I have a 4 acre pond on some property that I purchased last year in Trinity county. It is at the bottom of a hill where I take it receives its water. The pond is constantly cloudy. I have not taken any water or soil samples yet, but plan on it this year. The bare soil below the retaining mound turns white when it dries up. Its like a white film and gets crusty when dried. This might be the reason the pond stays cloudy. Does anyone have a similar situation? The pond was extended 3 years ago so some bare ground is still exposed. There are some black willow and pines on the edge of the older section of the pond and plenty of cattails on different areas of the pond. The area where rain runs down the hill into the pond is the only shallow part. The rest of it is deep quick and gets to about 15-20ft deep.
Also, when I throw floating catfish feed into the pond near the pier, the water boils with tiger striped (perch?). I have not seen or caught any bigger than my hand, but they put a good fight for the kids. There are a lot of them. Could this pose a problem? I have caught some lmb, but not to interested in bass. I like catfish. They are easier for the kids to catch. My neice caught a nice 8# blue last summer. She loved it and I loved it. I always see cats surfacing to get their share of the food I throw out. So I think they are plentiful.

Any recommendations on managing this pond or a good web site would be appreciated. Thanks Eric

P.S. The previous owner showed me a picture of a 13# lmb caught in the pond the summer before we bought the place and he said he threw it back.

here is a great website: http://www.pondboss.com/
another one http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/habitats/private_water/

basically I would send a water sample to Texas A&M. Then evaluate the pond by either electroshock, seine net sampling, or rod and reel. After determining what kinds of fish you have, and what kind of shape they're in, you'll be able to determine what to stock, how many to stock, etc.
Four acres is a great size pond to manage in my opinion. The bigger the pond the more expensive to manage it. Sounds like you have a good start on it, perch, lmb and blue cats. Good luck.

I agreepondboss.com ask th pros is a great resource in helping you be a pondmiester. Enjoy you new pond!

Since your not interested in bass, I will volunteer
to come remove that 13 from your pond.
"free of charge"!

fishindude12,

A couple of things come to mind from your description. First, if possible get those areas that have bare ground around the pond covered in grass. That will help some with the cloudy water. Second, like roadtrip said get a water/soil test. In our area of East Texas, most ponds need lime...generally about 4 tons per acre. If your pond had been managed before, then maybe it already had lime applied, but the effect could have worn out. Lime lasts about 5 years in our soils.

Another thing you should try is to get a five gallon bucket of pond water. Let it sit for a couple of days. If the water clears and settles out, then your cloudy condition is due to suspended clay particles from run-off. If it stays cloudy, then you probably have ionized charged suspended matter which will need to be treated with something to neutralize the charge in order to get clearing.

Some things that work for that include gypsum, alum, and ag. lime. You could find some gypsum and add it to the 5 gallon bucket until the water clears and get a reading on what it would take to clear the entire pond. I don't like alum myself because if used improperly it can kill your fish by changing the ph too fast.

I've had that same condition many times in East Texas ponds, and if you are patient. it will almost always clear within about 4 to 6 weeks with the proper additon of agricultural lime.

This time of year with all the rain, most ponds in our area are somewhat cloudy...so remedies you may try right now may take a little longer than they would in summer. Also, if you have a high population of mature catfish, you can expect to have cloudy water, especially if they are not provided artificial feed.

I'm curious about "The striped perch". Maybe you could post a picture? I suspect they are coppernosed bluegill which when feeding show those lines you mentioned.

One last thought, as those large cats get more and more mature, they become the top of the line predators in a pond and generally the bass fishing suffers as a result...but if that doesn't matter to you, then don't worry about it.

If true (and you know how fishermen are) a 13 pound pond raised bass is quite an accomplishment and is not done generally without management. Somebody has been doing something right, again if true.

Personally, I don't like electro-shocking of ponds. I've had it done and would not ever do it again. I prefer fishing the pond to really find out what you have augmented by trapping.

Your BG will tell the story of the status of your pond. The size distribution and condition of the BG reveal what's going on in most ponds.

One thing about "free" pond advice that I have learned the hard way...get your advice from someone who is local to your area, who understands the dynamics of your environment. Some good folks in "Yankee" country will give lots of advice, but East Texas is a lot different from other areas of this great Country and even other areas of our great State.

Enjoy your journey with ponds...it's a lot of fun and very rewarding.

p.s. down the road some, you may want to consider removing trees on the dam.

http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/other-pets-animals/fish-ponds-4076.html

I had a fish pond and have used barley. This has a little story on it that I thought you might read. It depends on what is causing the cloudy water. It could be algae, or iron oxide or something. If you have too much vegetation you could add a couple of grass carp...but they will eventually eat up your vegetation....

The barley might work for you. Read the story and I hope this helps ya.

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