Help! Pond Overrun by Weeds!

[SCkayakfisher]

I fish a state park lake which is about 30 acres, but in the summer time the pond is just weed bed instead of a pond. I know I can do nothing about except maybe talk to the park rangers but I'm just curious on how to fix this problem. I've read an article by the SCDNR and they had mentioned either introducing grass carp or tilapia on weed control, and other things like draining the lake in the winter time to half level to let all the weeds freeze. Do these techniques work? If not what does? Thanks. I really like this pond because there are some quality fish in there, but it gets very frustrating when all you can throw in the summer time is a frog or weedless worm without pulling in a handful of crap...

[N Florida Mike]

Carp do well on some weeds.They love niad,which is real common in Florida .They don't like eel grass though.We stocked them in my home lake.They eat like crazy .I snagged a 23 pounder about a year after we put them in at 1 pound or so.I t gained 22 pounds in 1 year!!

I don't know the SC laws for them,but in Florida a biologist must approve them for a lake and they have to be sure there's no outlet where they could escape.

[soflabasser]

Triploid Carp are bred to be sterile in Florida waters and are very common down here in our canals.Many of these canals are connected to lakes,so these carp are able to move around in many of our waterways down here.

[jr231]

Get out that punching gear bud ! Heavy weight. Slim profile. They're in there. 

[SCkayakfisher]

I am about to make a tackle warehouse order and have some punching gear in the cart! But it seems like the weeds go from the bottom of the pond to the top. Is there a gap in between or is it just thick?

[jr231]

Only one way to find out!!!

[Hog Basser]

Punching gear.  Being a state park lake, you can't do anything about it and I doubt you can influence them to do something about it in a meaningful way.  All you can do is work around it.  If the fish are in there like you say, then there is some space somewhere where they hang out.  

[SCkayakfisher]

Oh the fish are in there alright. Ive caught my four biggest bass from there, 24in, 23in, 22, and a 25in in that order. I know that most likely I can't influence them to change anything but I'm just curious about it . My punching gear should come tomorrow and i'll be out there soon.

[jr231]

Gotta love those spots !!

[Rydertipton]

How are the weeds in Sesquicentennial right now? Haven't been out there since the fall and even weedless worms on a carolina were annoying. Had my girlfriend trying to work a beetle spin for some bream but she just kept getting hung up. I should have just brought bream busters and tossed those with some worms or crickets but it was my first time out there. We rented and went to the island in the middle and the far bank and fished to the bridge with no luck. Any suggestions on how to avoid the weeds or areas that you've found to be better would be helpful!

[curtis9]

You can try contacting the SCDNR to see if they will stock grass carp.  My lake was stocked with carp a few years before we moved there, and I was told it made a big difference in the grass.    

[Quarry Man]

Punching, Texas rig, and frog are all great ideas. I like a 1 oz tungsten weight, a skirt of your choice, a 4/0 flip hooks and a beaver style bait. Texas rig use a 4/0 superline egg, a 3/8 oz weight and a 7.5" worm. frogs, I like live target, but any one will do. Swim jigs like the strike king heavy cover will work. I use a keitech trailer on mine. 

[joeblowwwww]

Punching and frog fishing are the best things about bass fishing..... enjoy it. treble hooks suck anyway

[jiggerpole]

First you need to identify the weeds. I would start by talking to a state fisheries biologist. It being a State Lake, I'm sure it would have to be under their jurisdiction and doing something on your own could lead to fines.

White Armor Carp (Triploid Carp) are usually put into ponds for submergent weed control and they can be very effective on certain weeds and have no-effect at all on other types. Water depth and clarity can effect weed growth also. Some pond dyes are used to restrict sunlight causing weeds to die off but as soon as water clarity becomes clear and sunlight reaches them again they will almost certainly return. The use of fertilizer can cause a plankton bloom which in turn can restrict sunlight as well as jump start the foundation of the food chain which is what most managers try to accomplish. but with weeds present it will just contribute to their growth. Draw downs can actually increase weed growth unless it's done in the winter time and back to full pool by spring. Chemical sprays used right can kill them. If done wrong sprays and water dyes killing too many weeds at once can cause too much dead weeds which can deplete the oxygen levels possibly causing a fish kill.  Good Luck.