Summer is an important time to visit and maintain local farm ponds. Not only is fishing productive but its a good time to scout out ponds and learn more about their geography, fish populations and other characteristics.
Water levels typically decrease in summer, especially during periods of drought or infrequent rainfall. Low water levels allow pond owners to inspect the shallows for problems and correct them.
Shorelines usually need a quick trash pickup and inspection. When pond levels are low, brush, overhanging limbs and other obstructions are accessible for trimming or removal. Snags and other debris may also be accessible during these periods, allowing removal.
These periods are also a good time to perform pre-season hunting tasks such as building blinds and planting food plots. Some ponds even provide exposed areas during summer where grains or other waterfowl foods can mature before late season rainfall floods return.
Springs and streams sometimes feed into ponds, supplying oxygen rich water and food sources fish. These small waterways usually offer shallow areas, lined with vegetation and other cover where small minnows, insect larvae and other prey are found. A quick inspection and possibly some trimming is usually all that is needed to maintain these small but important features.
Some farm ponds are stocked by their owners with species such as bluegill sunfish, pumpkinseed, rock bass, largemouth bass, crappie or other members of the bass and sunfish family. In addition to these essential fish, owners may introduce rainbow trout, bullhead catfish, chain pickerel, perch, carp or other species.
Pond owners may also introduce forage fish, amphibians or invertebrates into small ponds as a means of supporting populations of larger fish. These may include shiners, suckers, gizzard shad, mosquito fish, goldfish, North American crayfish, frogs or other creatures.
A summer checkup can give pond owners valuable information concerning current fish and wildlife population levels. In some cases, keeping records or journals is a another useful practice. This information can be valuable when making long term decisions about future fish stocking.
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