Mud Pond Fish Harvest

Watkinsville GA: Flatrock Koi grows out promising young koi in big mud ponds, where the fish can rummage around and find all kinds of worms and grubs to eat in addition to their feed. Here we see Atlanta Koi Club members helping Vicki and Carl harvest a mud pond, containing mostly shiro utsuri (black and white) that were put in last year. Flatrock was getting the fish ready for grading and show. The pond pull is called an ikeage, and like all koi club meetings, good food and beer abound; - Vicki and Carl treated us all to the best barbeque I've ever had. It was a fun day! When is the next one, Vicki?

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• jason
• lye
• ikeage
• mud
• pond
• grow-out
• koi
• carp
• fish
• Atlanta
• flatrock
• carius
• pull
• net
• catch
• tancho
• utsuri
• kohaku
• shiro
• hi
• yamabuki

[kmacpher67]

How long did it take for the group to pull the net?

What size is that mud hole? It looks like 25'ft x 50' ?

What is the holding capacity of the mud hole?

Did you use aerators to add air for the fish?

How many fish did you pull out?

Did I hear you say that some got away when pulling the net?

[Koiboy70]

@kmacpher67 Hey there! Gosh - I guess it took about 45 minutes to pull the net. Your estimate of the size is about right. I don't know what the capacity of the mud hole is. Some fish did swim around the net. We pulled it a second time later that day and caught more. It's tough to keep the net up against the sides and bottom of the pond.

[ChromeDrome]

can you make a mud pond by just digging filling with water and letting it sit and settle

[Koiboy70]

@ChromeDrome - I think so. I just responded to another message like this one. Pretty much just dig a big hole in some clay. One tip is if you are getting your water from another lake or stream to run it through a seive or mesh as you fill the pond - so that other fish fry don't end up in your pond. Also, someone asked about parasites - yes - you will end up with parasites - but the stocking density is low, so the fish are less affected. Hope that this helps! Jason

[Koiboy70]

@ChromeDrome  also, the fish and the air stones (needed) constantly stir up the fine clay (carp love to rummage in it...), so don't hold your breath waiting for it to settle out.... Jason

[peachey2021]

ok so if i have a natural pond that has been there for years and was crated naturally by nature, could i put my koi fish in it? instead of putting them in a preformed pond??

please let me know. thanks in advance!

[Koiboy70]

@peachey2021 - Hey peachey. Yes. you could. They would love it. If its a natural pond, keep an eye out for parasites like flukes. The fish will grub around in the mud on the bottom looking for food, so, depending upon the size of the pond, and the type of soil its in, they may cloud the water some. I'd do it if I had a natural pond. Jason

[va42282]

nice koi... good job everybody

[fvang199]

Such beautiful fish in a dirty place..

[Duhitpt]

man should have keep them for few more years! they look too small