Muskrat problem

[CTBassin860]

So the pond next to my house was primo fishing last year,even with the massive drought we had.This year ive noticed there is a huge muskrat population in the pond.It wasnt like this last year.Im just about tripping on 3 of them along the bank on the way to my spot and there are a ton more in the water swimming around.The other thing ive noticed is that the fishing has gone to complete garbage.I cant get bit on a wacky worm.Im catching fish at other bodies of water,so im positive its not me being a shmuck.Could the muskrat infestation along the bank be ruining the fishing? (i.e muskrats eating the bass up shallow or scaring the fish to deeper water out of reach)? 

[geo g]

Take a pellet gun with you and have some fun.  If its Legal!!!!!!!!!!

[NCbassraider]

Muskrats aren't eating your fish.  They are omnivorous but eat mostly a vegetarian diet along with some small fish and frogs. 

They are a problem if the pond had a dam.   They burrow deep into banks and can easily collapse a dam.

 

Be sure they are not Otters.  Otters will clean out a pond of every big fish.  Otters have very thick tails and will tend to periscope up out of the water to look around.  Scale piles on the bank is a sure sign you have them.

[bassh8er]

Muskrats usually like really shallow water.  You sure the drought didn't hurt the fishing?

[Sam]

First time I have read a thread about muskrats.

 

Mass, have you called your state's department of fish and game and asked them for some input? I am sure one of the biologists would love to speak with you about muskrats.  And maybe about the pond, too.

 

Keep us posted on what happens at the pond as the summer progresses.

 

Thanks for posting.

[SuperCorona]

On June 1, 2017 at 11:28 PM, NCbassraider said:

Muskrats aren't eating your fish.  They are omnivorous but eat mostly a vegetarian diet along with some small fish and frogs. 

They are a problem if the pond had a dam.   They burrow deep into banks and can easily collapse a dam.

 

Be sure they are not Otters.  Otters will clean out a pond of every big fish.  Otters have very thick tails and will tend to periscope up out of the water to look around.  Scale piles on the bank is a sure sign you have them.

Otters did a number on my sister-in-law's pond.  It was full of dinner plate size bream and now it's virtually empty.

[NCbassraider]

On 8/20/2017 at 9:48 AM, SuperCorona said:

Otters did a number on my sister-in-law's pond.  It was full of dinner plate size bream and now it's virtually empty.

 

They will do that. They grow up to 30 lbs and eat half they're body weight in fish each day.  Do the math on that.

 

If you get a family of them in there they will clean out a pond fast.  They only come in well after dark and leave before sun up so you have to be out at night to see them.  They usually return to the river system or lake they came from before dawn.