50 per acrestocked the following spring. Theratio of bream to bass should be 10to 1 (Table 1). Fingerling catfishshould be 6-8 inches long, bluegillsand redear sunfish 2-3 inches, andlargemouth bass 2 inches at time ofinitial stocking.

Stock channel catfish first toensure enough growth to preventpredation by bass. Until channelcatfish reach a length of about 18inches, they will be in direct compe-tition with bream for food. Stockingmore than 50 channel catfish peracre may suppress growth of bream.Bluegill and redear sunfish finger-lings stocked in the fall and winterwill spawn the next spring. Large-mouth bass fingerlings are stockedin the spring to coincide with thefirst bream spawn. They feed on thesmall bream, thus preventing anoverpopulation of bream. Fatheadminnows provide abundant foragefor largemouth bass during the firstyear of growth, but are of littlebenefit thereafter.

If timing is such that youcannot stock the pond in thissequence, consult a fisheries biolo-gist to discuss an alternative stockingstrategy that might work. Since allsituations are different, there is nosingle recommendation that caneasily be applied to all cases.

After you complete the initialstocking of fingerling fish, do notadd any fish to the pond except onthe recommendation of a fisheries

biologist. The practice of addingadditional fish, including catfish, tothe pond year after year can lead toovercrowding and stunted fish. Thispractice has ruined the fishing inmany ponds in Mississippi.

With proper management, acorrectly stocked pond generallyresults in a balanced fish populationand will insure good fishing foryears to come.

Catfish PondsChannel catfish grow well

alone, with few disease problems,stocked at 100-150 per acre. Whenstocked alone, supplemental feedingwill give the fastest growth. Naturalfoods include decaying organicmatter, plant material, crawfish,small fish, and insects. The relativelylow stocking rate (100-150 per acre)ensures good growth to a harvestablesize in a reasonably short period oftime. It is not desirable to encouragecatfish spawning because of potentialcrowding and disease problems. Tocontrol the possibility of unwantedspawning, it is acceptable to add a fewbass to the ponds to eliminate anyfingerlings less than 6 inches.

One of the most commonmistakes pond owners make isstocking too many catfish. Ingeneral, the natural maximumcarrying capacity in most farmponds is about 500 pounds of fishper acre. This means that no morethan 500 pounds of fish can bemaintained without aeration andadditional feeding. When catfish arestocked and grown to acceptablecatachable sizes (1 to 3 pounds), thiscarrying capacity is exceeded whenmore that about 150 catfish arepresent. Attempts to exceed thisnatural limit in farm ponds withoutsupplemental aeration, feeding, etc.,will usually result in stress andultimate disease in the catfish. Inextreme cases, oxygen can bedepleted and catastrophic losses mayoccur.

Recreational catfish ponds areintended to be much less inten-sively managed than their com-mercial counterparts in theMississippi Delta.

Size of the pond has directinfluence on future fishing poten-tial, but there are very few limita-tions if the owner has reasonableexpectations. Ponds less than oneacre are often best suited forchannel catfish alone. A farm

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Hybrid BreamStocking hybrid sunfish offers

some attractive managementpossibilities in small ponds, pro-vided certain conditions are met.These conditions are critical tosuccess of ponds stocked withhybrid sunfish, and pond ownerswill be disappointed unless properconsideration is taken beforestocking. Do not stock hybridsinto ponds containing other fish,and never stock them in combina-tion with other bream species.Always stock hybrids in combina-tion with a predator fish since,contrary to popular belief, they arenot sterile. Most hybrid populationsare 85-95 percent males, and thisresults in lower reproductivepotential. They will, however, stilltend to overpopulate, and theoffspring are not desirable. There-fore, stock hybrids in combinationwith either bass or catfish. Whenstocked with bass, hybrid offspringdo not survive since the predaciousbass quickly consume all of them.This prevents overpopulation andprovides conditions for optimumgrowth of the originally stockedhybrids. Hybrids are best suited toponds of 3 acres or less.

The most commonly usedhybrids result from crossing malebluegills with female green sunfish.These hybrids are usually 95 percentmales and are highly vulnerable tofishing. They readily accept artificialfeed and grow faster than bluegillsor redear sunfish under similarconditions. Maximum growth canbe attained by stocking 750 hybridsand 50 bass per acre, and thenfollowing a good fertilizationprogram and feeding supplementally.

It is important to rememberthat hybrid sunfish managementis for production of trophy bream,and bass growth will be less thandesirable. Bass are stocked primarilyas a management tool to keephybrid reproduction down and tofavorably influence growth ofhybrids. Additionally, this is a “putand take” fishery, meaning thathybrids are grown, caught, andreplaced by other hybrids stocked insubsequent years. In this sense,hybrid ponds can be likened moreto cattle feed-lot operations thansome other, more traditional pondmanagement scenarios.

In many ways, management ofhybrids is similar to management ofmost other species. They must bestocked into appropriate conditions,provided ample space, cover, andfood, and protected until they reachdesirable sizes. Hybrid managementis specialized, however, in thatprotection of these fish is absolutelyessential, since they can be easilyfished out. Additionally, hybridpopulations, unlike bluegill popula-tions, are not self-perpetuating. Thesecond generation is not desirable,and we manage the population toprevent that generation fromoccurring.

Periodic restocking is necessaryto sustain a fishery for more than afew years. Pond owners should keeprecords of the number of hybridsremoved and plan to restock when50 to 70 percent of the originallystocked fish have been caught andremoved. This is one more reasonsecurity from poachers is para-mount. At restocking time, largerfingerlings (3 to 4 inches) arepreferred, since they are less vulner-

able to predation than smaller fish.They will, however, cost more, andpond owners may prefer to compen-sate by stocking higher rates ofsmaller (and cheaper) fingerlings.Restock at the same rates as theinitial stocking.

Growth of hybrids can bemaximized by taking three steps:1) Stock with largemouth bass.2) Conduct a good fertilizationprogram (request Extension Infor-mation Sheet 229 FertilizingMississippi Farm Ponds).3) Feed supplementally.

A feeding program can beestablished using floating catfishpellets. A handy guide is to feed allthe feed the fish will consume in 15to 20 minutes and adjust theamount as fish grow. If fish do noteat all the feed offered in that timeperiod, you are probably overfeedingand wasting feed and money. Ademand-type or automatic fishfeeder is a good investment. Oneproblem with hand-feeding is thatsomeone has to be there to do it!Research shows that most people tireof the novelty of feeding fish withinthe first season, and then the fishmay become neglected. Installing afeeder ensures that the fish receivefeed on a regular basis, regardless ofthe pond owner’s schedule andavailability.

For additional information onthe management of hybrid sunfish,request Extension Publication 1893Managing Hybrid Sunfish in Missis-sippi Farm Ponds from your countyExtension agent.

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ManagementGood fishing can be enjoyed for

years if you follow a sound pond-management program. Building thepond properly, stocking the correctspecies at recommended rates,having a good fertilization program,and controlling weeds are steps inthe right direction. Continued goodfishing depends on harvesting thecorrect number, sizes, and species offish each year. See the Farm PondCalendar on page 28.

FishingFor bass and bream ponds,

begin fishing your pond two yearsafter the initial stocking of bream.This will be in the fall, after theoriginal stock of bass has spawnedfor the first time. To insure abalanced fish population, releasesome of the bass that are caughtduring the first, and possibly thesecond, year of fishing. In mostcases, after the first year you canremove as many bream as you desirewithout harming the population.

Most of the fish harvested fromthe pond should be bluegill andredear sunfish. Bream reproducethroughout the summer and are themost numerous fish in the pond. Ageneral recommendation is toharvest a minimum of 10 poundsof bream for every pound of bass. Itis extremely important to keep thebream harvest in line with the bassharvest. Many Mississippi ponds areunderfished for bream and can standa much greater bream harvest. Thisshould insure an adequate numberof bass for reproduction as well ascontrol of the bream. When toomany bass are removed, the remain-ing bass can no longer control thebream, and the bream become overcrowded and stunted. Once breambecome overcrowded, bass repro-duction is reduced or stoppedcompletely. To keep this fromhappening, keep a record of fishharvested and ask others who fish

the pond to tell you the number andsize (length and weight) of bass andbream they remove from the pond.A record sheet is included on page27.

If the pond was also stockedwith channel catfish, spread thefishing for them over a period of 3to 4 years. Channel catfish mayreproduce, but offspring usually donot survive because of bass preda-tion. Restock with channel catfishwhen most of the originally stockedcatfish have been removed. In a bassand bream pond, it is necessary torestock with 8- to 10-inch channelcatfish fingerlings to ensure thatthese fingerlings are not quicklyconsumed by the bass. Do notoverstock catfish since overstocking

Most of the fishharvested from the pondshould be bluegill andredear sunfish. It isimportant to keep thebream harvest in linewith the bass harvest.

leads to poor growth and possibledisease problems, as well as exces-sive competition with bream forfood.

Achieving a BalanceAfter the second year, you must

decide the kind of fishing experienceyou want the pond to provide. Forexample, if you want trophy bream,you must minimize the harvest ofbass, to result in a bass-crowdedcondition. If you want "quality"fishing for both bass and bream,follow the "10:1" rule, harvestingsome of all sizes present. This is themanagement situation that ismost suitable for the majority ofponds. Trophy bass fishing willrequire careful protection of certainsizes of bass, usually through aspecified protective slot limit, andalso harvest of some of the smaller(10-12 inch) bass to prevent themfrom becoming crowded.

The balance between bass andbream can often be determined by

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using a short seine and/or by closeexamination of fishing results (Tables2-3). When fishing produces largenumbers of small bass and largebream, an overpopulation of bass isprobable. When only a few largebass and many small bream arecaught, the pond is probablyoverpopulated with bream. In someinstances, heavy fishing pressure onthe crowded species can bring the

pond back into balance. However, inmost cases you must practice othermanagement procedures to regain abalanced fish population.

Corrective MeasuresCorrective measures vary

according to circumstances. Recom-mendations for common balanceproblems are listed below. Consult afisheries biologist for specific

recommendations if you think yourpond has problems similar to these.

Management Recommenda-tions for Tables 2 and 31. Remove 10 to 40 pounds (depend-ing upon productivity of the pond andlocation within the state) of bass peracre by fishing (one time only).2. Stock 200 to 300 3- to 5-inchbluegills per acre.

Table 2. Assessment of pond balance using a seine.

Unbalanced, population;crowding due to competitivespecies (bullheads, crappie,suckers, shad, etc.)See recommendation 6

Unbalanced; crowdingdue to green sunfish.See recommendation5 or 6

Unbalanced orno forage fish present.See recommendation7 or 8

Balanced. Seerecommendation 9

Unbalanced; may be nobluegills; bass may bespawning but not bluegills.See recommendatoin 7 or 8

Bass crowded; will havelarge bluegills. Seerecommendation 1, 2, or 10

Temporary balance, leadingto imbalance; competingspecies with bluegill likely,especially shad. Seerecommendation 11

No recent hatch bluegills;few intermediate bluegills

No recent hatch bluegills;few intermediate bluegills,intermediate green sunfish

No recent hatch bluegills;few intermediate bluegills

Many recently hatched bluegills;few intermediate bluegills

Many recently hatched bluegills;few or no intermediate bluegills

No recent hatch of bluegills;no intermediate bluegills

No recent hatch of bluegills;few intermediate bluegills

D.

C.

B.

A.

D.

E.

F.

II. Young largemouth bass present

Temporary balance; basscrowded. See Table 3,recommendation 1, 2, or 3

Unbalanced; overcrowdedbluegills. See Table 3,recommendation 4 or 5

Unbalanced, overcrowdedbluegills; few or no basspresent. See recommend-ation 5 or 6

Many recently hatched bluegills;no or few intermediate bluegills

No recent hatch of bluegills;many intermediate bluegills

No recent hatch of bluegills;many intermediate bluegills, manytadpoles or minnowsor crawfishC.

B.

A.

Condition

I. No young largemouthbass present

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3. Do nothing; you will have acrowded bass pond with large blue-gills; see Table 3 (Catch RecordData), and use the table for analysis.4. Remove intermediate bluegills withshoreline poisoning in the early fall;see Extension Publication 1954 forprocedures.5. Stock 25 to 35 10- to 12-inch bassper acre.6. Rotenone and restock; see Exten-sion Publication 1954 for procedures,and Publication 1892 for selectingspecies to restock.

7. Check catch data to see if any bassare caught; if bass have been caught,stock 200 to 300 intermediate-to-large bluegills per acre. 8. Check catch data to see if any bassare caught. If no bass are caught,rotenone and restock; see ExtensionPublication 1954 for procedures andPublication 1892 for selecting speciesto restock. 9. Do nothing; you have a balancedpond. Check catch data (Table 3) tobe sure fishing is desirable.

10. If you like catching large bluegillsand can live with poor bass growth,do nothing. You a have a trophybream pond!11. Check catch data; if shad havebeen observed, do a selective shad kill.Refer to Extension Information Sheet1479 for procedures.12. If catch rates are desirable,monitor catch and restock when catchrates decline.

Table 3. Analysis of pond balance using catch data.

Condition

C.

B.

A.

C.

B.

A.

Unbalanced; overcrowdedbluegills. Seerecommendation 4 or 5

Most bass are large and plump;few or none are less than 2 to 3pounds; bluegills are small,mostly less than 5 to 6 inches

Most bass caught are small(9 to 12 inches) and few exceed2 pounds; bluegills are large,mostly 6 inches or longer.

Bass of all sizes caught; most bass10 to 15 inches, but some larger;all in plump condition. Bluegillsof all sizes caught, mostly 5 to 8inches, all in plump condition.

Only catfish are caught.

Only bream are caught; all arein poor condition, and all are lessthan 4 to 5 inches.

No bream are caught; other species,such as mudcats, shiners, andgreen sunfish, are caught

Unbalanced; basscrowded. Seerecommendation 1, 2, or 10

Balanced; do nothing butenjoy your fishing

May be stocked withonly catfish. Seerecommendation 12

Unbalanced; overcrowdedbluegills. Seerecommendation 4 or 5

Unbalanced; undesirablespecies. Seerecommendation 6 or 7

II. No largemouthbass are caught byfishermen

I. Largemouth bass arecaught by fishermen

13

Irregular features, such as islands,peninsulas, and coves, provide greatershoreline habitat diversity, increasingthe attractiveness to anglers.

AquaticVegetationControl

Aquatic plants fulfill manynatural functions and are vital inaquatic and wetland environments.However, they may interfere withfishing, swimming, and boating inprivate ponds and lakes. Since someaquatic plants are desirable and serveas food sources for waterfowl andother wildlife, they should becontrolled only when they becomepests by interfering with the owner’spreferred use of a particular pond orlake.

Prevention should always bethe first choice, if practical, since itis usually easier and cheaper toprevent an aquatic weed problemthan it is to cure one. Preventivemethods include proper pondlocation, construction, fertilization,and drawdown. Refer to the sectionson site selection, pond construction,and fertilization for specific detailson these aquatic weed preventionmeasures. If proper preventivemethods are used, aquatic weeds areseldom a problem.

Should aquatic weeds become aproblem, they can be controlledthrough mechanical, biological, andchemical methods. Each method hasadvantages and disadvantages.

Mechanical ControlThis may be as simple as cutting

a willow tree or removing a fewobjectionable plants (such as cattails)that have just gotten started alongthe water margin. While cutting andremoving a few plants by hand canbe effective in small and limitedareas, mechanical aquatic weedcontrol on a large scale is generallydifficult and expensive. A properlymaintained dam can be mowed,front and back. Don’t allow trees tobecome established on new dams.

One mechanical technique,

called a drawdown, (removal of partof the water) can be effective andeconomical in controlling manykinds of aquatic weeds. See page 21for a discussion of drawdowns. Fordetailed information on winterdrawdowns, request ExtensionPublication 1501 Winter Draw-down: A Useful Management Tool forMississippi Farm Ponds from yourcounty Extension agent.

Biological ControlBiological control involves use

of an animal or other living organ-ism to control the weeds. Manyrural residents are familiar with thebiological control of weeds andother plants provided by farmanimals such as sheep and goats.Biological control has many advan-tages over other weed controlmeans. It takes much less humanwork effort than most mechanical

control means, and does not requireuse of expensive and sometimeshazardous aquatic herbicides.Additionally, use of animals pro-vides longer term control than othermeans, since the animals usually havea life-span of several years.

The most common and effectivebiological control for aquatic weedsis the grass carp. The grass carp, alsoknown as the white amur, is aChinese carp imported into thiscountry as a means of achievingbiological aquatic weed control. It isnative to southeast Asia, and wasbrought into the United States inthe early 1960’s as an experimentalaquatic weed control method. Sincethat time, use of grass carp hasbecome commonplace. Because ofconcerns about the potentialimpacts on the environment andnative fish populations, several statesrestrict or prohibit their uses. Whilesome states prohibit the stocking ofgrass carp altogether, others willallow the use of a sterile carp known

14

as a “triploid.” Triploid grass carphave an extra set of chromosomes and,thus, are sterile, eliminating anypossibility they may reproduce if theyescape into the wild. Stocking of grasscarp in Mississippi is currently notrestricted by law. Either normal(diploid) or triploid carp may be used,but it is recommended that pondowners stock only triploid carp.

The amount of vegetation theywill consume depends upon severalenvironmental conditions, such aswater temperature, water chemistry,and the kinds of plants available.Consumption rates also vary with fishsize. For example, until they reachweights of about 6 pounds, grass carpmay eat 100 percent of their bodyweight in vegetation per day. (This isequivalent to a 150-pound humaneating 150 pounds of food per day.)As they grow larger, consumptiondecreases; up to about 13 pounds,they will eat 75 percent of their bodyweight per day, and above 13 pounds,they slow down to about 25 percentof body weight per day.

Grass carp prefer soft, low fiberaquatic weeds such as duckweed andvarious underwater plants. Table 4provides a list of plants that aretypically controlled by grass carp. Ifthe more desired species of plants arenot available, they will feed on plantsabove the water surface; and in caseswhere no aquatic food is available,they will feed on overhanging brushand tree branches. It is this voraciousappetite for plants that makes grasscarp useful in controlling aquaticweeds.

The number of grass carp re-quired to control weed problemsvaries, depending on the degree ofweed infestation, kind of weed, size ofpond or lake, and size of fish stocked.

The general rule of thumb infarm ponds is to stock enough grasscarp to control the weeds in one totwo seasons, but not so many thatthey completely eradicate all vegeta-tion in a short period of time. Thebest approach is to consider the carpas a weed “maintenance” tool, ratherthan an eradication tool. This usuallyresults in less environmental distur-bance of the pond, and the carp are

not subject to starvation due tocomplete loss of vegetation. Addition-ally, recent research indicates thateradication of weeds from a pond maynot be desirable, since vegetationharbors many tiny organisms thatcontribute to productivity in thepond. Fishing around weed beds andother vegetative “structures” can behighly desirable, since they provideshade and cover for sport fish. Theproblem occurs when weed growthpasses the “fine line” between desir-able and undesirable amounts.

For most farm pond situationswhere weeds have already become aproblem, 5 to 10 grass carp per surfaceacre will achieve desired weed controlwithout resulting in crowded condi-tions of the fish. In severely weed-choked cases, higher rates of 15 to 20grass carp per acre may be necessary toattain control. In such cases, it issometimes more effective to treat thepond with an herbicide first, and thenstock moderate numbers of grass carp.You can get assistance in diagnosingthe situation by contacting yourcounty Extension agent or a fisheriesbiologist from other state or federalagencies.

In new ponds where grass carp arestocked as a weed preventive measure,three to five fish per acre usually dothe job. In new ponds, fingerling grasscarp may be successfully stockedanytime before the bass are stocked.Once bass are established, however, aminimum carp size of 8 inches will berequired to ensure that the bass do noteat them. Although this size fishcosts more, it is a cost-effectivestocking technique, since predationlosses are minimized. Because grasscarp tend to follow flowing water, youshould consider constructing a barrierfence across your spillway to preventtheir escape.

Chemical ControlChemical control requires the use

of aquatic herbicides that have metstrict EPA standards for use in anaquatic environment. As a result, theherbicides are of low toxicity to fishand wildlife (and subsequently man)when used according to guidelines,rates, and restrictions specified on the

label for each herbicide. Some herbi-cides have limited livestock (cattle)restrictions before reentry into treatedareas.

Chemical control has its limita-tions. Application of herbicides mayrequire specialized equipment andexpertise. Some herbicides can be veryexpensive, and some may not provideprolonged weed control. Rootedaquatics usually develop in water thatis too shallow or too clear. Even aftertreatment of the vegetation, theconditions conducive to aquatic weedgrowth may still exist. Reoccurrenceof the same or another weed problemis often likely, requiring additionalapplications of herbicides. It isimportant to eliminate the condi-tions that encourage the growth andspreading of aquatic plants.

Before using any chemicalcontrol, correctly identify theaquatic weed to be treated so youcan select the most effective andeconomical herbicide. Publicationson the identification and control ofaquatic weeds are available from theMississippi Cooperative ExtensionService (your local county agent), theNatural Resources ConservationService, and the Department ofWildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Assis-tance in aquatic weed identification isavailable from any of these agencies.In most cases, you can ship or mail asample of your weed in a ziploc bagwith no water to any one of theseoffices, and a biologist can make anaccurate identification. Table 4 listsmany of the common aquatic weedsthat occur in Mississippi and theherbicides that are usually effective intheir control.

You must know the surface areaand/or volume of water in the pondsince the amount of herbicide to useis determined by either the surfacearea or water volume to be treated,depending on the type of vegetationproblem.

The herbicide label will tell howmuch should be used per surface areaof vegetation or per volume of waterto be treated. For assistance incalculating treatment levels and pondvolumes, request Information Sheet673 Common Calculations Used in Fish

15

Table 4: Control of some common aquatic weeds with herbicides and grass carp.

Pond and Lake Management fromyour county agent.

For effective aquatic weedcontrol, you must select the properherbicide and apply it properly.

Some herbicides may be used directlyfrom the container; others must bemixed with water, or water plus asurfactant, before being used. Alwaysfollow label instructions and

precautions when applying herbi-cides. Some may be applied by hand(low volume, spot spray) while othersrequire the use of power sprayers (highvolume, tank mix).

Kom

een,

Alg

ae P

ro,

Cut

rine

-Plu

s 1,K

-TEA

,O

ther

Com

plex

edC

oppe

rs

Hyd

roth

ol 1

91

Rew

ard 2

(diq

uat)

(2,4

-D)

Aqu

atho

l (gr

anul

ar)

3

Aqu

atho

l-K

(li

quid

)

Rod

eo

Sona

r (l

iqui

d&

pel

lets

)

Gra

ss C

arp

Algaeplankton (single cell)filamentous & water netChara & Nitella

Floating Weeds (not attached to bottom)duckweedwatermealwater hyacinth

Emersed Weeds (attached to bottom)american lotuswatershieldwhite waterlilyfrogbitwater pennywort

Submersed Weeds (not attached to bottom)bladderwort

Submersed Weeds (attached to bottom)coontailbushy pondweeds (Najas)parrottfeathereurasian watermilfoilfanwortpondweeds (Potamogeton)hydrilla & elodeaspikerushhairgrass

Marginal Weedsalligator weedswater primrosesmartweedarrowheadwillowscattail & cutgrassbulrushburreed

water leaf (Hydrolea)

NOTE: It is not intended that any suggested usage in this table be in violation with existing regulations or manufacturer’s label.1Use products containing copper with caution because its toxicity to fish and its effectiveness in controlling aquatic weeds depend on total alkalinityof the water.2Diquat has a 14-day livestock restriction. Use only in bright sunny weather. Do not use in muddy water or cloudy weather.3Aquathol and Hydrothol have a 7-day livestock restriction. Do not consume fish from treated water for a period of three (3) days.

•

•••

•••

•• •

•

••• • •

••

••

•

••••

•••

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••••

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•••••••••

••••••••

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••••

••• ••

16

Time of ApplicationThe time of application of

herbicides is very important.Usually, treatments that areapplied in the spring or earlysummer when the weeds areactively growing achieve the bestresults. Herbicide applications inthe late summer and fall are gener-ally less effective. Failure to controlsome problem aquatic plants canresult in an increase in the affectedarea requiring treatment. Many ofthese plants make mature seeds bymidsummer that will sprout thefollowing year.

During hot weather, take carenot to cause an oxygen depletionby killing too many weeds at onetime. Low “dissolved oxygen” levelsresult from the natural decomposi-tion of treated (killed) aquaticplants. Fish kills may result if thedissolved oxygen level becomes toolow in your pond. This is a biologi-cal problem that is not caused by areaction of the fish to an aquaticherbicide, but rather their reaction

to low oxygen levels resulting fromkilling too much vegetation tooquickly. It is seldom safe to treatmore than one-half of the pond atone time during the summer unlessyou are treating marginal aquaticweeds. A good rule-of-thumb toprevent an oxygen depletion is totreat one-third of the pond; waitone week, and treat another one-third of the pond; wait a week, andtreat the remaining one-third.

For many types of marginal(shoreline) vegetation problems, apond owner may simply “spot treat”on an “as needed” basis to maintaingood control. On older ponds andlakes where aquatic vegetation iswell established, it is advisable toseek professional assistance to gainthe level of control needed.

It is a violation of Federal Lawto use any chemical other thanaquatic herbicides that have beenapproved and registered by theEnvironmental Protection Agency.Improper use of chemicals mayresult in serious environmental

damage, fish kills, contaminated watersupplies, and, ultimately, danger tohuman health. The legal aquaticherbicides listed in Table 4 areprovided for educational purposesonly and generally represent variousproducts on the market at the time ofpublication. References to commer-cial products or trade names is not anendorsement and is made with theunderstanding that no discriminationis intended of other labeled productsthat may also be suitable or becomeavailable in the future.

Read and observe label precau-tions before using any chemical in anaquatic environment.Follow these steps in aquatic weedcontrol:1. Identify the problem weed.2. Choose the most economical andefficient control method.3. If you select a chemical method ofcontrol, be sure it is both economicaland safe as well as effective.4. Calculate pond area or volumeaffected (to be treated).5. Follow label instructions.

Figure 2. Fertilization and liming increase fishproduction by increasing the natural food supply.

Fertilizer stimulates growth ofmicroscopic plants, called phy-toplankton. Phytoplankton formthe base of the food chain and areeaten by small animal organisms,which serve as food for bream,which in turn are eaten by bass.Phytoplankton make the water turngreen, or “bloom,” which alsoshades the bottom and discouragesgrowth of troublesome aquaticweeds. (See Figures 2 and 3)

Proper fertilization will signifi-cantly increase the total weight offish produced in a pond. If a largerpond is to be fished by only a fewpeople, it does not necessarily needfertilization to have good fishing. A

heavily fished pond, on theother hand, should beproperly fertilized toproduce the best fishing.

Many Mississippi fishponds do not develop asatisfactory phytoplankton"bloom" when fertilized atrecommended rates becauseof low soil pH and wateralkalinity. Lime can increasefish production in pondswith acid bottom mud andsoft water by altering thesoil pH and alkalinity of thewater.

Lime andFertilization

17

Soil TestingIf you are building a new pond,

have Extension’s Soil TestingLaboratory test the soil to deter-mine how much lime is neededbefore the pond is filled. Soilsample boxes, instructions, andinformation sheets are available atyour county Extension office.

Use the following procedures insampling pond soils:1. If pond is larger than 3 acres,partition the pond into 3-acreblocks and sample each blockseparately. (If pond is less than 3acres, collect 3 samples per acre andtreat each acre as a block.)2. Collect about a pint of soil fromeach of 10 locations per block.3. Thoroughly mix the 10 samplestogether in a bucket.4. Take one sample from themixture and air-dry; then place thissample in a soil sample box andsubmit to the Soil Testing Lab atMississippi State University. Be

Figure 3. Fertilizationand minimum depthcombine to preventaquatic weeds.

sure to indicate in the “cropgrown?” window on the submissionform that this sample is for a farmpond.5. Repeat this procedure for each3-acre block in the pond. Thesample will be analyzed, and you willreceive a report indicating if yourpond needs lime and how much toapply.

Lime Ponds in the Delta generally do

not need additional lime, and pondsin the Black Belt and thick and thinloess soils need only small amounts.Ponds in the red clay hills of Northand Central Mississippi usually need2 tons of lime per acre, and thesandy soils of South Mississippiusually need from 2 to 3 tons of limeper acre (see Figure 4). Time isneeded for the lime to react with thebottom muds and provide thebeneficial results; therefore, addlime in the fall and winter, beforespring fertilization.

The best limingmaterial in Mississippiis agricultural ordolomitic limestone.This is the same formof lime that farmers useon their crop andpasture land and can bepurchased in bulk orbag form. Do not usequicklime, hydratedlime, or other morepotent liming agents!Lime spreader truckscan be used in newpond sites (and thosethat have been drained)prior to flooding. Onolder establishedponds, it may benecessary to back thespreader truck to theedge of the water andturn on the spreader.

This method works well if there isgood vehicular access to the edges ofthe pond. In some cases, it may benecessary to spread lime evenly alongthe upper shoreline and allow it towash by runoff into the pond, oryou can spread the lime from boats.Even distribution is preferable sincethe lime needs to be applied to thebottom muds. In very limited accessareas, sometimes a small in-flowingcreek is the only way to introducelime into the pond, but this wouldbe the least beneficial of the methodsmentioned. A lime treatment willusually last from 2 to 5 years,depending on the amount of waterflowing through the pond and theacidity of the bottom muds. Amethod that usually works well onponds with high acid soils is to applythe lime the soil testing report callsfor; then apply one-fourth of thatamount during each following yearto be sure the lime requirement issatisfied.

Type and Rate of FertilizerTo Use

Several methods and types offertilization programs can be used,and all can be effective if the pondsoil pH and water chemistry are inappropriate ranges. Pond fertilizersare available in liquid, granular, orpowdered forms. Liquid fertilizersdissolve most readily, followed bypowders, and then granular types.

Typical formulations for liquidfertilizers include 10-34-0 and 13-37-0; the key ingredient is phospho-rous (middle number), and anysimilar formulation will be adequate.Apply these fertilizers at the rate of1/2 to 1 gallon per surface acre,depending upon pond location andsoil fertility (Table 4). Powdered,highly water-soluble fertilizers, suchas 12-49-6 or 10-52-0, have recentlybecome available and have provento be effective and convenient to use.These formulations are typicallyapplied at the rate of 2 to 8 poundsper surface acre, again dependingupon pond location and soil fertility(Table 4).

Granular fertilizers are moretraditional and are available in

18

Figure 4. Locationof major soil types.

numerous formulations. Most olderponds respond well to a phosphorous-only fertilizer such as Triple SuperPhosphate (0-46-0), which is the mosteconomical formulation. Rates range from4-12 lb per acre per application (Table 4).

In some areas, it may be difficult tobuy 0-46-0, but 0-20-0 is usually avail-able. If this is the case, use twice theamount recommended for 0-46-0. Arelatively new granular technologyprovides a timed release of the fertilizer.This formulation is a 10-50-0 granularpellet that can be applied one time in theearly spring and slowly releases fertilizerthroughout the season.

When To Apply FertilizerBegin fertilization in the spring

when water temperatures have stabilizedat 60°F, or higher. As a rule of thumb,this means about March 15 in southMississippi and April 1 in central andnorth Mississippi.

If you use liquid, powder, or tradi-tional granular formulations, make thefirst three applications of fertilizer twoweeks apart; then make additionalapplications whenever you can see yourhand clearly with your arm under waterat elbow depth. By fertilizing only whenwater clarity increases to 18-24 inches,you will fertilize the pond at approximate3-to 5-week intervals from springthrough September.

If you use the timed-released fertil-izer, apply 25 to 40 pounds of pellets peracre. This is a one time application,and will provide gradual release ofnutrients until fall. This one-timeapplication eliminates the 6 to 12periodic applications necessary withtraditional fertilizers.

Greene

LOWER

COASTAL

PLAIN

Warren

Walthall

JeffersonDavis

DeSoto Marshall Benton

Tippah

Prentiss

Union

Tate

Tunica

Coahoma Quitman

Panola Lafayette

Pontotoc Lee

Monroe

Clay

Calhoun

Yalobusha

Tallahatchie

Bolivar

Sunflower Leflore

Grenada

Carroll

Webster

Choctaw

OktibbehaLowndes

Noxubee

WinstonAttala

HolmesWashington

Humphreys

Sharkey

Madison

Leake

Neshoba Kemper

LauderdaleNewtonScott

RankinHinds

ClaiborneCopiah Simpson

Smith Jasper Clarke

WayneJonesCovington

Lawrence

Lincoln

Jefferson

AdamsFranklin

Wilkinson Amite PikeMarion

Lamar Forrest Perry

PearlRiver

Stone

George

Jackson

Harrison

Hancock

Alcorn

Issaquena

Montgom

ery

Tisho

min

go

Chickasaw

Yazoo

Itawamba

D E L T A

TH

IN

LO

ES

S

COASTAL FLATWOODS

UPPER

COASTAL

PLAIN

UPPER

COASTAL

PLAIN

BLACKLANDS

BL

AC

KL

AN

DS

BR

OW

NL

OA

M(

TH

IC

KL

OE

SS

)

IN

TE

RI

OR

FL

AT

WO

OD

S

Water Soluble Time-Region Lime Liquid (0-46-0) Powder Release1. Delta not needed usually not usually not usually not usually not

needed needed needed needed2. Thick & Thin usually not 1/2 gal/acre 4 lb 0-46-0/acre 2-4 lb/acre 25 lb/acre Loess Bluff needed each application each application each application3. Blacklands usually not 1/2 gal/acre 4 lb 0-46-0/acre 2-4 lb/acre 25 lb/acre

needed each application each application each application4. Upper Coastal Plain 2 tons/acre 3/4-1 gal/acre 8 lb 0-46-0/acre 4-6 lb/acre 40 lb/acre & Interior Flatwoods each application each application each application5. Lower Coastal Plain 2-3 tons/acre l gal/acre 12 lb 0-46-0/acre 6-8 lb/acre 40 lb/acre

each application each application each application

Table 4. General fertilizer recommendations for the various soil regions in Mississippi.

1. Delta2. Thick & Thin Loess Bluffs3. Blacklands4. Upper Coastal Plain and

Interior Flatwoods5. Lower Coastal Plain

21

4

3

4

3

5

19

How To Apply FertilizerNever broadcast granular

fertilizer, and never apply undilutedliquid fertilizer. In either case, thefertilizer will rapidly sink to thebottom and be tied up in soils ratherthan becoming available in the water.Powdered formulations can bebroadcast, since they are highly watersoluble and do not sink to becometied up in bottom muds.

If you use granular forms, or thetimed-release pellet, apply them in away that minimizes fertilizer-soilcontact. This can be accomplished byconstructing fertilizer platforms —one for each 5 to 6 acres of water.Build the platform so it can be raisedor lowered. Lay the required amountof fertilizer on the platforms so 4inches of water will cover them. Tearoff the top layer of each sack. Waveaction will distribute the fertilizerthroughout each pond.

Platform construction can bedifficult in existing ponds. Analternative method is to simply placebags containing the needed amountof fertilizer in shallow water with thetops cut out. The bags serve toseparate soil and fertilizer, and waveaction will dissolve and distribute thefertilizer.

Dilute liquid fertilizer with atleast two parts water to one partfertilizer before application. In smallponds, liquids can be sprayed effec-tively from the bank with hand-heldsprayers. Boats make application easyin larger ponds. You can spray thediluted fertilizer over the watersurface or allow it to flow into theprop-wash of an outboard motor.Powdered formulations can bepoured directly on the water surface.

New ponds, or those that havenever been fertilized, sometimes failto respond to fertilizer, and it can bedifficult to start up a planktonbloom. Should your first efforts toproduce a bloom with 0-46-0 orother low nitrogen fertilizer be unsuc-cessful, even after liming the winterbefore, use a more complete (highnitrogen) fertilizer, such as 20-20-5, ata rate of 40 pounds per acre on thespecified schedule until the pond gets agreen bloom. Continue with yournormal application of pond fertilizersthereafter.

When Not To FertilizeSome ponds should not be

fertilized. Here are some cases wherethis is true:• Muddy ponds. Mud preventssunlight from passing through thewater. Plankton must have sunlightto grow. If a pond stays muddy mostof the time, do not fertilize the ponduntil the mud problem is corrected.• Ponds infested with trash fish. Ifundesirable fish dominate the pond,poison the pond, restock, and thenbegin fertilizing. Request ExtensionPublication 1954 for details onrenovating farm ponds.• Ponds infested with weeds. Duringwarm months, pond weeds use up thefertilizer that the microscopic plantsshould get. Therefore, the pond staysclear even after repeated fertilizerapplications.• Ponds not fished heavily. Fertiliz-ing a large pond is a waste of timeand money if you fish it only occa-sionally. You just produce more fishthat aren’t caught.• Unbalanced fish population. If thebream population is overcrowded, itmeans there are not enough bass tokeep the bream down. It would befoolish to fertilize if this conditionexists. Request Extension Publication1952 and Information Sheet 1479 forinformation on how to determinebalance and to correct problempopulations.• Catfish ponds. It is not necessaryto fertilize catfish ponds if a feedingprogram is followed. Where a com-mercial feeding program is notfollowed, fertilize in the same manneras for bream-bass ponds.• Excessive water flow. In somespring-fed ponds, the volume of waterflowing through the pond is too highto maintain adequate planktonblooms. In this case, fertilizer isconstantly being diluted and will havelittle positive effect.

Important Points• Continue fertilization programfrom year to year. Discontinuing afertilization program will leave youworse off than if you had neverstarted one.• Improper fertilization, once or twicea year, is worse than no fertilization.• If a bloom does not develop after

four applications of fertilizer, checkfor lime requirements, excess wateroutflow, excessive weeds, or muddywater.• Do not attempt to kill weeds byapplying fertilizer.

Muddy or Turbid Water Muddy or turbid water limits fish

production because basic fish foodorganisms must have sunlight to grow.Silt and mud deposits also cover fisheggs and fill the pond. Controllingthe erosion in a pond’s watershed isessential for permanent control ofmost muddy water problems. Inponds that stay muddy because ofsuspended clay particles, use any ofthe following methods:• Apply 20 pounds of triple super-phosphate (0-46-0) per acre at 2- to 3-week intervals. This should be welldissolved in solution.• Use 10 square bales of hay per acre.Break up the bales and shake out intothe water. When water clears, returnto your regular fertilization program.Use caution during summer monthssince decomposition of the hay mayalso lead to oxygen depletions.• Apply 5-15 pounds of alum persurface acre of water.• Use gypsum at the rate of 15 to 35pounds per 1,000 cubic feet of pondwater. Spread the gypsum from a boatover the pond surface and stir with anoutboard motor. The gypsum willkeep the water clear as long as thegypsum is not washed from the pond.When used according to recommen-dations, it will not kill fish, change thepH of the water, or harm livestock.

If livestock are muddying yourpond, fence off the pond and installdrinking troughs below the pond.

If the water in your pond staysmilky, apply 75 pounds of cotton-seed meal and 25 pounds of super-phosphate per acre each time youapply the other fertilizer until thewater clears. When the water clears,return to your regular fish pondfertilization program.

Consult your local NaturalResources Conservation Service officefor erosion control techniques andsuggestions.

20

Feeding

It is not necessary to feed fish in afertilized bream and bass pond toproduce good crops of fish. Naturalfood organisms will also be abundantenough to feed fish in fertilized bass/bream ponds. However, growth ofbluegills can be significantly enhancedby a supplemental feeding program.Bluegills readily accept feed and canbe attracted quickly to feeding areas.

Small ponds stocked only withchannel catfish or hybrid sunfishshould always be fed to maximizefish growth. Not feeding will givepoor results. Here are some pointsto consider about feeding:• Feed at the same time and locationeach day.• Use floating feed, with a pellet sizesmall enough to be easily eaten.

• Never feed more than the fish will eatin 5 to 10 minutes. Keep in mind thatuneaten feed may pollute the water.• If fish quit eating, stop feeding for afew days. Watch for signs of disease.• Do not feed in very cold or very hotwater.• Taper the feeding rate as winterapproaches to about one fourth of thefeed rate of the previous summer.• Automatic feeders will give goodgrowth results where small ponds areunattended for long periods.• Do not try to feed fish up to large sizeswithout some harvest to reduce thenumber of fish. Otherwise, crowdedlarge fish may become diseased and die.

Fish KillsOccasionally, a fish kill occurs in

farm ponds because of water qualityproblems, infectious disease, swarm-ing fire ants (in the spring), ormisused agricultural chemicals(pesticides). In some cases, the lossesmay be enough to affect the balance ofthe fish population. Therefore, getprofessional help to evaluate the fishpopulation balance following a fishkill. In many cases, a phone call willprovide enough information.

Fire AntsDuring warm spring rains, fire

ants are often washed into ponds, andsmall and intermediate size breammay die from eating these insects.Bass are rarely affected. This condi-tion generally does not have a detri-mental effect on the population balance.

Oxygen DepletionsThis is probably the biggest cause

of fish kills in farm ponds. Oxygendepletions usually occur July throughSeptember during the period ofhighest water temperature. Die-offscaused by low dissolved oxygen levelsresult from natural biologicalprocesses, and there are rarely anyeffective preventive measures. One

common cause of oxygen depletion isdie-off of microscopic algae duringseveral days of cloudy weather. Decayof these microscopic algae uses up thedissolved oxygen that the fish requirefor respiration.

Another phenomenon, oftencalled “pond turnover,” can occurafter heavy cold rains in late summeror in early fall when temperaturesdrop suddenly. This is actually a

mixing of warm surface waters withcooler bottom waters, (See Figure 5)more properly termed"destratification," and often results inan oxygen depletion. An early symp-tom of a low dissolved oxygen level iswhen fish are at the surface of thepond at sunrise. Fish appear to be“gasping for air.” Adult fish die first,and intermediate fish follow if the lowoxygen level continues for many days.Usually, some fingerling fish willsurvive, but there is a tendency towardovercrowding bream afterward.Stocking yearling size bass in the fallmay be advisable if there are noundesirable species (such as crappie) inthe pond.

Figure 5. Stratification of different temperature layers during summer.

21

Infectious Diseases and ParasitesBream and bass generally do not

have significant problems withinfectious diseases in well-balancedponds, although an occasional soremay be evident on individual fishduring spawning season or followingan injury. These external sores do notpose any health hazard to humans. Aspreviously suggested, never throwbream back, and remove bass withsores from the population.Ocassionally, bass and bream arecaught that contain small white oryellowish grubs imbedded in the flesh.These grubs, although not pleasant tolook at, pose no threat to humans.The affected area can be trimmedaway, and the remainder of the fish issafe to eat.

Infectious diseases and parasites ofchannel catfish are common problemsin catfish ponds. Factors contributingto this in recreational ponds includeoverstocking, inconsistent feeding, andpoor water quality. Disease andparasite problems of catfish rarelyoccur when low stocking densities(100-150 per acre) are used. Stressfrom handling may cause die-offs offish within 2 weeks of stocking new orestablished ponds.

If you choose to stock catfish atrates higher than recommended here(100-150 per acre), then you shouldplan ahead to cope with problemsthat may occur. Your county agentcan provide you with Information

Sheet 667 Selecting and ShippingSamples To Determine Cause of FishKills and assist you in shipping catfishsamples to Mississippi State Univer-sity diagnostic laboratories in severallocations. You must make arrange-ments for someone to receive yourcatfish before you ship them. Donot send fish samples to the Missis-sippi Department of Wildlife,Fisheries and Parks, or to anyagency other than the MississippiState University College of Veteri-nary Medicine.

Determining Factorsin Fish Kills

If possible, send this information(along with the fish sample) to thedisease specialist:• Number of fish lost since the die-off started.• Approximate number of fish losteach day.• Date and time of day the lossesstarted.• Number of surface acres per pond(or exact dimensions of the vat orholding tank).• Average pond depth.• Number of fish stocked in the pond.• Condition of the bloom:

Light — The pond has visibilityof 18 inches or more and has noaccumulation of algae in the cornersor on the down-wind side.

Moderate —The pond has avisibility of 12 to 15 inches and may

have a moderate amount of algaeaccumulated in the corners or on thedown-wind side.

Heavy — The pond has avisibility of 12 inches or less.

Transporting and ShippingSamples1. Place live fish in a plastic bag withno water and seal. If sending catfish,clip the spines to prevent them frompuncturing the bag in transit. Thenplace the bag in an ice chest contain-ing crushed ice.2. If the fish are to be hauled for ashort distance, you may place them ina container or ice chest containingwell-oxygenated water. Add a fewchunks of ice to keep the water cool.3. Fish can be frozen for transport tothe lab when there is no other way tokeep them from spoiling. Frozensamples are hard to work with andshould be avoided whenever possible.Frozen samples are acceptable if theyare for pesticide analysis.4. Ice down immediately all dead fishcollected but which are still acceptablefor examination (red gills, etc.) toretard further tissue breakdown.5. Make arrangements for shippingand delivery. Samples should arrive atthe lab within 12 to 18 hours.6. Call the lab and provide detailson case and anticipated arrival time.Mississippi State University operatestwo labs, one on campus (325-3432)and one at the Delta Research andExtension Center (686-9311).

Drawdowns

One of the most useful andinexpensive pond managementpractices is called a “winter draw-down.” This practice is the reductionof water levels in a pond to somepredetermined level, and generally is

designed to expose 35 to 50 percent ofthe pond-bottom area. Winterdrawdowns can be useful in control-ling aquatic weeds, and can beinvaluable in manipulating fishpopulations and facilitating pond

repairs, redesign, and liming. Theprimary disadvantage is that the pondmust have a drain pipe that will allowthe water levels to be lowered andkept down throughout the winter.Ponds without a drain pipe can beretrofitted; detailed information onhow to do this is available throughyour county Natural ResourcesConservation Service office.

Drawdown for Aquatic WeedControl

Aquatic weed problems arecommon in farm ponds and usuallyrepresent a challenge. Of the threebasic weed control methods (mechanical,

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biological, and chemical), mechanicalcontrol can be the least expensive andmost convenient if it consists of awinter drawdown. Winter drawdownexposes weeds to air-drying andfreezing temperatures. This can be aneffective weed control technique,especially if done in successive years. Italso has other advantages related tofish population management.

For effective weed control, dropthe water level of the pond to exposeaquatic weeds in the more shallowportions of the pond. Usually, waterlevels are reduced enough to expose35 to 50 percent of the pond bottom,but this percentage may vary greatly,depending upon topography anddesign of the pond. Maximumdrawdown should be accomplished bymid- to late November, and the waterlevel should remain low throughFebruary. Spring rains will fill thepond.

After reflooding, if weeds persistand begin to sprout, apply an appro-priate herbicide. The combination ofa winter drawdown and effective earlyspring herbicide application usuallydoes a good job of eliminating orgreatly reducing aquatic weedinfestations. For additional infor-mation on aquatic weed manage-ment and control, request Informa-tion Sheet 1036 Methods of Aquatic

Weed Control from your countyExtension agent.

Drawdown for FisheriesManagement

Winter drawdown is also a goodfish population management tech-nique in bass/bluegill ponds. Byreducing the water level and pondarea, forage fish, such as bluegills, aredriven out of shallow water refugesand concentrated in open water,making them more vulnerable to basspredation. This is a good techniqueto use in ponds having “crowdedbluegill,” but still containing viablebass populations. The increasedpredation by bass reduces bluegillnumbers and provides additional foodfor the struggling bass population. Insome cases, routine annual draw-downs have helped the pond managermaintain a balanced bass/bluegillfishery.

Winter drawdown also provides agood opportunity to do repairs onpiers, docks, and boat ramps, as wellas minor dam repairs and shorelinerenovation. Fish attractors, such asbrush tops and gravel beds, can beeasily put in place while the water isdown, and this is a good time todeepen edges to the recommendedminimum depth of 18 to 24 inches.Dirt from the shoreline-deepening

operation can be used to constructearthen piers at various locationsaround the pond. These piers increasethe shoreline area of the pond and alsoprovide increased access for fishermen.

In most farm ponds, lowering thewater level 2 to 4 feet exposes theproper percentage of the pondbottom; however, this is only a rule ofthumb. You must consider thetopography of the pond, amount ofshallow water, and pond shape anddesign. Reach the maximum depth ofdrawdown by late November, andallow the water to remain downthrough February. In south Missis-sippi, the stand pipe can be raised alittle earlier, perhaps mid-February, toallow the pond to refill and nothamper bass spawning activities thatbegin earlier in that part of the state.

Winter drawdown can be a usefultool for the farm pond manager ifexecuted properly. It poses no threatto the fish population and costsnothing if the pond is equipped with awater control structure. Drawdownsshould only be done in the winter,however; never during summer!The extreme temperatures duringMississippi summers, coupled withthe increased metabolism of fish andreduced oxygen levels in warm water,would prove disastrous in most farmpond situations.

FishAttractors

The primary purpose for mostfarm ponds in Mississippi is recre-ational fishing. With proper manage-ment, even small ponds can provideexcellent fishing and recreationalexperiences. One of the best ways toenhance the fishing experience is tocreate fish attractors at strategiclocations in a pond or lake with awell-managed fish population.

Gamefish such as bass and breamare attracted to cover or shelter of all

types. Shelters provide areas whereprey fish can hide from predators andwhere predators can find prey species.They also provide spawning areas andharbor large numbers of invertebratesand insects that small fish feed upon.Natural cover that provides shelter forfish includes ditches, creeks, trees,stumps, vegetation, and irregularfeatures of the bottom. In ponds wherenatural shelter for fish is missing or isinadequate, artificial structures can be

established to act as fish shelters thatwill attract and hold fish.

Trees as Fish AttractorsSuitable fish shelters to increase

fish harvest and angling success inexisting ponds can be developed fromsmall trees such as blackjack oak, postoak, or cedar. For small ponds, bushy-crowned trees 10 to 15 feet tall aresufficient. In larger lakes, larger treescan be used. In ponds of less than oneacre, one brush shelter is enough.Larger ponds need one or two sheltersper acre.

Select attractor sites that areaccessible to anglers. Good locationsare found in water 5 to 10 feet deepnear creek channels, off points, or atdropoffs. Drive a stake or use afloating buoy to mark the shelter sitepermanently. Place three to five trees

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at each location. Green trees willusually sink without weights. Sometrees, such as cedar, will float, andweights should be added to thesevarieties to keep the shelters in place.

Many new pond sites have trees inthe basin, and most of these should becut and salvaged or piled and burned.Some trees, bushes, and brush piles canbe retained, however, to use in estab-lishing fish shelters. Where possible, upto 10 percent of the pond area shouldhave some tree shelter.

Leave bushes and trees in deeperwater areas, along creek runs, and inthe middle of ponds and lakes. Leavethe trees in small clumps, then cut thestanding trees about 2 feet above thenormal water level and anchor thebrushy tops to the bases of thestumps. The tall stumps will serve aspermanent markers for the shelterlocations. Do not leave trees or bushesin shallow areas, in narrow coves, oralong pond banks, because these areas

will become difficult to fish and maydevelop aquatic vegetation problems.Also, too much cover in shallow waterwill make it hard for bass to controlbream successfully and will preventnavigation of the entire shoreline byboat.

Fish will immediately inhabit thebrush-top shelters. Go fishing!

Gravel Beds as Fish Attractors Gravel beds are extremely attractiveto bream for spawning. Select an areain water 2 to 4 feet deep that isconvenient for fishing. Drive a staketo mark the spot, and place washedgravel (1/2- to 1-inch-diameter)around the stake, creating a bed ofgravel 4 to 6 inches deep. A 3- to 5-cubic-yard load will make a gravel bed12 to 15 feet in diameter. Gravel bedscan be added to flooded sites orstrategically placed during draw-downs. Avoid sites that have a highsilt erosion problem.

Bream will be using gravel bedsfrequently throughout the spring andsummer. Remember to keep all thebream you catch; never throw themback into the pond no matter howsmall they may be unless advised by afisheries biologist.

Other Fish AttractorsIf trees or brush piles are not

available, other types of structures canbe placed in the pond to attract fish.

One effective fish attractor is calleda stake bed. A group of 2- by 2-inchstakes are driven into the bottom in arandom or geometric arrangement instrategic locations. Old culverts andconcrete blocks can be arranged toprovide good cover and are usuallyavailable for little or no cost. Develop-ment of irregular bottom featuresduring construction such as ditches andunderwater dirt mounds also providesfish-attracting cover and createsexcellent places to fish.

PondRenovation

The ultimate fate of many farmponds in Mississippi is an unbalancedfish population that is undesirable toanglers, and, therefore, has littlerecreational fishing value. Once a fishpopulation reaches such a condition,the best alternative is usually tocompletely eliminate the resident fishand to restock with a desirablecombination of fish at recommendedrates. Consult a fisheries biologist bycalling any MDWFP district office todetermine the condition of your pondand the possible need for a completefish population renovation. This is afree service.

Antimycin-A and rotenone aretwo pesticides registered by theEnvironmental Protection Agency foreradication of fish. Only rotenone iseconomically feasible for eradicatingfish populations and is the more

commonly used compound. Antimy-cin can be used to selectively killscaled fish from catfish ponds, buttreatment is usually expensive.

What Is Rotenone?Rotenone is a naturally occurring

substance found in the roots andstems of several tropical plants. Jewelvine (Derris spp.), Lacepod(Lonchocarpus spp.) ,and hoary pea(Tephrosia spp.) are the more com-mon plants from which rotenone isderived. Rotenone has many com-mon and brand names, includingCube, Derris, Fish-Tox, Nox-Fish,Prentox, Nusyn Nox-Fish, rotenonedust, and Chem-Fish.

Rotenone works by inhibiting abiochemical process in the fish cells,resulting in an inability of fish to useoxygen in the release of energy during

normal body processes. But, contraryto popular belief, rotenone does notremove oxygen from the water. Fishtreated with rotenone move to theshallow water or to the surface ofdeeper water within a few minutes ofexposure to the chemical. Differentspecies of fish respond variously torotenone, and it is a good idea toknow what species are in the pondbefore treatment.

Rotenone is an unstable com-pound that breaks down whenexposed to the environment. It isultimately converted to carbondioxide and water. The breakdownprocess is rapid and is affected bytemperature, light, oxygen, andalkalinity. At 80 °F, treated water willdetoxify in about 4 days. In coolerwater, the breakdown process isslower; at 45 °F, it can take 30 to 35days for rotenone to detoxify. Mostwaters are safe for restocking within 5to 6 weeks. In general, the cooler thewater, the longer rotenone persists.

Rotenone is available at mostfarm and chemical supply stores. It isclassified as a “restricted use pesticide”and cannot be purchased without a

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private pesticide applicator’s certifi-cate. You can get this certificatethrough your county Extension agent.

Preparing the PondPonds of any size can be treated

with rotenone, but it can be difficultto achieve an even distribution ofrotenone for an effective fish kill inlarger ponds or lakes. It is alsoexpensive to treat large volumes ofwater. For these two reasons, it isadvisable to reduce the water area andvolume as much as possible beforetreating. This can be accomplished bydraining the pond as low as possiblewith a built-in standpipe, by a pump,or by a siphon device. The less wateryou treat, the more cost-effective thetreatment.

How To Apply RotenoneRotenone is available in a

wettable powder or a liquid formu-lation. Liquids are easier to get intosolution and are more reliable fortotal fish kills. The liquid formula-tions typically contain 5 percentrotenone, although some contain2.5 percent in a synergized form.

All formulations must be dilutedwith water and evenly distributedthroughout the water column. Thechemical can be sprayed over thepond surface or dripped into the propwash of an outboard motor. The keyconsideration is to attain an evendistribution; otherwise, fish may find“safe” areas and escape being killed.Application in a random “S” patternthroughout the pond will maximizeeven coverage.

The best time to eradicate fishfrom a pond for restocking is latesummer or early fall. Water tempera-tures are at their highest at this time,and the weather is usually dry,allowing easy draining. Killing thefish at this time reduces the timebetween the kill and the restocking,which minimizes the chance the pondwill be contaminated by unwantedfish before restocking. This is animportant consideration, since theentry of unwanted species can defeatthe purpose for the renovation.

If there are any puddles or poolsin the upper portion of the pond afterdraining, it is critical that these also betreated to kill any fish therein. Many

small fish can survive in these pools,puddles, or stump holes for longperiods. These must be killed in orderto accomplish a successful renovation.Otherwise, these surviving fish canrepresent contamination of the newfish population, and the renovationwill have been for nothing. For moreinformation on using rotenone,request Publication 1954 UsingRotenone To Renovate Fish Populationsin Farm Ponds from your countyExtension office.

When To RestockIt is important to wait until the

rotenone dissipates before restocking.If the kill is conducted in early fall,the rotenone should be detoxified bythe time winter rains have occurred topartially refill the pond. A goodgeneral rule of thumb is to wait onemonth. A simple test can helpdetermine when it is safe to restock.A few fish (bream, goldfish, minnows)can be placed in a small cage in thepond or in a container with water fromthe pond. If the fish survive 24 to 36hours, it is safe to restock the pond.

Turtles

Turtles are seldom a biologicalproblem in farm ponds, but theymight sometimes compete with fishfor food items such as crawfish,insects, or other small food items.They can, however, create a nuisanceto anglers when they are caught onhooks and must be removed, whenthey take baits intended for fish ontrot lines, or when they eat fish onstringers left in the water. Turtles alsobecome a problem in ponds wherefish are being fed, because turtlesquickly learn that fish food tastes goodand represents an easy and free meal.Nonetheless, turtles can be beneficial

in several ways. Their greatest serviceis as scavengers that eat dead fish andother animals, or help to eliminatediseased or weakened fish. Except forsnapping varieties, turtles do notcapture many live fish at all andshould not be considered a problem inthis regard.

Before pursuing any type ofcontrol method, consider whether ornot turtles are a genuine problem inyour pond. Unless numbers are highand the interference with other ponduses is severe, it is probably best toleave the turtles alone. However, ifyou have significant problems, you

may need to consider removing aportion of the turtle population.

Shooting turtles as they bask inthe sun or as they swim in the water isan old practice you should never use.Shooting into or across water isdangerous! Shooting also creates thepossibility of killing a protectedspecies, since identification from adistance is impossible. Repellents ortoxicants cannot be used, so trappingis the only alternative.

Trapping can effectively reducelocal populations. The best seasons fortrapping are spring, summer, andearly fall. Most turtles are inactivethrough the winter and feed verylittle, which makes use of baited trapsineffective during that time.

Although snappers and soft-shelled turtles can be trapped usingunderwater, baited traps, it is seldomnecessary to remove these species froma farm pond. The more aggravating

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species are the "baskers," which oftencrowd together in large numbers onstumps, logs, or other structures abovethe water surface. By taking advantageof this trait, these species can be takenby trapping with a trap-box in thearea turtles normally use. This traphas inclined boards leading up fromthe water, with pivoting "balanceboards." When the turtles crawlonto these platforms, the boardsoverbalance, dropping the turtlesinto the collection box (Figure 6).

Check traps daily and remove allturtles; then transport the turtles toanother location and release them intotheir natural habitat. If you do notplan to use the trap for an extendedperiod, flip it over on its side so turtlesare not captured and left in the trapfor long periods.

Figure 6. Typical turtle trap with pivotal boards.

Refer to Figure 6 and also modify,using your own ideas and availablematerials. Your county agent orNatural Resources ConservationService office can provide you withother design illustrations.

WaterfowlHabitat

Many people enjoy having ducksaround their ponds. It is fine to keepand feed domestic ducks, but it is nota good idea to keep excessive numbersof them. Their feeding habits canquickly muddy up a small pond, andthey leave a lot of “litter.”

Wood duck boxes can be installedto attract wild ducks. They should beproperly maintained on an annualbasis. Predator guards are required. Itis necessary to clean out the boxesevery winter and replace the nestingmaterial (sawdust). It is better to have

one box properly maintained than tenboxes neglected. Because of potentialdisease problems, do not encouragewild ducks to nest where there arepopulations of domestic ducks.

Guidelines for building duck,bluebird, and other types of nestingboxes are available upon requestfrom many sources. Check withyour Extension county agent,Natural Resources ConservationService, or Mississippi Departmentof Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

Beaver andMuskratDamage

The natural behavior of beaverand muskrats can severely damagefarm ponds and lakes. Their burrow-ing activity can cause failure of thedam and result in expensive repairs.

Tree cutting can cause an uncon-trolled loss of valuable timber re-sources. Beaver dens or huts may begreat places to catch fish, but it is atthe landowner’s expense. Fish

attractors installed by man will givethe same success with no sacrifices.

The best control is immediateaction at the first sign of either ofthese animals taking up residence inyour pond or lake. Trapping is themost effective means of control.For detailed assistance, contactUSDA Animal Damage Control(325-3014), or your Extensioncounty agent. Do not make repairsuntil the problem animals are broughtunder control.

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Properly designed, constructed, and managed farm ponds not only provide tremendousfishing, but also provide ideal wildlife habitat, erosion control, and often, splendid naturalbeauty.

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8 - 12 inches 12 - 15 inches > 15 inches 3 - 6 inches > 6 inches

H HR RH R RH H R H RH

FishermanDate

Farm Pond and Lake Harvest RecordInstructions: Accurate and complete data are important to fisheries management. All anglers should complete a record aftereach trip. For convenience, fish can be grouped in size-length categories as follows:

Bass categories: 8 to 12 inches, 12 to 15 inches, > 15 inches

Bluegill categories: 3 to 6 inches, > 6 inches

Under each column, in each size group, enter the number of fish harvested (H) or released back into the lake (R).

BASS BLUEGILL CATFISH OTHER

Form 944

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Farm Pond Calendar

then

➝

➝

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DECLime Lime

Fertilization

Chemical weed control

Biological weed control (grass carp)

Stock bluegills,redear (1"-3")

Stock bass thenfingerlings (1"-3")

Stock catfish Stock catfish

Balance analysis

Catfish spawn

Bass spawn

Bluegills spawn

Redear spawn

Feed catfish and bluegills

Winter Winterdrawdown drawdown

Refill

Fishing and harvest of all species

Construction or renovation

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For MoreInformation

This publication contains awealth of information that shouldbe helpful as you develop, im-prove, or maintain your Missis-sippi farm pond. Remember,however, that trained professionals- county agents, district conserva-tionists, and district fisheriesbiologists - are available to helpyou manage your pond to achieveyour goals and objectives. And,this service is free of charge!

Many other sources ofinformation are also available suchas publications, a video on farmpond management, localworkshops, and seminars. Contactany of the three agencies that haveprovided this publication for

details. The Mississippi StateUniversity Extension Service andthe Natural Resources Conserva-tion Service maintain offices inevery county of the state. Also, theMississippi Department of Wild-life, Fisheries and Parks districtoffices can be contacted at any ofthe following locations:

Batesville 662-563-6330Brookhaven 601-835-3050Hattiesburg 601-545-5632Stoneville 662-686-3920Meridian 601-692-2776Jackson 601-432-2179

Tupelo 662-840-5172

If you have questions aboutinformation in this publication, or

if you encounter other situations orproblems not mentioned here, weENCOURAGE you to seekprofessional help. Proceeding withmanagement techniques when youare uncertain about the correctthing to do can be frustrating andsometimes expensive! It can alsodelay the progress and develop-ment of your pond. It is wise toremember and heed the old adage,“A wise person asks many ques-tions!”

This publication and manyothers on the management of farmponds and small lakes are availableon the world wide web at thefollowing web address:msucares.com

Produced by the Office of Agricultural Communications, Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine,Mississippi State University. Mary Jo Wallace, editor, Betty Mac Wilson, graphic designer. Front cover photograph byDavid L. Watts, editor, MS Outdoors, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

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Revised and coordinated by Martin W. Brunson, Ph.D., Extension Leader/Fisheries Specialist, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi StateUniversity; Dennis Riecke and Walter Hubbard, Fisheries Biologists, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Additional contributionsfrom the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and David Franks, Ron Garavelli, A. Jack Herring, Tom Holman, Keith Meals, Fred Nazary, and JohnSkains, Fisheries Biologists, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

Second edition published in 1991 as Managing Mississippi Farm Ponds. Revised by Martin W. Brunson, Ph.D., Extension Leader/Fisheries Specialist,Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi State University; David Franks, Fisheries Biologist, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries andParks; and Harvey Huffstatler, Biologist, Soil Conservation Service.

Originally published in 1984 as Farm Pond Management by Thomas L. Wellborn, Jr., Leader, Extension Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi CooperativeExtension Service; A. Jack Herring, Chief of Fisheries, Mississippi Department of Wildlife Conservation; and Ramon Callahan, State Staff Biologist,Soil Conservation Service.

Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status.

Publication 1428 - 3rd Edition (Revised)Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May8 and June 30, 1914. JOE H. MCGILBERRY, Director (rev-2.5M-5-03)