Well I took the plunge! Last Sunday I put 250 fingerling rainbow (Donaldson) trout in my ponds, and another 30 about 1' long! Today I freaked as I watched one of the Herons delighting in one of the larger ones! (Where's that shotgun? LOL) I guess I am providing them with their very own Ruth Chris Trout House! Anyway, when I was feeding the fish at 6am this morning, it was a real treat to enjoy a gorgeous morning and watching those beautiful silver trout jumping! Even if it's a short-lived joy, it is wonderful! Any of you have trout/fish stories about your ponds?
fish stories
Equilibrium
May 29, 2005
Hi,
You might want to consider purchasing some plain old monofilament fishing line. If you zig zag it across the top of your pond from stake to stake sort of like weaving a pot holder or spinning a web, you may be able to deter that heron from coming in for a landing at the smorgasbord. If he found your little fishies once, he'll be back. The monofilament is very difficult to see so it won't "uglify" your pond but it is generally enough to "trip up" herons that don't particularly appreciate having to negotiate in and around fishing line flying in for a freebie. I have even seen people with very large ponds use monofilament successfully. Maybe, just maybe... you're experience with enjoying your little pretties won't be all that short lived but then there are those out there who say that heron are so determined that they'd only come back with a pair of scissors.
Fish stories huh? Fresh out of anything neat to share but we did eat at Ruth Chris' Steak House a few weeks ago and our kids always get a kick out of watching the live lobsters that will end up on somebody's dinner plate. Me personally, I'd prefer to watch your fingerlings.
Ok... here is a smorgasboard of sorts. I noticed bunch of baby grasshoppers in the garden the other day, most of them about 1/8 inch long. I caught some of them and tossed them in the pond. The minnows dispatched them quickly. Then I caught a grasshopper that was about 1/2 inch long. The minnows tried to pick him apart, but no dice. All they managed to do was drag him down under. At the same time they drew the attention of one of the perch that is always hiding, it came out and did away with the hopper. It was good to see them being devoured instead of them devouring the garden!!!