Wouldn't this be naughty?

[taxi1]

My biggest pond on my property I drained down recently and what fish I didn't salvage I killed off with rotenone. It's now filling back up, but there are no fish in the pond right now. I have several friends that I've been out of contact with that like to ice fish, that wouldn't know I've drained the pond, killed the fish, and refilled the pond. I thought I'd invite them to do some ice fishing later on although there are no fish in the pond.  

Here's the pond as it fills back up.

[IceholeFisherman]

Should have took the time to add some structure while it was empty. Bolt together some old tires about 2 or three layers high with stainless steel bolts. Works great as fish attractors. Thats what the DNR uses around here.

[taxi1]

Should have took the time to add some structure while it was empty. Bolt together some old tires about 2 or three layers high with stainless steel bolts. Works great as fish attractors. Thats what the DNR uses around here.

I had structure in the pond and took it out.  Makes it hard to seine if necessary. Since I raise fish for Bass Pro Shops aquariums and other taxidermists I want the option of seining if hook and line doesn't remove enough fish.

Good idea if it was recreational pond though.

[adkRoy]

You should stock the bottom of the pond with fake plastic toy fish. Then when they catch one, you could mount it for them.

[taxi1]

You should stock the bottom of the pond with fake plastic toy fish. Then when they catch one, you could mount it for them.

Now you're giving me more devious ideas.   How about replica of the world record bluegill?  Suspend it just off the bottom and set my Ice shanty above it. And of course tell them I saw a monster bluegill down there earlier but couldn't catch it.  Since my water is crystal clear in the pond... well you know the rest of the story.

Of course the fiberglass replica will have to be chained to the bottom so there is no way they can get it up!  

[nd.walleye]

That would be funny. Put a couple of them down there for a little school of the little record breakers.

[duck doctor]

I would pay a diver to go down with a short 4" perch. Have him grab the line and start pulling fast. Then I would have him come up towards the hole. While your friend was looking down the hole, I would have the diver shove his arm up through the hole and grab your buddy!

[njsimonson]

Though it is probably illegal where you live.  Catch one massive pike, and just let it cruise through the pond this winter.  Add some minnows in to make sure it is always there.

[Skipper]

Put a scarecrow or dummy dressed in street clothes down there and let your buddy find it with the Aqua-Vu!

[taxi1]

Though it is probably illegal where you live.  Catch one massive pike, and just let it cruise through the pond this winter.  Add some minnows in to make sure it is always there.

Not illegal but that would be the last thing I would put in my pond! 

[pegasus]

I hope not to many people use that pier at once or else they might end up with da fishes.

[pikemaster789]

Put a scarecrow or dummy dressed in street clothes down there and let your buddy find it with the Aqua-Vu!

rofl this one would be hilarious!

[KGrant]

I'm curious as to why you drained it?  Always like to learn new stuff.  How do you go about draining it?  Pull the plug (joke), big pumps?  How long did it take to pump it off?  How do you fill it back up?

Thanks

[taxi1]

I hope not to many people use that pier at once or else they might end up with da fishes.

I've had four or five people on there at once with no problems.

[taxi1]

I'm curious as to why you drained it?  Always like to learn new stuff.  How do you go about draining it?  Pull the plug (joke), big pumps?  How long did it take to pump it off?  How do you fill it back up?

Thanks

Weeds were getting out of hand, bluegills that were not on feed and under 4 inches stunted, and the pond is 12 years old. Needed to start all over.  Also needed to remove all the smallmouth for Bass Pro Shops. I have 50 to almost 3 lbs. in a holding pond.

I'm propogating my perch and bluegills in separate ponds and will restock with only male feed trained bluegills and female yellow perch. This will allow me to grow some monsters without the worry of too many mouths to feed and subsequent stunting. The male bluegills are the fastest growers ultimately and the largest bluegills, and the likewise with the female perch.

Used a trash pump I bought at tractor supply that pumps about 150 gallons per minute. Estimated the volume of the pond at 1,000,000 gallons (.62 acre 150 by 200 feet) and it took about 10 days to mostly drain. It will take me 2 weeks to refill with overflow from my trout pond. (45 gpm) 

[Sven936]

I would suspect you own a fish farm of some sort?    Between the trout pond and other assorted items. 

[taxi1]

I would suspect you own a fish farm of some sort?    Between the trout pond and other assorted items. 

Well sort of. Not a full fledged fish farm yet although I have four ponds and would like to add two more by next spring. I have found a niche market growing out feed trained brook and brown trout, bass, yellow perch and bluegill to trophy size, that I so far I have purchased from other fish farmers as fingerlings. I hope to start producing my own perch, bluegill, and smalmouth bass next spring.

I have been selling them frozen to other fish taxidermists, as there is a demand due to the fact the the sale of public caught fish for the most part -- with some exceptions -- is illegal. I was contacted by Bass Pro Shops this spring, and sold them some large live perch for their aquariums. Since there are very few fish farms that actually grow out fish to trophy size other than broodstock, I am now pursuing that niche market too.

Unfortunately not all is good thanks to the Federal Government. This spring I had to sacrifice more fish than I sold to Bass Pro Shops to test for VHS just to make the sale. Fortunately I still did well, but when you have to kill 48 beautiful healthy monster yellow perch to sell 39, something isn't right with the government's thinking. Additonally I have 50 smallmouth to just under 3 lbs. that they want, but the way the regs are right now regarding the VHS testing, I would have to kill 48 of them must to sell them two. Ain't gonna happen. I will be producing enough fish in the future to make it work. I swear though there are times when I think the government's sole purpose is to stifle commerce.

I have a website here:

http://www.ligtel.com/~jjbaird/bairdfish2.htm

[bucketmouth]

Put a scarecrow or dummy dressed in street clothes down there and let your buddy find it with the Aqua-Vu!

Reminds me of a story a co-worker told me of one of his past canoe trips with his brother to Algonquin park.  On their way to their next campsite and moving thru some shallows they came upon an "old man" rubber halloween mask nailed onto a submerged log... wirey grey hair was flowing under the water and his brother at the front of the canoe leapt out, scared out of his wits! I think I'd crap my pants coming across something like that too...

taxiderm, what's wrong with the pike idea?  Afraid you wouldn't be able to get the fish out in time before restocking in the spring?  Or ya just not a big fan of pike?? 

Don

[Sven936]

I swear though there are times when I think the government's sole purpose is to stifle commerce.

I hear ya,    good luck on the business....   Hopefully it gets really moving for you.


You could always get a shark or two in your pond, just salt it up a bit. I know I would pay a healthy amount for a crack at a Hammerhead through the ice, not sure what size hole I would need though??

 

[taxi1]

taxiderm, what's wrong with the pike idea?  Afraid you wouldn't be able to get the fish out in time before restocking in the spring?  Or ya just not a big fan of pike?? 

Don

Yes, it might be tough to get him out. I had smallmouth this year that were only caught and released one time this spring when we were taking out yellow perch via hook and line. Guess what? Couldn't hardly catch them again even with live bait! Smallies must be smarter than largemouths.

Also with the VHS threat it would be a gamble to put in any wild caught fish.

[BUCKSKI]

Taxi how would ya get it there, do you have a transportation lis. I assume that ya do!

[taxi1]

Taxi how would ya get it there, do you have a transportation lis. I assume that ya do!

The pike? I'm not sure what you mean? I do have a fish haulers and suppliers permit. We are still allowed to plant wild caught fish in private ponds here in Indiana and I can even use them for broodfish. Personally I think that should no longer be allowed due to the threat of VHS that is spreading. Since most private ponds overflow into watersheds it just doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

[dabber-doo]

Put a scarecrow or dummy dressed in street clothes down there and let your buddy find it with the Aqua-Vu!

Skipper only you would think of that!