Product Review – Does Dye Help Manage Vegetation?

Dyes can be effective in managing vegetation, but professional fertilization techniques should be substituted for dye in sport fishing lakes.

Vegetation thrives on sunlight.  To minimize growth, you must create sunlight barriers that block the solar energy source.  Dyes work, but they lack side benefits.  Fertilization not only disrupts sunlight, it contributes plankton, a VERY valuable food chain for newly spawned fish.  Fry are hatched with a yolk sack that nourishes them for several days.  If they do not have microscopic forage like plankton when the sack is depleted, survival rates decline.  If present, survival increases significantly.  Biologists suggest healthy plankton levels can double and triple pond productivity.

If your pond goals don’t include angling, Aquashade is a good alternative for aquatic plant control.  It’s the only water colorant of its kind registered by the Environmental Protection Agency.  Aquashade is a blend of blue and yellow dyes.  Shading limits photosynthesis in young, bottom growth and may prevent development if maintained throughout the season.

Dyes are effective primarily in water deeper than two feet.  Floating plants are unaffected if they have reached the surface.  Use Aquashade with herbicides, microbes, and/or algaecides to prevent mats of algae on the surface.  This product is not for use in drinking water.  When used per label directions, there are no restrictions for animal/livestock drinking, irrigation, swimming, or fish consumption.  Typical application rate is one gallon per one million gallons of water.

Order from the dye section of our on-line store at www.texomahatchery.com. Dyes may be used anytime.  Fertilizer must be applied at a critical time in early spring before vegetation becomes active.  Call Chad to discuss which product is best for your management program.