Weed Treatment For Ponds/lakes

[PJBoudzy]

Hi all, 

 

My local go to fishing spot was recently treated for weeds/ pond scum.  My question is, what are the pros and cons to the treatment.  I have caught some of my biggest bass out of this pond, and was just curious if the treatment will kill of the fish/ aquatic life that sustains the bass.  Thanks in advance!!!

[WRB]

Depends on what the treatment chemical was?

Blue stone or copper sulphide is a common treatment and de isn't kill fish if used properly. The fishing turns off the fishing can be affected for 3-4 days however.

Tom

[Mass Bassin']

shot in the dark but are you talking about pomp's pond cuz that place was just treated for weeds and it has giants

[Preytorien]

I've never witnessed a spray treatment or otherwise that killed fish. I seriously doubt any pond treatment company could (or would) legally use an agent that would result in a wildlife kill. The DNR would be all over that. But as Tom said it'll affect the fishing for a good week, maybe a bit less if the pond is on the bigger side. 

[ColdSVT]

Ive seen maybe a handful of dead fish after a weed kill on a few of the lakes i fish...now i dont know if the chemical killed them or not however

But those lakes put out some beasts every year and in every tourny ive fished on em

[nestor]

Hi all, 

 

My local go to fishing spot was recently treated for weeds/ pond scum.  My question is, what are the pros and cons to the treatment.  I have caught some of my biggest bass out of this pond, and was just curious if the treatment will kill of the fish/ aquatic life that sustains the bass.  Thanks in advance!!!

 

We're experiencing the worst moss / vegetation in a lake a few States south of you.  We've talked to a few folks about treatments - all claiming its what Floridians do all day long.  

 

The solution my buddy and his HOA plan to try first is 100% natural - Sterile Carp (e.g. http://www.southlandfisheries.com/html/sterile_grass_carp.html). 

 

I've talked with several people with firsthand experience of success after stocking these fish.  Do a Google search and you'll find all the information you'll need right down to your state and/or county regulations for stocking an invasive species.  

[PJBoudzy]

Thanks for all your responses!! I do not know the chemical used but I will definitely find out.  And no its not Pomps Pond.  The pond is west of Worcester.  Also if it does kill a few fish, I guess the bass that remain will be getting bigger.  Thanks again everyone.

[hatrix]

Carp don't always do enough. I know a lot of places that have them and are still loaded with weeds. Depending how bad the place was with weeds and how much they treat some fish might die. Chances are though it is due to a sudden drop in oxygen from killing off the weeds and not the chemicals. If they use a chemical like Reward you can fish right away but shouldn't eat fish for 48 hours I think.

[jiggerpole]

White Armor carp are a sterile fish used to control weeds that grow under the surface and they can do a good job. For other weeds that grow above the surface such as Willow weed and Lillie pads to name a couple, spraying is a good choice. The thing with any chemical is you must go by the label (Instructions) not enough and it doesn't work and too much can cause a fish kill. If too many weeds die off at any given time then the rotting decay of those weeds can deplete the oxygen levels to a dangerous level causing a fish kill.  A lot of other factors can go into weed control such a water visibility. If the depth is deep enough and the water visibility is such that it restricts sunlight due to a (bloom) or (water dye) then the weeds simply can't grow. Not having weeds in a lake is not any indication of how well the lake can grow fish. It can limit the targets for fishermen that fish tend to use. Weeds do produce oxygen but so does a bloom in a well managed lake. Just some thoughts.

[WPCfishing]

Thanks for all your responses!! I do not know the chemical used but I will definitely find out.  And no its not Pomps Pond.  The pond is west of Worcester.  Also if it does kill a few fish, I guess the bass that remain will be getting bigger.  Thanks again everyone.

 

Do you know anything about Webster Lake? I haven't been there in years. It was a clear water nightmare back in the 80's.

[Lund Explorer]

Hi all, 

 

My local go to fishing spot was recently treated for weeds/ pond scum.  My question is, what are the pros and cons to the treatment.  I have caught some of my biggest bass out of this pond, and was just curious if the treatment will kill of the fish/ aquatic life that sustains the bass.  Thanks in advance!!!

 

In the short term, the only chance for a fish kill would be if the mass die off of the weeds caused oxygen deprivation to occur.

 

In my experience, the mid and long effects of weed control are more worthy of discussion.  Usually, after a brief shutdown of the bite, the fishing can be fantastic.  This is because those fish that were formerly buried in heavy weed cover are now easier to reach with many types of lures and will concentrate where small weed patches or other cover exists.  Sadly, this boom period doesn't last very long and will be followed by a degraded fishery that stands little chance of recovery unless weed control is scaled back.  This is because young of the year fish find very little suitable cover in which to hide from the remaining large predators.  Without the recruitment of these younger fish into the overall so called adult population, along with that portion of the fishing public still practicing catch and keep, the productivity of your lake/pond will quickly circle the drain.

 

Hard to believe?

 

Consider where squirrel hunters target what they are after.  It's the woodlot and not the barren field next to it.

 

Fish like most other animals do best in a natural environment, and there is nothing natural in a lake/pond trying to look like a swimming pool!

 

End of Rant

[Fishing Rhino]

In the short term, the only chance for a fish kill would be if the mass die off of the weeds caused oxygen deprivation to occur.

 

In my experience, the mid and long effects of weed control are more worthy of discussion.  Usually, after a brief shutdown of the bite, the fishing can be fantastic.  This is because those fish that were formerly buried in heavy weed cover are now easier to reach with many types of lures and will concentrate where small weed patches or other cover exists.  Sadly, this boom period doesn't last very long and will be followed by a degraded fishery that stands little chance of recovery unless weed control is scaled back.  This is because young of the year fish find very little suitable cover in which to hide from the remaining large predators.  Without the recruitment of these younger fish into the overall so called adult population, along with that portion of the fishing public still practicing catch and keep, the productivity of your lake/pond will quickly circle the drain.

 

Hard to believe?

 

Consider where squirrel hunters target what they are after.  It's the woodlot and not the barren field next to it.

 

Fish like most other animals do best in a natural environment, and there is nothing natural in a lake/pond trying to look like a swimming pool!

 

End of Rant

I second that motion.  I have seen weed removal have a negative impact on the fishing where it has been done.  Ponds that have been impacted in my experience are Webster in the town of Webster (which was already mentioned), Mashpee/Wakeby and Ashumet on Cape Cod, Great Herring in Plymouth, and a couple of others.

 

I'm not sure Great Herring was treated, but the vegetation has been greatly reduced by something over the past three or four years.  Bass love to hang out in the cover of vegetation and were easy to find in the aforementioned waters. 

 

While treating waters may not harm the fish, my experience, and that of many other fishermen I have spoken with that regularly fish these waters agree that it has harmed the fishing, in some cases, drastically.

[HoosierHawgs]

I second that motion. I have seen weed removal have a negative impact on the fishing where it has been done. Ponds that have been impacted in my experience are Webster in the town of Webster (which was already mentioned), Mashpee/Wakeby and Ashumet on Cape Cod, Great Herring in Plymouth, and a couple of others.

I'm not sure Great Herring was treated, but the vegetation has been greatly reduced by something over the past three or four years. Bass love to hang out in the cover of vegetation and were easy to find in the aforementioned waters.

While treating waters may not harm the fish, my experience, and that of many other fishermen I have spoken with that regularly fish these waters agree that it has harmed the fishing, in some cases, drastically.

Serious question, not trying to contest you in any way... But what about algae blooms? Don't they reduce oxygen and are generally bad for waters unlike coontail/milfoil ECT?

[PJBoudzy]

In the short term, the only chance for a fish kill would be if the mass die off of the weeds caused oxygen deprivation to occur.

 

In my experience, the mid and long effects of weed control are more worthy of discussion.  Usually, after a brief shutdown of the bite, the fishing can be fantastic.  This is because those fish that were formerly buried in heavy weed cover are now easier to reach with many types of lures and will concentrate where small weed patches or other cover exists.  Sadly, this boom period doesn't last very long and will be followed by a degraded fishery that stands little chance of recovery unless weed control is scaled back.  This is because young of the year fish find very little suitable cover in which to hide from the remaining large predators.  Without the recruitment of these younger fish into the overall so called adult population, along with that portion of the fishing public still practicing catch and keep, the productivity of your lake/pond will quickly circle the drain.

 

Hard to believe?

 

Consider where squirrel hunters target what they are after.  It's the woodlot and not the barren field next to it.

 

Fish like most other animals do best in a natural environment, and there is nothing natural in a lake/pond trying to look like a swimming pool!

 

End of Rant

. Makes sense. I doubt this will really be that bad of an effect. The pond is overun with many many weeds. So badly there are giant floating muck islands. A little reduction hopefully won't be to bad. Thanks for post.

[PJBoudzy]

Do you know anything about Webster Lake? I haven't been there in years. It was a clear water nightmare back in the 80's.

I don't personally fish Webster lake. The lake is to big for me. I only own a small john boat with a trolling motor. I hear there is good fishing there tho. I just stick to my handful of ponds that I know hold fish that get up to the 8lb range. Other than that I take a few trips to the Quabbin reservoir for some smallie action!

[Canyon explorer]

Chemically treating ponds and lakes does not have to impose long term harm to fish if done with well known treatment systems in the right quantity and frequency, tuned to the individual needs of each lake. Golf courses do it all the time and maintain some huge bass. I have a two acre pond that I treat as needed one half the lake at a time. When we moved in four years ago it was so choked up the children could not even fish it. Now its beautiful with just enough emergent grass to give fry good cover.

A much larger and better example that I am personally familiar with is Lake of the Ozarks that is ninety miles long with thousands of miles of shoreline. My family acquired Two houses on it in 1980 when every nook and cove was covered with hydrilla (sp), emergent grass and many different forms of algae.

Bass fishing was terrific and they were very easy to find. Many 7-8 lbs.

The problem was that LOZ was owned by the  privately owned power company UE who also wanted to sell thousands of waterfront lots that would be worth>millions of dollars. The potential of that opportunity was severely threatened as prospective families with children didn't like the mess. UE , now Amerin, hired crop dusters and over a few months treated the entire lake. Within a couple of years it was clean, beautiful and fresh.

Today it hosts thousands of homes,docks,restaurants, resorts,marinas and campgrounds. It is also one of the best Tournament Lakes in America with hundreds of ramps, and huge parking lots for boat trailers.

I have fished it many times every one  of those years. The fishing is still terrific. I believe fewer big bass > 8-9 lbs  probably due to loss of heavy protective cover and tournament pressure. The docks now provide a crappe/ bass haven. Am I glad they did it? Yes, because now thousands of more people can fish there, live there, retire there there make a great living there. I believe its a wonderful example of where ecos and ceos can live and grow in harmony. I saw a bank fisherman with a 15 + # stringer at P.B. #2 last month.

It doesn't get much better than that.

[MCS]

They(the HOA hires a guy) do this to the pond in my back yard. It will kill the weeds, changes the basses habits, less cover more spooky, less cover more roaming for forage in packs. Or find the structure or cover  like culverts, limbs, humps the toe of slope or a hole and you will find the bigger fish. Fish in my pond versus others, tend to stay away from topwater and like smaller sized lures. 

[MrE1979]

 

[MrE1979]

Do you know anything about Webster Lake? I haven't been there in years. It was a clear water nightmare back in the 80's.

Webster lake is great fishing. Has some awesome smallies in it. You need a boat to fish it tho.

[MrE1979]

Don't know how that happened. How do I remove a post?