HELP! Please, private pond laws

[michickenwrangler]

We have a large spring-fed pond on the property (not sure of size, maybe 100 feet long, 40 feet wide and 9 feet deep at the deepest) The spring helps keep it clean, although the water is cold and not conducive to a lot of plant growth.

Not sure about stocking and maintaining. When I moved in with DH, the pond had minnows, yellow perch and goldfish in it as well as a single rock bass. The rockk bass eventually got eaten by an osprey and a neighbor at one point slipped a sucker in it when we weren't home (DH wasn't pleased although the mini-ecosystem is fine with it). He always wanted to try bluegill and a neighbor said they'd be good for it, but he died before he had the opportunity.

We have a clean, spring fed river near us so it would be incredibly easy for us to quietly go across the street, get a few fish and bring them back to the pond provided they weren't a 3 foot walleye or pike (later a bad a idea in a small pond)

 

[Yetti]

the way I got around the game fish law was by collecting sea weed. I picked up a 5 gallon bucket worth from my friends dock. dropped it in my pond and it laid the ground work for my pond. it was full of eggs and tiny fish. I have seen bull head and a couple rock bass and even a striped bass. I have major blue heron issues so anything that gets bigger then can hide in the weeds gets eaten pretty quickly.

 

[Nitrous]

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Redhen, you scofflaw. How do you live with yourself?

Next you will tell her to just say it's a natural lake, on the property and it has always had fish in it. A 60 gallon lake.

She only owns to the high tide mark.

 

[dainerra]

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I can tell you that the amount of fish you listed is WAY too much for a 60 gallon tub.
The rule is roughly 1" of fish per gallon of water. BUT! large bodied fish like cats are going to create more waste. Plus, cats are pretty dang messy fish anyway. Gold fish are the most similar to cats when it comes to waste and messiness, so I'll use them. 1/2" of koi per 1SQ foot of pond surface and that also assumes that you have a filter that will entirely cycle the tank at least once per hour.

ETA: just read what the plan is. I would still say that you are going to have to have a MAJOR filter system going on there. That is part of what makes it possible. I do find it slightly ironic that if you said you were going to start a bunch of battery-raised hens that people here would freak out. Because, this is even more packed than a commercial hen house.

 

[cassie]

My neighbor has a pond stocked with, among other things, catfish. He bought them from a hatchery. BTW, there is a blue poly stock tank available that is two feet deep and at least eight feet in diameter. I was going to buy one for a fish pond, but I never got around to it. Some people buy them for wading pools. You can paint it with black rubber paint if you like. They are not all that expensive and they last forever.

 

[chickened]

I have found it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

 

[conny63malies]

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My husband once caught a itty bitty channel cat. Made quite a bit of noise , wasnt too happy about being caught. He took a pic of the lake monster and put him back.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

MI:

We have a clean, spring fed river near us so it would be incredibly easy for us to quietly go across the street, get a few fish and bring them back to the pond provided they weren't a 3 foot walleye or pike (later a bad a idea in a small pond)

*Cough* So what you are saying is, it would be easy for you to slip them into an overnight mailing package, and.... XD

Yetti:

it was full of eggs and tiny fish. I have seen bull head and a couple rock bass and even a striped bass.

The image of walleye hatching out and eating everything in sight gives me nightmares. Ah man, I would so love to have a pond. One day.

Nitrous:

Redhen, you scofflaw. How do you live with yourself? smile Next you will tell her to just say it's a natural lake, on the property and it has always had fish in it. A 60 gallon lake.

Um...the fiberglass tub in my backyard? That's a historical feature officer. Pretty sure it came over with the settlers. They sure did love their jet tubs.

Dain Part I:

I can tell you that the amount of fish you listed is WAY too much for a 60 gallon tub.
The rule is roughly 1" of fish per gallon of water. BUT! large bodied fish like cats are going to create more waste. Plus, cats are pretty dang messy fish anyway. Gold fish are the most similar to cats when it comes to waste and messiness, so I'll use them. 1/2" of koi per 1SQ foot of pond surface and that also assumes that you have a filter that will entirely cycle the tank at least once per hour.

The nice thing is, if there end up being too many, you simply remove them. In my case, any extra fingerlings will make one of my cats very, very happy.

So, I'm not too worried about having too many. Part of the learning process is figuring out how to make adjustment on plants and fish until one's system becomes established (year round aquaponics) or a good routine is found (seasonal aquaponics).

Dain The Sequel:

ETA: just read what the plan is. I would still say that you are going to have to have a MAJOR filter system going on there. That is part of what makes it possible.

This technology and the various methods have been around for a while. Some systems have filtration, but you can maintain clean, and very clear, water in densely stocked tanks when using proper techniques and ratios in a simple flood and drain system, which has been shown by many others who have hit this balance.

Youtube has some excellent examples of those who are still experimenting and have green water (often, I find this is due to too much direct sunlight exposure or too little grow bed space or medium, and either not knowing about red worms or not adjusting a system that doesn't use them), compared to established tanks that have very clear water. Most with highly successful systems clean out their growbeds every five years as a precaution, and to replace old media that starts to suffer from old root growth and solid waste accumulation. It's all about tweaking things to get to a highly efficient system such as that.

Dain The Trilogy:

I do find it slightly ironic that if you said you were going to start a bunch of battery-raised hens that people here would freak out. Because, this is even more packed than a commercial hen house.

I bawled my eyes out when I lost a pet algae eater. Needless to say, the battery hen comparison has crossed my mind in regards to densely stocked systems, along with other worries. That said, as I've read and looked at more and more examples, I've decided that I am personally okay with the health and stress levels of fish species that do well with packed conditions if the water is kept clean, and their needs are met. Bottom dwellers are particularly nice, as they can be provided huts and tubing to hide in. If I get a lot of diseases cropping up in my stock (good sign of stress), or unclean water, that is the point at which I will drop the density of the fish accordingly. People are welcome to their opinions of course, and it is a solid point well worth consideration, it's just not an opinion I share at this point.

Cassie:

BTW, there is a blue poly stock tank available that is two feet deep and at least eight feet in diameter. I was going to buy one for a fish pond, but I never got around to it.

My yard can't support it, but the 100-300 gal stock tanks are really popular for aquaponic systems.

They seem to hold up really well. A lot of people coat with Sweetwater epoxy paint to ensure food safety, but don't coat if just using as a pond. Did your neighbor need any special permits to buy his cats from a hatchery Cassie?

Chickened:

I have found it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

My guilt complex can't take it. XD I'd be a wreck in a week. "Oh gosh, is that, is that an undercover officer? He's here for the fish, I know it. All in black, definitely here to arrest me." That is the point I scream out, "ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, I DID IT! I TOOK THE FISH!"...thus earning me very strange looks from the poor guy who is just out for a stroll.

Conny:

My husband once caught a itty bitty channel cat. Made quite a bit of noise , wasnt too happy about being caught. He took a pic of the lake monster and put him back.

That is the best thing ever! What a great trophy photo.

Thanks for the input all. Greatly appreciated!​

 

[punk-a-doodle]

PS. Why is it that a fish farm owner in MN has taken the time to help answer my many questions on fingerlings and species these past weeks, and has tried their best to help me with permit questions.....but I can't get a hold of anyone locally who are responsible for the laws? Why DWR, why? Why won't you answer my emails, my calls, my texts? Could it be...that you don't love me anymore?

 

[chickened]

They must have bigger fish to fry.

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