Arkansas Farm Pond Management Calendar

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Arkansas Farm Pond Management Calendar
Trim grass/brush on levee Although some
vegetation around the pond helps control erosion
and provides habitat for wildlife, cut the
vegetation on the levee periodically to prevent
brush and trees from growing. Tree roots weaken
the levee and increase the likelihood of leaks,
as well as encourage muskrats, beavers, and
snakes to take up residence.
Although managing a small pond or lake is a
year-round effort, timing is often critical to
the success of individual management practices.
Use this pond management calendar to help plan
your management strategies. Keep in mind that
some management strategies are not required every
year, and some may not be appropriate for your
pond.
Lime if needed Adding crushed limestone to a
pond reduces acidity of bottom soils and makes
nutrients more available to be used in the food
chain. Liming is recommended in ponds with an
alkalinity less than 20 ppm. Liming is usually
required every 4-6 years in ponds with low
alkalinity.
Fertilize if desired Fertilizer stimulates the
growth of microscopic plants that feed the fish
and shade out undesirable rooted weeds. Most
ponds dont need fertilizer, but for those that
do, begin applications when water temperature
exceeds 60?F. Once started, a fertilization
program must be continued every year.
Inspect levee for holes The winter is the best
time to identify problems with the levee because
the vegetation dies back and makes holes and
damage more visible, and because the pond may be
drawn down for management. This is also a good
time to add fish habitat or renovate older
structures.
Check density of bloom When fertilizing, check
the density of the algal bloom to avoid
over-fertilization and to know when to fertilize
again. Use a white tin can bottom nailed to a
yard stick to measure how deep you can see in the
water. A depth of 18-24 is ideal. If less,
dont fertilize, if more, fertilize.
Fish and harvest pond Fishing is fun, but
harvesting bass and bluegill is also a very
important management action for a healthy pond.
As a rule, 4-5 pounds of sunfish should be
removed for every pound of bass. Harvest 10-15
pounds of bass per acre in infertile ponds, 20-25
pounds in naturally fertile ponds, and more if
the pond is fertilized or fed.
Control weeds Although chemical control of weeds
should be the last resort, it is best to perform
herbicide applications in spring before the
problem gets out of hand. Application during
late summer can be more difficult and result in
water quality issues. Make sure to have the weed
correctly identified prior to treatment.
Stock catfish if desired Catfish must be
restocked periodically because they do not
reproduce successfully in balanced ponds. Keep
records of your catfish harvest and restock when
needed. For ponds with abundant bass, stock
6-8 catfish. This will ensure that they are
not eaten by bass shortly after stocking.
Check pond balance For best fishing, fish
populations should be in balance. Use a seine
annually to collect fish from the pond. Balanced
ponds should have many recently hatched bluegill,
some intermediate-size bluegill, and some
recently hatched bass. If you dont catch all
three, the pond may be out of balance.
Feed fish if desired Many species of fish
including catfish and bluegill will eat prepared
feeds. Sport fish such as bass benefit from
increased prey resulting from feed. Use a
floating feed and only feed what the fish will
consume in 5-10 minutes. Do not feed if you
fertilize your pond.
Drawdown pond for winter then refill pond If
needed, lower water level to about ½ the original
volume during the winter. This helps keep the
pond fish community balanced by concentrating
bluegill for bass to eat, and controls weeds by
exposure to freezing and drying. Refill in
late-winter to early spring.
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff,
Aquaculture/Fisheries Center of Excellence