Spring is in the air

[BuzzLiteBeer]

Hope the rain comes soon. I've been following this thread with interest hoping to learn something about pond management.

[Riprap]

Thanks Buzz. The most interesting thing is the dependence and reliability of species with each other and how important environmental factors are. Just when you think you are doing the right thing, mother nature changes the parameters and this is why one often hears the terms, "species bounce back"! We see and experience this up and down in abundance in our dams all the time..........

One thing I'm not scared of doing is culling bass for their own good. One has to remove the emotion or let nature take its course!

[Riprap]

Well, the drought persists and the fish are battling. The poaching is still a problem and the resident fish eagles are gorging themselves on some big bass with the low water levels but I'm leaving nature to its course. The bluegill are only sitting on nests now and which is very late.......

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I planted papyrus way back and which makes good cover and structure for fish ponds but alas, some of it has succumbed to the drought!

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When the big rains eventually arrive and renew my pond, then hopefully my spirit will be renewed.

[KingDon]

So happy one of my favourite topics thanks man

[Navrik]

Praying for rain with you bud!!

[BuzzLiteBeer]

Harsh times. May the rains come soon.

[theBee]

I also love following this thread. Its a dream of mine to have my very own pond to make and break and tweak as I see please.

Have faith - the rains will come!

[Riprap]

Check what my sons got at our pond today......besides line, hooks, beer cans and the normal trash!! :evil:

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Someone obviously snapped up on a senko there and the fish has passed the hook right through the gut and the eye exited where it should but the hook point has left a nasty wound under the belly. He extracted the hook carefully and placed the fish in the deeper of the now two separated ponds and it swam away happily. It actually looks in good nick. :roll:

[BuzzLiteBeer]

Ouch. Hurts to look at it.

[andydejager]

Ouch. Hurts to look at it.

Ya, doesn't look very good. Just glad he swam away strong

Good job rip

[WormWhisperer]

That does look eina. I would set my dogs loose on the poachers. :evil:

Pond is looking good tho.

[Riprap]

Six (6) straight years of diminishing rainfall, hungry fish eagles, stagnant water and even hungrier fisherfolk aka poachers have taken their toll on the pond. Maybe even tomorrow I'm going to start pumping water from one pond into the other to save one and sacrifice the other!

There is life yes, lots of it but all young and I didn't see a bass over around 500g. My kurper both vlei and blue have all disappeared and the big saucer bluegill are few and far between.

Once I fill the main pond my laaitjies are going to be busy the upcoming holidays travelling to fetch and restock the pond with a list from "dad" and which includes some big northern strain bass. Wish I had a motion detection trail cam hidden there somewhere.......
Oh well, herewith a few early Autumn pics to lift the gees a little.

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[BuzzLiteBeer]

Sweet.

[KingDon]

Been waiting for this so cool, I'll be watching this space love it

[Wilki]

very cool Rip

Would also love to have my own pond one day...

Cant wait to read more...

very interesting...