Sorry if this is posted in the wrong place.

My buddy's pond has started growing a lot of moss this year, which has made fishing very difficult in the shallow areas.  I'm wondering if any of you pond owners know of a good way to control pond moss without harming the fish or plantlife.  Is this even possible?

My friend is considering putting a couple of grass carp in there, but I've read that they will eat all of the hydrilla and other plants first before they will eat moss.  It said they would only eat moss if it was the only available food.  Any ideas?  

You can spray it with algaecide and then put pond dye in to control the amount of light that penetrates the water. I take it the pond is clear and shallow? Some catfish wouldn't hurt either.....

Do NOT do anything until you talk with someone from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/

8-)

The pond is about 10 acres, with an average depth of about 5 feet.  The deepest point is 14 feet.  The shallow side is about 3 to 5 feet.  The banks have a few feet of moss at the edge, and its growing in huge balls in 3 to 4 feet of water.  

The water isn't so clear anymore, recent rains have brought in a bunch of silt and mud.  Maybe this problem will just work itself out.

Yeah RW, we have very strict laws about grass carp.  I think you have to have someone out from TP&W to ensure that there isn't a risk to public waters.  As a general rule they don't allow them.

I read in last months 'Texas Fish and Game' that if you catch a grass carp in texas public waters, you are required to kill it immediately.

I'll advise my buddy to call them for direction.

First of all, if you had posted this on the local DNR website, you would have gotten a lecture from the webmaster - "moss grows on trees and rocks" - "grass gows in the water".

Secondly, my advice is don't do anything - let mother nature take care of it.  Otherwise you run the risk of really screwing up the fishing.

I fish a little city park pond near a housing development and across the street from a golf course.  I used to catch consistent 3, 4 & 5 pounders in this small pond (similar to what you describe).  The local residents complained to the city about the "weeds" in the lake and they started spraying.  This destroyed the spawning areas and the average fish size in this water now is about 10".  I often hear residents out walking while I am fishing comment on "how nice the pond looks" and it is all I can do to keep from throwing them in.

The best way to get rid of it is to rake it.  It might sound crazy but you can control what you take out and what you leave in unlike carp.  This is what we do at our pond and it keeps it under control.  Hope it helps.

The best way to get rid of it is to rake it.  It might sound crazy but you can control what you take out and what you leave in unlike carp.  This is what we do at our pond and it keeps it under control.  Hope it helps.

That sounds like a great idea, we'll just rake out what we can.  I hope he doesn't decide to do something that will hurt the fishing.  I caught a ten pound bass in this pond, I released her and she's still in there.  We catch many fish in the 5 to 9 pound range there.

I wouldnt do any thing but throw a scum frog on it. Those bass will hit the  frog right through that scum.

Sounds like you have algea.  This may be of help:

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/algae_plant.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/algae_control.html

I also suggest you check out http://www.pondboss.com.  Lots of articles there about your problem, plus an awesome forum for pond owners.

all you need is to rake rake rake...then throw a scum frog over the top...or puncture a t rigged plastic through it...will give plenty of spot to spawn and for fish to hide

If you let nature take it's course you run the risk of the algae suffocating the water. My favorite pond had a huge fish kill last summer because the algae got so thick that the oxygen levels in the water were depleted. Hundreds of beautiful fish died.  I would recommend speaking with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department like R.W. recommended.

Algae Algae Algae Algae!  What a pain in the A@$!!  Definitely consult with the States Department of Conservation (or the correct name?) before you do anything.  You have to look at the big picture.  What is causing the algae?  How big is the watershed?  Where is a likely cause for the influx of nutrients?  You have to find the cause first or you will be wasting alot of time trying to control the algae and not fishing.  If you can figure out the problem and hopefully stop it then you should reduce the amount of algae.  (YEAH NOT MOSS.  Filamentous algae).  If you can't locate the nutrient influx then you may have to look into alternatives such as manual harvesting, algaecides, or dyes (which don't look good unless its a pond outside your local doctors office).  Again if the problem is not located then all you will be doing is putting a band aid on the problem.  Algaecides can be effective, but make sure that you use them correctly!!!!!!!!!!!   You may need a permit first so check with the state.  And yes to much vegetation can spoil the fishing!