Minnows
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The key is ridding the pond of fatheads minnows-they eat the macro invertibrates (very small bugs in the water) that the ducklings almost exclusively live on, that is also what adult "dabblers" eat too in the summer time.
Having a few Nothern Pike in the pond would mean they eat minnows-but if the Northerns got over 4lbs they will start to eat the ducklings too.
Best way is to freeze them out right to the bottom of the pond.
Best way to make sure the fatheads do not get into the pond is to make sure there are no ditches the lead into or out of the pond for them to swim up into your ponsd.
As for wild celery-good choice, divers love it. Fresh water shrimp is a good choice too. Do not even think of importing the zebra mussels- felony if you did. Another veg to plant is sago pond weed as both puddlers and divers like it.
Good to see somebody trying to make a difference. :thumbsup:
Having a few Nothern Pike in the pond would mean they eat minnows-but if the Northerns got over 4lbs they will start to eat the ducklings too.
Best way is to freeze them out right to the bottom of the pond.
Best way to make sure the fatheads do not get into the pond is to make sure there are no ditches the lead into or out of the pond for them to swim up into your ponsd.
As for wild celery-good choice, divers love it. Fresh water shrimp is a good choice too. Do not even think of importing the zebra mussels- felony if you did. Another veg to plant is sago pond weed as both puddlers and divers like it.
Good to see somebody trying to make a difference. :thumbsup:
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You can only do this on private ponds right? You can't go out in the summer and plant wild celery on state land correct?
98,
Laws from state to state differ. Here in Mn what constitutes state water and private is most likely different than in WA. Yeah we plant wild celery and sago pond weed to help out.
Ben,
You mean to tell me that your pond has Zebra mussels in it? I only thought lakes/rivers had them in it. I'm not sure what your definition of a pond is, but mine is under 10 acres in size-per MN state definition. For Gods sake be careful not to spread them mussels. Does your pond attach to other ponds/lakes/streams via any crreks or ditches? If so---notify the DNR right away---they may poison them mussels out before they spread all over the place! Or maybe fill in a dike to prevent them from spreading. This is very serious thing having this infestation. Please do the right thing for all concerned-report it to the DNR.
Laws from state to state differ. Here in Mn what constitutes state water and private is most likely different than in WA. Yeah we plant wild celery and sago pond weed to help out.
Ben,
You mean to tell me that your pond has Zebra mussels in it?
I only thought lakes/rivers had them in it. I'm not sure what your definition of a pond is, but mine is under 10 acres in size-per MN state definition. For Gods sake be careful not to spread them mussels. Does your pond attach to other ponds/lakes/streams via any crreks or ditches? If so---notify the DNR right away---they may poison them mussels out before they spread all over the place! Or maybe fill in a dike to prevent them from spreading. This is very serious thing having this infestation. Please do the right thing for all concerned-report it to the DNR.I guess it is 20 acres + Years ago it was a wheat field that flooded over every fall , my great grandfather had hunted it and thear are records of him killing more than 140 ducks in a week. He started our meatmarket in 1890, and today it's still going in the same town. ( my dad owns it now ). We called in once and they said it was a lake . The best thing is they named it after my family's last name. It has been a lake for i guess 20 some years. At it's highest point it got to 40 feet deep. Thear are always at leat few ducks on it but it's so big they are hard to jumpshoot. The fact that it's a horseshoe pond, we have a nice permanent blind on the point. It doesn't have any other water source leading into it or out of it.
It'll be pretty hard to kill those fatheads if it is 40' deep.
Yes, under Mn definition-it is a "Lake" waters 10 acres or more are considered lakes. There are about 12-13, 000 lakes in Mn, used to be closer to 17K before so many were drained.
As for the mussels, just be sure if you hunt other places not to transport them unknowingly on gear, boat, or decoys.
Oh to have private hunting. You never realize what you have, until you are without it.
Yes, under Mn definition-it is a "Lake" waters 10 acres or more are considered lakes. There are about 12-13, 000 lakes in Mn, used to be closer to 17K before so many were drained.
As for the mussels, just be sure if you hunt other places not to transport them unknowingly on gear, boat, or decoys.
Oh to have private hunting. You never realize what you have, until you are without it.
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8 Posts
From the archives of the Minnesota Waterfowl Association......
April 22, 1969
Mr. Ray Hangge
Southern Minnesota Waterfowl
Lake Improvement Association
P.O. Box 72
Albert lea, MN 56007
Dear Ray:
Nick passed along your request to determine what proportion of Minnesota's 14,000 odd lakes of 10 acres or more in size are waterfowl lakes.
Let me say that it is my unbiased judgement that they are all waterfowl lakes, some of which have an incidental fishery value. There are others who would argue the point and claim 3,000 fish lakes, 2,000 intermediate fish-waterfowl lakes, and that the remaining 9,000 lakes have various waterfowl value(in the Northeast little value for either).
We will not have a complete detailed inventory for some time.
Sincerely Yours,
Robert L. Jessen
Technical Asst. - Waterfowl
Section of Game
RJL:sm
April 22, 1969
Mr. Ray Hangge
Southern Minnesota Waterfowl
Lake Improvement Association
P.O. Box 72
Albert lea, MN 56007
Dear Ray:
Nick passed along your request to determine what proportion of Minnesota's 14,000 odd lakes of 10 acres or more in size are waterfowl lakes.
Let me say that it is my unbiased judgement that they are all waterfowl lakes, some of which have an incidental fishery value. There are others who would argue the point and claim 3,000 fish lakes, 2,000 intermediate fish-waterfowl lakes, and that the remaining 9,000 lakes have various waterfowl value(in the Northeast little value for either).
We will not have a complete detailed inventory for some time.
Sincerely Yours,
Robert L. Jessen
Technical Asst. - Waterfowl
Section of Game
RJL:sm
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