Farm pond Fixin'

[Tater]

Crappie gotta go. Watched a great pond go straight to Hell because of an introduction of crappie.

[Glenn]

When good ponds go crappie...

[Johnny Reb]

This is who I received pond assistance from:

Mr. Hal Beard - SCDNR fisheries biologist
Mr. Charles Davis - Clemson Extension

[marsh chicken]

When good ponds go crappie...

Ha

[coonsqualler01]

There is a lot more to it than I could comprehend. Algae blooms, water clarity, timing of putting in which fish and so on. Get a professional to assist you is my 2 cents. Dude that helped me retired from DNR fisheries. I was advised against crappie or catfish and weed control is expensive whether you go poison or carp. I got the hybrid bass and they have grown slower than expected, about 6 years to average 3 lbs. A lot of variables that I was unaware of. Feeding them is key and feeders are a pain to maintain.

[Palmetto Bug]

I'd ask a real biologist but I think it might be better to hit it with Rotenone instead of draining, unless you can be assured of really drying it out. If I was going to the trouble of starting over, I wouldn't leave it to chance that any crappie could survive.

[fuzzy]

If you decide to kill all the fish in the pond, use dynamite. Make sure you take your surfboard to surf the waves after the explosion.

[uga_dawg]

I'd ask a real biologist but I think it might be better to hit it with Rotenone instead of draining, unless you can be assured of really drying it out. If I was going to the trouble of starting over, I wouldn't leave it to chance that any crappie could survive.

It's amazing what all survived after the dam busted. And it didn't look like anything more than a creek. Nature is resilient.

And I hope coonsqualler meant hybrid brem. 3# for hybrid bass after 6 years isn't right at all.

[coonsqualler01]

That is correct, it is hybrid bass (F-30s or T-30s or some such) and it is not what we were hoping for. The bream and shellcrackers are diesel powered. Bass are not.

[Palmetto Bug]

Feeding them is key and feeders are a pain to maintain.

If you decide to feed them, get a Sweeney feeder. Mine has been absolutely trouble free for more than three years. All I do is fill it.

[Black Bart]

Just "push" every time you take a picture. Seems to be a pretty effective technique.

[Two Barrels]

Drain it, seine what little water may be left, and have one hell of a fish fry/beer drinking snapping turtle round up.

Refill and then stock appropriately. Wait. Catch fish and enjoy.

[swampshooter]

We have had crappie in our pond ever since it was built 28 years ago. It is only 2 acres and loaded with fish of all varieties. I have always heard the crappie rumor but have never seen it in any pond around my house.

[Sportin' Woodies]

Neighbors pond has bass bream and crappie. And the bass are commonly 8-9lbs

[WNM]

I've fished (and shot bass) in small ponds that had crappie and big bass, but they always were full of cover, vegetation, and a forage species other than bream. I agree with asking talking to a biologist, but draining and restocking will have you waiting 10 years to catch a big bass, and that's if you can keep it in balance.