Pond Management Analysis

In order to create an efficient management plan for your pond or lake, we recommend a complete pond analysis including a fish inventory - $799.00 + $4.49/mi (one way). A Pond Analysis is a survey of your ponds condition which includes: water quality, aquatic vegetation evaluation, dam condition, nutrient loading, and riparian habitat evaluation - $349.00 + $2.99/mi (one way).  Fish Population Analysis is primarily electrofishing with trapnetting and/or gillnetting when necessary.  Angler Surveys are recommended for all fishermen to be recorded on a lake catch data form or data drop box. Tracking data every year is very helpful to monitoring population dynamics which may suggest creating slot limits, and/or other restrictions if necessary.

Fish Management

Our focus is to turn your pond or lake into the type of world class fishery of your choice. South/Central Illinois and West/Central Missouri is an amazing region for private fisheries. We can help you develop and maintain a balanced and diverse fishery or help you create a specialized trophy pond with your favorite gamefish.

Products & Services include:

• Electrofishing

• Fish Cages

• Fish Feeders & Installation

• Fish Food & Feeding Programs

• Fish Structure and Habitat

• Fishing Lights

• Forage Fish Stocking

• Game Fish Stocking

• Corrective Stocking & Harvest Strategies

• Population Analysis

Electrofishing

Electrofishing is by far the most effective and efficient manner of collecting fish population data.  It is done from a specialized boat we use to temporarily stun fish in an electric field fairly close to the boat.  All fish are collected, analyzed and returned to the pond.  We can also tag fish to monitor growth rates and estimate feed displacement. With the data collected we can accurately assess the fish populations and make appropriate recommendations if needed.   [Click to view the results of the different types of fish population data.] 

Aeration

Aerating your impoundment is often necessary for a variety of reasons.  It both cleanses and refreshes the water column for a healthier fish population. Aerating is beneficial in turning-over or bringing the lower stratified layers of your pond that are oxygen depleted to the surface.   At Expert Pond Care we can design packages to completely turn-over the entire volume of water in your lake daily or focus on specific isolated problem areas. Doing this properly will reduce the possibility of fish kills, minimizes your thermocline, improves water quality, increases carrying capacity, and usually prolongs the life of your body of water!  We provide both energy free windmills and power compressor systems.  Our systems also have the ability to combine so that the power system will automatically turn on and off based on the wind.

Aquatic Pesticide Applicator - Weed Control

Aquatic weed control is a major factor in every aspect of enjoying your pond or lake. Fishing, swimming, and the overall aesthetics of the pond are directly linked to the types of vegetation present. Native vegetation is necessary to help filter excess nutrients, oxygenate the water, and provide food and shelter for fish. Non-native vegetation is often very invasive and disrupting to the natural balance of any water impoundment.

We approach aquatic weed control a little differently than many treatment focuses. Ideally, we like to get to the root of the problem, find out what is causing this particular unwanted plant to thrive and fix the problem. Excess vegetation and algae are merely symptoms; they are the result of the actual problem.

We provide the following services (not in order of problem approach)

• Aeration Systems

• Aquatic Weed Identification

• Weed Control

• Complete Management Plans

• Lake Dye Applications

• Lake mowing - Jenson Lake Mower

• Manual Weed Removal

• Natural Solutions

Contact Us with any aquatic weed questions. Send pictures or a description of your aquatic vegetation for advice.  For recommendations we would require to do a Pond Analysis on your impoundment (discussed above).

Pond Accessories and Decor

Expert Pond Care offers a full line of products including GREEN MONSTER Fishing Lights ™,  fountains, windmills, and coming soon, docks.

Mapping Services

This is a vital tool used to make decisions about fish stocking, aquatic weed control, aquatic plant introduction, land use planning, fishing, boating and more. This tool helps manage lakes of all sizes.