Whats with this pond????? (pics)

[.dsaavedra.]

i have never been here, but i plan on asking permission to fish this pond. it is on an amish farm, so im sure the gets lots of fertilizer. does this cause algae to bloom in it making it lime green like that??? is that bad for the fishing??? could it even support fish???

any info would be appreciated!

[carySE406]

Its called eutrophication and the algael bloom makes the O2 levels get dangerously low, ultimatley hurting the fish and fishing. From what I know, it will only happen once or twice a year and almost take care of itself.   Check this out for more info:

http://www.pondowner.com/2006/04/pond-eutrophication.html

[Bassnbrett101]

I dont know about the pond, but I dont think eutrophication is what you think it is J-FOWL.

I mean this in no offense to your knowledge of lakes but I was taught in school that eutrophication happens when there is too many weeds in a lake and not enough water flow.  It isnt a condition that goes away but rather it happens to a lake.  Fertilizers will get in the lake and the weeds will have an increased growth rate so there are tons of weeds.  The weeds in the lake will then die and go to the bottom and decay and the dead weeds and such will fill in the bottom of the lake.  You were correct about the Dissolved O2 concentration, it does go down but I cant quite remember what causes that.  I think its all the bacteria in the lake breaking down the decaying plant matter.

[XcoM274]

Eutrophication is when the lake grows too many weeds, sediment builds over several years because of them, and the lake dries up and fills in. And, weeds boost oxygen levels (I can see that as an obvious brain fart to make) because remember plants use CO2 and produce O2. The ponds depth is what I would concern over. I'm not sure how much ice you get in MD but up here you need 6 feet of water to compensate for the 3 feet of ice in the winter so the fish have someplace to live. Or on the opposite end it could get too hot down there and if the pond is too shallow the fish will cook to death.

[PondBoss]

Just an idea here but it could not be that big word you are all throwing around.  My dad has a couple of ponds on his land, doesn't farm = no fertilizer, and has very sparse vegetation.  THe reason his ponds are that color green is from the clayish mud that makes up most of the soil there.  If this is the case on this particular pond the fishing should be just fine and plentiful.  Plus my guess on the Ahmish people is they would probably catch fish to eat as opposed to buying it, so I wouldn't worry about weeds growing out of your ears.  If you ate what you kept.  But being that they may harvest their own fish they may not let you fish it.  just my .02

[Bassnbrett101]

yeah it doesnt look like the pond is eutrophic it just looks like they may have put weed killer in the lake.

But a eutrophic lakes do have less dissolved oxygen.  the weeds do produce oxygen but I believe its the bacteria that break down the decaying plant matter that make the pond have less dissolved oxygen.  Because they require the dissolved O2 as well they use it up and theres less dissolved O2 for other aquatic animals to live off of.  They don't necessarily lead to lots of fish kills because of it, but they do diminish the O2 supply.

[Grey Wolf]

Good luck with asking permission from those people.

[Cujo]

Its tough to exactly say from just the picture.  It looks like an unicellular agal bloom, specifically blue-green algae.  But on the other hand it could be a mix of duckweed and watermeal, which are plants not algae.  If it is duckweed and watermeal there is probably a high amount of nitrogen entering the water, via. fertilizer or farm animals.  If this is the case then there is a good chance there is a fish population.  If that is blue-green algae then, yes there may be fish, but they are going to be stressed due to the DO and pH problems.  If you get to fish the pond and find out its duckweed and watermeal (they will be small plants that stick to everything, like your hand or fishing lure) tie on a top water plug and hold on!

[fishinfiend]

I have used google maps to view a satellite image of my granddad's pond and it had a similar color.  However, it does not look like that in person. Maybe the picture is a little deceiving.  Give it a try and good luck !

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

fish it,and fish it some more!

You should see all the discolored milky green shee-ot around my parts.I get stoked if I can even find something as clear colored as that  

[RobbyZ5001]

If the actual pond is that color inthe photo you will be in some trouble. I would put money on it that it is too acidic. When water gets too acidic is turns a greenish color like such. I doubt you will do well in this pond.

[.dsaavedra.]

Just an idea here but it could not be that big word you are all throwing around. My dad has a couple of ponds on his land, doesn't farm = no fertilizer, and has very sparse vegetation. THe reason his ponds are that color green is from the clayish mud that makes up most of the soil there. If this is the case on this particular pond the fishing should be just fine and plentiful. Plus my guess on the Ahmish people is they would probably catch fish to eat as opposed to buying it, so I wouldn't worry about weeds growing out of your ears. If you ate what you kept. But being that they may harvest their own fish they may not let you fish it. just my .02

i was thinking the same thing about the soil. first thought that crossed my mind wasnt really algae or anything it was that it was a muddy/clay soil and that caused the water to be kinda muddy, but from satellite it would look different.

[-ebby-]

the lake in my town has a green color to it but had very few weeds. it was from the chemicals and stuff from farming and lawns. the fishing is still good although i hate fishing there

[BirdNestBen]

Bring em a treat like some apples or something... they'll be more apt to give permission.... don't know about all the other stuff these guys are talking about... woosh over my head.... hard to see the pic.... looks awful weedy.... might try a topwater frog.........

[dumb_dog11]

If your ascertation of fertilizer being in the water is correct..then heres a little chem info

NH3, aka ammonia, is what we use as fertilizer today. The most recent definition that was provided that we use as the modern definition today was made by a man named lewis. An acidic solution is one that is a H+ ion acceptor, a basic solution is an H+ donor. Ammonia is the latter.

Anyway...this would refute an earlier post that the water is very acidic as the fertilizer runoff would conteract that in the water. The average pH level of rain in the east is about 4.3-4.7, which is slightly acidic. This means that outside factors would have to make the pond acidic. Add that to the fertilizer nuetralizing the acid from the rain and still having very acidic water would mean that w/ out the fertilizer it would be super acidic which seems very unnatural.

Of course, this is all based off of fertilizer runnoff

sorry to bore

[Sam]

Dave,

Ask permission.  Give them a pie or a nice gift they can use as a "thank you" for allowing you to fish their pond.

Tell them you will release all fish and not make a mess.

And fish the pond.

Don't worry about the oxygen or alge or cow manure in the pond.  Just fish the pond.

You will find out if the pond is good, bad or indifferent.  

And you can come back in 30 days and see its condition and fish it again.

Let us know how you do.  And watch were you step! ;D

[BassinBoy]

I have used google maps to view a satellite image of my granddad's pond and it had a similar color. However, it does not look like that in person. Maybe the picture is a little deceiving. Give it a try and good luck !

I have seen the same.  Youll be ok.

[Pond-Pro]

One of the ponds I fish in is usually completely covered in algae.  And guess what; i still catch some nice bass out of it!  Apparently the fish still have enough oxygen to survive.  So even if the pond doesn't look so great, you don't know whats in it till you fish it.  Good luck!  

[Maxximus Redneckus]

dave i have fished ponds like this best thing i have found if this is algae is cast right on shore  a few inches in the water using a frog or some other soft plastic and reel slow do this all over the pond and in the corners  cast to each side if u know what i mean cut the corners  this works for the matted ponds anyhow if it aint matted most likely its green water just look for any kind of differance in water depth