Does anyone net fish through the ice?

[mskyfshntchr]

I've got a buddy who owns a small pond- no DNR involvement. He says there are a lot of carp and bullheads in there and was wondering about possibly reducing their numbers.

I'm wondering if anyone nets in the winter and if they would be willing to go net his pond? He is located in Dodge County, MN between Dodge Center and Claremont (about 25 miles from Rochester and the Cabela's in Owatonna).

Not sure of all the details of what he wants- just wondering if there is anyone interested. If you are, I will get you his contact info and you guys can work it out.

Thanks guys for any help!

[delcecchi]

I've got a buddy who owns a small pond- no DNR involvement. He says there are a lot of carp and bullheads in there and was wondering about possibly reducing their numbers.

I'm wondering if anyone nets in the winter and if they would be willing to go net his pond? He is located in Dodge County, MN between Dodge Center and Claremont (about 25 miles from Rochester and the Cabela's in Owatonna).

Not sure of all the details of what he wants- just wondering if there is anyone interested. If you are, I will get you his contact info and you guys can work it out.

Thanks guys for any help!

Normally netting through the ice is done with a gill net. Would that work for carp and bullheads? I am trying to picture how one could run a seine under the ice.

How about a darkhouse and a few enthusiastic spearers? They could at least get the big ones.

Or, just poison it and restock?

[UncleKes]

The best most efficient method would be to poison the pond. (Like delcecchi says) I would then recommend you dig down and find a spring to aerate the pond and then determine what species he wants to stock. After that it might be nice to plant some coontail or pondweed in it.

Digging down and having the pond spring fed will ensure the pond never freezes out. Also be sure to stock the pond with lots of aquatic insect larvae, some crayfish larvae, and plenty of minnows (shad, shiners, chubs, (depending on the species he wants to stock) and make sure he dredges the pond every few years to keep it from silting over.

Remember that each species of fish has different requirements and species requirements can vary. Keeping a stocked pond can be a very expensive proposition (which is why you find so few of them around.)

Tell your friend, good luck!

[Vlasin]

My work and the U of M netted carp for a research project. If you're interested I can get you in touch with the guy that did our netting.

Link provides some research a couple interesting 10min videos.

http://www.rwmwd.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={6167B18D-3959-498A-9605-7108BA3E6AF3}&DE=

[Black_Bay]

Contact the DNR Fisheries office in Waterville. They should be able to put you in contact with a commercial fisherman.

[Meat-Run]

If the pond is shallow enough you might want to consider the reverse irrigation which removes most if not all oxygen via irrigator. I think its the cheapest and easiest process, contact the shallow water department at the DNR and they know exactly what to do and you might need a permit anyways.

The DNR currently does this on shallow lakes to remove fathead minnows in prime waterfowl fly ways, heck you might even be able to get MWA or a DU chapter to help with the expenses...just a thought.

Good luck,

mr

[mskyfshntchr]

Thanks for the help guys. This pond has been around for a long time and hasn't frozen out- so there are springs in it. It is an old gravel pit and I think it is around 12' at the deepest.

He doesn't want to poison it- still a lot of desirable fish in it. He doesn't fish it a lot so he wouldn't want to spend $$ to restock.

Just hoping there would be a way to do some netting and get some of the rough fish out of there.

[BehindtheHead]

how much ice is on it? it would be fun to try to gill net it. grandpa has a couple hunderd feet. although gill netting might kill some fish that you dont want killed.

[motley man]

Have a large fishing party and only keep the carp & bullheads.

[mskyfshntchr]

BehindtheHead- I haven't been on it, but a pond I fish nearby has about 7" right now. If you are interested, shoot me a PM.

[laportian]

I have set nets under the ice a few times. Quite a labor intense ordeal if you have any thicker than 10 inches or so of ice. You need an auger, a chainsaw, a long wooden pole(ten feet or longer), enough rope to match the length of your net, a couple of four feet long forked sticks.

First you cut a 4x2 foot square to get your pole in. Then you mark off auger holes every 8 feet approxiamatly the the same lenth as the net. And then go cut a square at the end of your auger holes to get your pole out once you run it.

After all holes are cut and drilled you tie your rope to the pole and put it in the first 4x2 hole guiding it to the first auger hole. Then you and another guy leap frog each other using the forked 4 foot sticks/limbs. If you have clear ice this is easy and goes very fast as you will be able to see the pole under the ice. The forks guide and steer it. Once you get to the end of your run you tie your net to it and pull it through.