Pond Structure Improvement

Pond Structure Improvement

By Ben Leal

There is no doubt that many of Iowa’s anglers began their fishing endeavors on one of the 110,000 ponds scattered throughout the State. This is true for me too, Grandpa would introduce grandchildren to pond fishing, usually with a spiderman or barbie fishing pole. A small hook with a bit of worm is a simple means to bring joy to the young angler and parents and grandparents alike. While fishing can be easy and productive on farm ponds, it still requires maintenance and upkeep. Today we’re going to explore a little bit about ponds and what we can do to help improve habitat.

Pond Basics
Life in a pond is a complex system with many life forms dependent on each other. Although bluegills may grow to nine inches and over, they eat mostly plankton and insects throughout their lives. Bass eat plankton and insects only during their early stages. As the bass get larger, they become the primary predator in a pond, eating fish, crayfish, and frogs. Man, actively looking for and eating fish caught from the pond, forms the final link in the chain. Each link in this web of life is needed to survive. Proper management of the pond and its surroundings is essential to keep it healthy.

Structure provides surface area for organisms, like algae, to grow on and provides cover for fish. Structure also provides places for fish to hide, eat, or spawn. Added habitat can occur when trees fall into ponds, when stumps or other materials are left when a pond is filled, or by natural aquatic vegetation growing in the ponds. Some ponds don’t have natural structure, so providing artificial versions can be essential for creating and/or maintaining healthy fish populations and better fishing opportunities.

There are quite a few types of man-made or artificial structures available. It is important to never use potentially toxic materials such as tires to create habitat. In the long run, they do more harm than good. The following is a partial list of types of potential material you can use for artificial habitat. It will also depend on the stage your pond is. Some of these will be great for ponds being built, and others can be used for ponds already established where improvements are being made.

Rock Piles (Reefs)
These provide foraging habitat for aquatic insects, crustaceans, and bait fish. In turn, this will attract fish to forage for food or to spawn. Generally, these are placed on flat areas or shoals and are usually placed during pond construction.

Felled Shoreline Trees
Submerged trees offer excellent habitat for most types of warm water species that ponds are stocked with. These can be placed during construction but can also be felled as part of a pond improvement project or to add that improved structure you’re looking for. Bluegill will often hide in the limbs from predatory bass and have a place to feed off the algae and plankton that grow and thrive with a submerged tree.

Brush Piles, Log Piles, or Stumps
These can be manufactured or made from natural materials. These provide predation protection, and hardwood piles will help attract bass, crappies, and juvenile sunfish. These are cost-effective options for adding and or improving structure in farm ponds.

“Ideally, fish structure would be placed where you want in a new pond before it fills with water,” says Kloubec Earthworks Co-Owner Holly Kloubec. “If the pond is full of water, place structure during the winter when there is ice. Place it on the top of the ice, and as winter gives way to spring, the structure will settle down into the pond close to where you had placed it.”

Christmas trees can be used but only last for a short time, typically three to five years. Natural structure, like trees will provide adequate temporary structure. However, in a few years the trees will begin to deteriorate. You may want to consider an artificial source. For instance, MossBack Fish Habitat and Pond King make some artificial structures to help you manage your pond’s habitat. You can place some artificial products designed to protect and hide small bait fish, or you can add some structure which will help trophy sized game fish hide and ambush prey. Either approach will help you improve habitat and the fishing in your pond.

Kloubec recommends using PVC for building structure. “It’s ideal because it won’t decompose, and your fish hooks won’t’ get snagged”, she adds. You can secure trees and other artificial material with cinderblocks, cement in a bucket, or something similar, placed upright to create a three-dimensional structure.

Maintaining your Pond
“Make sure your fish structure doesn’t become plugged with moss,” adds Kloubec. “One way to avoid this is to add grass carp for aquatic vegetation control.” Placing structure in shallow areas of the pond helps the minnow population by providing a place for them to spawn and hide. Anything in shallow water gets warmer quicker therefore, minnows will spawn more times throughout the year when they have shallow structure areas. Their eggs are adhesive, so they need a surface area to stick to become viable.

A pond is a living ecosystem. There’s no single right way to manage a pond. The key is to decide what you want out of the pond and how to get it. Beyond controlling algae and pond weeds, water can be kept relatively clear by ensuring the banks are well-planted to prevent erosion. You can further assure some degree of water purity by controlling runoff with diversion ditches, tiling, embankments, and grading.

One aspect of maintaining your pond is controlling fish populations. If you allow anglers to fish in your pond, let them know your management plan. Harvesting a portion of the fish population will help maintain a healthy ecosystem. Some ponds can have too many fish of one species, and they then fish become stunted. I was allowed access to a local pond, and the owner shared that he’d like as many of the bass I catch to be harvested. It was overpopulated with eight to nine inch fish, and the pond needed to be culled. Bluegill can also quickly overpopulate a pond and need to be harvested. Raptor recovery programs will gladly take your fish, as they use them for food.

Farm ponds are one of the most popular fishing destinations for anglers, young and old alike. It’s a place to learn how to fish as a youngster, and it’s also a place to hone your skills with different baits in an unpressured environment. Maintaining and improving your pond will bring years and years of fishing excitement to you, your families, and your friends. If you have a farm pond and want to discuss maintenance plans and improvements, reach out to Kloubec Earthworks and chat with Holly Kloebec. Visit their website for details on their services at http://www.kloubecearthworks.com/. They can also help with Iowa pond construction if you consider building one.