I've got an acre pond that's over run with weeds and moss. To those of you with experience how well will they eat the vegetation, and how many should I put in there?
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I've got an acre pond that's over run with weeds and moss. To those of you with experience how well will they eat the vegetation, and how many should I put in there?
[QUOTE=cooter 33;443085]I've got an acre pond that's over run with weeds and moss. To those of you with experience how well will they eat the vegetation, and how many should I put in there?[/QUOTE]
I had a small pond that was almost completely covered with some sort of plant that grew from the bottom up. I put 6 grass carp in it and they ate like starving fools. They clear out the lake and then started eating cattails. They would bite them off at the water and chew them up. You could actually hear them. Putting in grass carp is definitely the way to go. They eat alot the first 5 years then they slow down but they are a one time investment. I paid ab out 9 dollars each about a year ago.
I just put 8 in about an hour ago. They were about 7 to 10 inches. Being that small do you think I'll notice a difference this year? Also at what water temp do they start eating? I've been told many different temps.
I paid 12.75. But as long as there effective I don't care.
I've heard they don't eat as much when they get really big....does anybody know if thats true....I fish a local pond and it has a few in it but they're giants...I'd say in the 40lb range but they dont even come close to keeping the pond cleaned out
They work well for sub-surface vegetation, but if you suffer from the all too common "Pond Scum" you're more than likely going to have to invest in an aeration system. My pond has had two fish kills in the past ten years, so we are finally forced to bite the bullet.
This is all moss that stays down towards the bottom.....makes it nearly impossible to get down to the fish.....and those big carp wont keep it clean
I'm not a fan at all. They do great at first but after they get mature and very large they accomplish very little EXCEPT silting your pond especially around spawn time. Bass hate grass carp and I have seen several ponds go from great fishing to very average because of them. Just one man's opinion, but I know some homeowners that would never put them in their ponds ever again.
Encouraging!
[QUOTE=Fishin is life;443159]I've heard they don't eat as much when they get really big....does anybody know if thats true....I fish a local pond and it has a few in it but they're giants...I'd say in the 40lb range but they dont even come close to keeping the pond cleaned out[/QUOTE]
I understand that is correct. What you could do after four or five years when they are really big is haul them out and give them to someone that would eat them. They are fun to fight. I have accidently hooked into one; fought it for about 30 minutes before I got him to shore. I didn't want to loose my crankbait.
And then start all over again. If they are 11-12 inches when they start out; a bass should not bother them unless you have some toads in your pond.
[QUOTE=cooter 33;443252]Encouraging![/QUOTE]
Sorry cooter just an opinion Bro.
No, I appreciate the info that's given. I'm just looking for a cheaper fix. I've still got to stock bluegill and bass. Before that happens I want to make sure the moss is under control.
Just looking to clean it up a bit so I can take my kids out back and watch them have fun. My 5 year old is talking about fishing non stop.