Small Pond, Not Seeing The Best of Days

[BassFishingMachine]

Just wanted to ask you guys your opinion on this situation. I used to fish this small pond very close to my house, it was nice because it was only a 5min walk, literally. Anyway, back I guess 5 years ago, I used to kill the bass there, I could pretty much throw anything and I'd usually do fairly well. I would walk around the lake, and see bass hangin around the edges, and cruising the shorelines.

But over the years it just seemed to get worse and worse, I don't know if people were taking fish out of there (which is 1 thing I've heard might have caused the problem). But I can tell you that the lake gets completely covered with weeds/muck once the summer starts to roll around. I mean it just gets covered, to a point where you can't even see the water anymore, its just a big area of green slop. Now I heard somewhere that this kills the bass cause the plants absorb all the oxygen out of the water etc. Maybe thats true, couldn't tell you. I don't remember if it always used to get covered with the slop like this, so can't say if thats the reason of the bass decline. (By the way no one takes care of this pond, the county just doesn't seem to care about it, so its pretty much left on its own)

I take trips to the lake every now and again to see if its improving at all and I catch a bass here and there when im lucky, mainly small ones, but its just not good, you might get 1-2 if your lucky. Anyways I just wanted to know what you guys might think the problem is, and if you think its going to get better. Im hoping it was people taking fish, because then atleast the fish might populate back up again over the years (because people just don't seem to fish it anymore, or atleast not like they used to). So whats your opinion on this? Has the pond gone down the deep end? Or do you think its going to improve? Its pretty heart breaking for me, because this lake is where I learned to bass fish, and I'd love to be able to fish it again with some good results :'(.

[Kozak]

weeds taking over bodies of water, especially small ones, have been known to negatively effect the fish population.  Also, it could even be a invasive species of vegetation? Were all those weeds there 5 years back? or are they fairly new?

[Cujo]

Kozak has some good questions.  Definitely could be an invasive species.     Is the pond shallow?  If so light is able to penetrate to the bottom allowing for plant growth throughout the entire pond (the entire pond would be considered littoral zone).  Some of the scum could be algae and not plants at all.  It is possible people have been harvesting more bass then the pond could produce.  As for the vegetation, if the vegetation grows unchecked and is able to take over the pond then Yes, it will impact the fish populations greatly.  Oxygen levels are affected in a way that will stress fish.  pH levels tend to be affected and will cause added stress to fish.  With more vegetation there are more areas for the baitfish to hide and less ambush points for the bass.  You typically will get stunted bass populations at this point.  Let us know more about the pond and more suggestions might be added.  What state are you located?  If you wish to have the plants identified, takes some pictures and post them, it may help.

[Cujo]

Oops.  I just looked and saw you were from NJ.  What part of NJ?

[BassFishingMachine]

Union County, and now that I think back I don't remember it "entirely" being covered by weeds back 5 years ago. I think it used just get covered about half, or 75%, now it just gets entirely covered once summer comes around. In my opinion the county should have to take care of the pond, and put some chemicals in there to control the weeds. Like I said, they pretty much don't do a thing about it. And yes the pond is pretty shallow, with the deepest points (which there aren't many), being 4-5feet tops im guessing.

[Saladmander]

Cujo made some really good points. Small ponds can't handle a big change in it's ecosystem. Ask anyone who has tried to keep a saltwater tank. A small one requires a lot more care than a big one.

Fising pressure will definitely hurt a small pond pretty quick. Excess nutrients in the water can cause weeds to get out of control, as well. Phosphates and nitrates that are present in fertilizers can leach into the ground and make its way into a body of water from runoff. When the ice covers the pond in the winter, the weeds will die off and decompose. The bacteria that decomposes that stuff will consume oxygen. The ones in the know call this Winterkill (and that' the technical name). Dead spots that are undisturbed for long periods of time will create pockets of sulfates (you ever go wheelin' and drive through a bog that has mud that smells like rotten eggs?). Both those factors destroy animal life. No food, and no bass.

I feel your pain, though... I've seen a couple ponds around here that suffered the same fate from too many people keeping fish to overgrowth of weeds. That's one of the reasons that I keep the little "honey holes" to myself. I've actually had friends bring somebody to one, then he would bring somebody, and he would bring a bunch of his friends... next thing you know, your quiet little pond that no one knew about has a handful of people there every time you go. Then, you finally stumble on the one guy that has an over the limit stringer that is probably the single reason that pond will be dry in just a few short years. It's really sad. Sorry to hear about your spot.

[Cujo]

Not sure if the county will do anything, but it may be worth the effort to try.  If you wish to find a company that will control the vegetation please let me know.  My company no longer deals with small ponds in NJ, but I could refer you to some one reliable.  Send me a PM if you are interested.

[Tokyo Tony]

If nothing gets done, you could just count your losses and fish frogs (plastic or hollow-bodied).  You'd be surprised how many fish are willing to bust throug slop to get a meal  

Or you could punch through the stuff with a t-rigged plastic of some sort and try your luck that way.  

As for what to do about the weeds, sorry, I have no advice.  But as it is, you could try those two techniques and probably nab a few.

[BassFishingMachine]

The weeds aren't the problem, I have no difficulties fishing weeds, as a matter of fact I prefer fishing them, as I love throwing hollow frogs. The problem is there are barely any fish to be caught, I just mentioned the weeds because I think thats a reason the fish are dying off.

[fooman]

A few ponds here in Illinois are like that...by summer it looks like you can walk across them but the bass are still there..I think the bass are feeding better because they can hide and use the weeds to ambush..

The sportsmens club I belong to started going down hill with the quality of bass we were catching.We had the DNR come in and do an electro survey which showed alot of smaller stunted bass.

We then went back and looked at the harvest books and found that nobody was keeping any bass for the last few years..there were to many bass competing for the same food..

We started taking 14" and under bass out and the last couple years things have started coming back around..

I'm not saying this is whats happening in your situation,it may be that it is fished out but dont be surprised if everyone else is practicing C&R and its hurting the fishery

[marcoman]

The plants don't compete for oxygen until they start to decompose. (Which may be happening under water when it gets covered over.) If the pond is not deep it may have frozen too deep and killed a lot of them off a few years back.