im looking for possible solutions to the issues were having here. the ponds are over run with both weeds and turtles. im going to talk to DNR about it, but wanted to come in with solutions to my complaints. the weeds are char, and Filamentous. I don't think the cow poo helps much, but nothing to be done about the cows. this is effecting more than one pond, each being different sizes and depths. I was thinking stocking with grass carp and tilapia. I say the tilapia cause people will fish for them as table fair, and they stock summertime with channel cats. the ponds are over run with sun fish; blue gill and red ears mostly. some of the gill get in to the 3lb range. they have LMB, though I haven't seen any caught in 2 years. these and the channel cats are about all that's in the ponds. I know of one pond that seems to have a breeding population of small mouth bass, as I caught one that was about the size of the palm of my hand a few weeks ago. the turtles are so bad; at a pond that's less than 1/4 acre surface area, I counted 8 turtles in the water. they take your bait faster than the fish do. besides for loping off the heads of the turtles when caught, I am at a loss as to what to do about them. please give me some thing I can take to DNR. 2 years ago, every pond has family's out fishing, teaching the kids how to fish. now, your hard pressed to see any one else at the ponds fishing.

Public ponds are really a challenge to try to manage...you just can't control the people variables.

Tilapia and grass carp will help with the vegetation you mentioned....but remember grass carp live a long time and if you get too many of them it can be a problem almost as bad as the weeds.

Turtles...too many can be a problem. Trap them for removal or simply dispatch them if that's allowed. Good luck.

I was able to talk to DNR today. the challenge here is that they will only stock with fish native to texas, and the stocker fish are all donated.

Use Nautique to spray your weeds.

Dave