The Perfect Pond Management Vision

What do most of us envision when we think of a pond or lake?

When I think of a pond or lake, I imagine crystal clear water with a greenish hue and a diverse network of beneficial fish habitat, such as aquatic vegetation, boulders, pebbles, and aesthetically pleasing artificial habitat. The aquatic vegetation covers around a quarter of the shoreline with a few barren areas ideal for fishing lanes. The boulders are associated with peninsulas and steep drop-offs. Pebbles and sandy areas cover the substrate in shallow bays for spawning areas. My vision also includes clusters of natural and artificial fish habitat placed with precision, evenly spread throughout the pond. Within this diverse mosaic of fish habitat, I can see large schools of Bluegills darting around and feeding on the macroinvertebrates grazing on the periphyton that is adhered to the fish habitat. A Largemouth Bass sits and waits for an unsuspecting Bluegill among a shadow cast by a branch of a large tree trunk. I pick up my fishing pole and toss my Texas-rigged worm just beyond the Bass and let it sink to the bottom. I slowly reel it in, lightly jigging the worm. The Bass cannot resist and attacks the green pumpkin plastic. After a long and aggressive fight, I stand tall holding a true Trophy Largemouth Bass high up in the air, showing it off to my dad across the pond who shakes his head in envy.

This “Utopia” of a pond might seem farfetched or might not align with your own vision.  Whatever vision you have for your dream pond, with strategic planning, persistent management, cutting edge fisheries science techniques, and water quality enhancement, it is possible to make your dream a reality.

In this series of blog posts, I will cover management strategies we use every day to help our clients reach the goals they have for their ponds.

Jared displays his impressive 12-pound largemouth bass against a serene background of lush greenery and calm waters.