Are Your Fish Growing?

As youngsters, many of us had a special place to record how much we grew every six months. Each time we marked our new height was an exciting, fun day. Maintaining similar records for fish is equally important to their health. Lake surveys are a great source for such information. They are a highlight of the pond management season and memorable family event.

It’s a great opportunity to learn:

•  What fish species are in your pond and their role with the  ecosystem.
•  How plants add and diminish oxygen levels?
•  Who are the good guys and bad guys among aquatic vegetation?
•  Where different fish get their food?
•  How many fish and what species you should be harvesting.
•  If you need additional habitat to improve the food chain and angling.

The first phase of a survey is identifying your goals. Do you want to:

•  Catch a few trophy bass or high numbers of medium-size fish per outing.
•  Grow big bluegill.
•  Attract wildlife and waterfowl.
•  Bolster forage to accelerate weight gain of sport fish.
•  Add a dock and related improvements for family outings.

The really fun part is an electrofishing survey to examine fish.

We’ll collect a sample and place them in the boat’s live well. We’ll identify each species, measure bluegill, weigh and measure all largemouth bass, then determine which ones will be returned to the lake. Our collection procedure temporarily disables fish so we can net them. They are released with no side affects.

After analyzing survey data, we provide a comprehensive report on findings and recommendations to achieve your goals. Remember when you caught fish from one pond and moved them to another thinking it would help the other pond? Those methods can be detrimental. Today’s management techniques are science-based. Visit with Chad to learn how a lake survey can increase pond productivity and enjoyment.

Oh, remember we mentioned some fish would be released and others harvested? The harvested group will be dinner while you relive highlights from a fascinating day, stories about “a few big ones that got away”, and what you can anticipate in fish growth on the next survey. Bring your video camera! It’s FUN!

Thanks for your business,

Bob Lusk – Matt Rayl – Chad Fikes – Walter Bassano