By KARI KRAMER | East Texas Edition

Mike Porter, a research specialist with the Noble Foundation, points out pond owners need to be able to identify fish species to conduct an accurate survey of their pond.  -- Staff photo by Kramer

May 25, 2006 - The first step in reaching pond management goals is defining the goals, according to Mike Porter, a research specialist with the Noble Foundation.

Porter recently met with a group of landowners at Lake Fannin near Bonham to discuss pond management and the goals each landowner should define before making any decisions.

“So much of what you should do, or not do, depends on your goal,” he explained.

There are several areas, according to Porter, that people can manage ponds for. Sport fishing and livestock use are two of the main areas, while others may choose to manage for waterfowl, a fire water supply, landscaping, erosion control, aquaculture or irrigation.

One method of survey is to seine for fish. Conducting the seining demonstration at the field day were Steven Smith (in water), Noble Foundation wildlife and fisheries specialist and Porter. A field day attendee also helps out. -- Staff photo by Kramer

Eat, sleep, FISH!

Porter discussed, in detail, managing for sport fishing.

First, for those who already have an established pond, Porter suggested completing a fish survey, especially when little is known about what fish, insects, amphibians, and other living creatures that might be living in the body of water. When doing a survey the species, size, weight, and any other desired details should be recorded for each fish or other life form that is collected. Insects should be recorded, according to Porter, because they reveal details about the pond’s ecosystem. Porter said lots of insects in a survey sample can indicate a small blue gill population. There are several methods of surveying that can be used. 

“Every survey method has a bias,” Porter said.

Because of that, he suggested using at least two of the three common survey techniques: electro-fish survey, a seine survey or a hook and line survey.

Water ‘Current’

Electro-fishing can be done from a boat or by wading through water. The technique utilizes an electrical generator that emits a current that either stuns the fish or encourages them to swim towards the electrical field for survey collection. In private ponds in Texas a license is not needed to perform the practice, but Porter said the equipment tends to be expensive. To hire to have it done owners will pay around $500 per day for a specialist to complete an electro-fishing survey. 

The non-lethal method of surveying is less time consuming than the other methods, but more expensive.

‘Net’ Worth

Seine surveying is not difficult as long as someone is willing to get very wet.

This method uses a large net on two poles. One end is held at the water’s edge while another surveyor in the pond pulls the pole out, perpendicular to the bank. Then, while pointing the bottom end of the pole towards the bank, sweeps the seine back to the bank. This gathers a quadrant area which is what the Noble Foundation recommends. 

According to the Foundation, seining should be done in water less than five feet in depth and in areas that are free of debris, rocks, stumps, and heavy vegetation. Porter said seining is best after the middle of June, in order to collect information on the latest bluegill spawn.

Seining is somewhat biased because it generally does not collect bottom populations.

“It’s a very poor technique to sample catfish,” Porter explained.

Fishing ‘Job’

For catfish, some people prefer the hook and line survey.

“It’s basically fishing in a structured way,” Porter told the group at the field day.

During a hook-and-line survey, fishermen fish the pond with various baits and record the same fish data as in other surveys but also note what bait was used and for how long, what was caught on each bait, and the date.

The Noble Foundation uses several baits (in order to catch different sizes and types of fish) when performing a hook-and-line survey. Number 8 hooks and worms are used to catch sunfish and other types of smaller fish. Small and large lures are used to collect largemouth bass. Pond managers can choose what bait to use.

The type of bait used, according to Porter, can indicate the bias. Some fish are not attracted to certain baits so the survey numbers would be influenced.

What to stock?

Once sample data is collected and processed, Porter said managers have several routes they can go when restocking and managing fish populations. He suggested consulting with several groups before committing to a stocking decision.

“Get an unbiased recommendation,” he said, and suggested discussing fish stocking options with someone other than the stock supplier.

Stocking decisions should be based on the results of the survey and the goal for the pond. 

Bluegill can then be stocked taking into consideration the surface acres of the pond (something Porter said every pond owner should know). Porter said bluegill are an excellent stocking option.

“Bluegill have many more young,” he said, so they make great bass food.

Largemouth Bass are the most desired sport fish. Oddly enough, the bass is not a true bass.

“It’s the largest member of the sunfish group in this part of the world,” explained Porter. 

For those wanting to stock the giant sunfish, Porter said in this area they are usually faced with two options: stocking a native type or the Florida strain. The two bass are almost the same, but they are different strains. Porter said when comparing populations of Florida strain bass to native bass that “a percentage of that Florida strain with grow larger than the native strain,” a perk for trophy fishermen, but Porter said it is not all good news.

“You don’t expect to catch as many per hour of effort fishing,” Porter said of the Florida strain which is known to be more difficult to catch.

In addition, he said managers must decide to stock one strain or the  other because if both are stocked, the native strain will eventually take over the Florida strain.

Bass are also part of a catfish management program, according to Porter.

“I never manage a catfish pond without bass,” he explained. 

He said catfish reproduce poorly with bass, and without the bass (which eat the smaller catfish), catfish will overproduce. Porter said those who want to manage their catfish for sport fishing should make a habit of recording how many catfish are harvested and replace those with catfish big enough that bass will not eat them.

As for crappie, Porter said he does not recommend they be stocked in ponds smaller than one surface acre. And for those who have made bass their main goal, Porter said “then I’d discourage you,” from stocking crappie.

“I would only put crappie in my ponds if they’re my primary goal,” he said.

Plant Quantity

Like bass and catfish, other fish can be used as a pond management tool. Grass carp are a popular choice for algae and plant control. Porter said plants are beneficial and, as long as no more than 10 to 25 percent of the pond is covered in plants, then no management is usually necessary.

There are three types of aquatic plants: submerged, immersed, and floating.

“A lot of plants only grow at certain depths,” explained Porter, so a plant that can only grow in up to three feet of water does not pose a danger of taking over the entire pond. But for submersed plants that are posing a threat, Porter said grass carp can be an answer.

“All submersed aquatic plants, without exception, can be controlled with grass carp,” he noted.

Grass carp, a non native species, grows quickly and lives for a long time.

“The grass carp is a 20-year solution to a problem,” Porter said, and the carp are a serious commitment for a pond owner. In addition, like with other management and stocking decisions, the surface acres of the pond should be determined and grass carp stocking should be based on the result. He said stocking five to 10 carp per surface acre will help with control, but stocking more than that could be total elimination of some aquatic plants.

Cool, clear water

There are other important factors that influence the success or failure of a pond’s ecosystem. Porter said a water visibility test should be performed periodically.

A Secchi disk is used to measure water clarity. It is a 20-centimeter-wide flat disk often painted with two black quarters and two white quarters. It is fixed on a stick marked with inches. The lowest measurement is closest to the disk. It is placed in the water and at the moment it cannot be seen, the depth of the water on the measurement stick is recorded. Then the disk is lowered and raised and another measurement is made at the moment the disk reappears. The average of the two measurements is the clarity reading. 

Porter said water clarity should measure between 12 and 30 inches. Ponds that are too clear can make it hard for young fish to survive.

Cloudy ponds with low visibility may need to be fertilized “sometime around the last week of March or the first week of April,” according to Porter, who added fertilizing should be done before April 15.

Advice

As with any project, Porter suggested contacting outside entities like the Noble Foundation, fish and wildlife groups, or Extension specialists for help with pond management decisions. Even as early as the building stages, Porter said it is vital that management and pond design is done properly.

Several groups can offer advice on dam design, pond draining systems, and how to fence, if necessary, for livestock to share in the fishing pond. He said those with an established pond can begin their management by keeping fishing and survey records which can indicate a lot about the results of other pond details like plant life and water clarity. Ultimately, the goal for the pond will weigh in the most.

“The goal for the pond dictates what is right or wrong for the pond,” Porter concluded.

Information and pond-related fact sheets from the Noble Foundation are available at www.Noble.org.