Hey guys, I have a question. THere is a small pond (2 Acres)that I fish sometimes..and this year it has been taken over by what appears to be milfoil. I would estimate about 90% coverage and this stuff is thick. I catch bass by casting to the edge of the visible weeds ( this is a small area) and have been getting some nice ones out of it. My question is, what happens in the fall/winter? I have heard that when there is a large amount of vegetation that dies off, the decay will deplete the oxygen levels, affecting the fishery. Is there any truth to this? Just curious, this is also the first year that I have seen this at this pond. A friend that lives inthe commutity where its located said that last year it got very low and now this. Any help/insight would be appreciated.

I've not seen that happen, but it is certainly possible. However, I know of some private lakes in the same shape who have not had a die off. The biggest problem is usually predators not being able to adequately feed due to the amount of cover.

Long Answer...

When vegetation dies in the summer due to chemical weed control, for example, it is dieing when the dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in the pond are already at their lowest levels. The warmer the water, the less the DO. Further depletion of DO due to decaying vegetable matter then often leads to a complete DO crash killing just about everything.

Conversely, when winter die off happens, the DO levels are generally at their highest in the pond. The cooler the water, the higher the DO, generally speaking. At that time, vegetation decays much slower than in summer and DO levels are so high there is no discernable effect.

Nature is a Marvelous system, really wonderous when you think about it. Vegetation won't generally die in summer without our interference...and when we interfere the risk of a crash is very real. When nature takes its course as in winter die off, there is no danger of a crash. Marvelous system, simply marvelous.

Hey, Thanks Meadowlark! Just the kind of info I was looking for. That makes me happy, because I know there are some decent bass here. Also while walking around the pond, I noticed that there were what seemed like layers in the weeds. I saw tons of forage fish for the bass here. Also saw a decent amount of little bitty bass too. I know in the past there have been large channel cats caught there. The cool thing is that there is another larger pond in this community less than 150yds away and all the people seem to be fishing there, and avoiding the weeds as there are none in the larger pond. I agree whole-heartedly..marvelous.. almost like it was designed that way,lol.

I have no doubt it was designed that way....just couldn't be a random happening.

I know, I believe it was designed exactly that way. I was being facetious. It amazes me how many people think that this whole big complicated thing we call life is just happenstance.

and where's this place again?