Well as many of you know, I have been tearing them up this year at "Pond X" . It was my honey hole, about 20-25 acre farm pond about 45 min. from my house. Have caught over 20 bass this year over 5lb, including my pb 8lb 9oz and my buddy's pb 8lb 1oz. To date this year also over 100 bass on topwater, which most people know is my favorite way to catch em.

Well after the series of bad storms that has passed through the midsouth over the past couple weeks, I get a call that almost made me cry yesterday! The levee broke and now there is no more "Pond X". It is a really sad deal, as many BIG BIG fish died, but nature has its way of evolving, and I'm sure there is a reason to all of this! The owner said he will take this time to make improvements like new boat ramp, dock, clear some and make new beds! Then repair the levee and let her fill back up! It will be a LONG LONG time before its back to what it was, and I am deeply saddened!

Heres the only pic for now......

Wow, sorry to here that. It did sound like you had a great honey hole there. I am sure it will be missed.

The pond is gone, but thankfully you're still here. I hear it pretty wild out that way.

Everyone is safe and sound. Only losses were the pond, a bunch of trees and some deer feeders.

Anyone know how long it takes turnaround from stocking fingerlings to mature bass? Of course there would be bluegill and crappie introduced as well.

Jeff

Sorry to hear the news but "That's OK"... you'll find a Pond Y and Z to replace it then in time, Pond X might come back like gang busters

Big O

www.ragetail.com

Mother Nature still is the boss.

Everyone is safe and sound. Only losses were the pond, a bunch of trees and some deer feeders.

Anyone know how long it takes turnaround from stocking fingerlings to mature bass? Of course there would be bluegill and crappie introduced as well.

Jeff

Probably 3-5 years with good management, Jeff. Like Big- O said you need to find a replacement pond y or z.

urggg......im speechless

Jeff

read up on lake atkins in arkansas. they drained it and built it back up as a trophy bass fishery.by 2 or 3 years they were catching some 6+. there was a great article in arkansas wildlife magaizine a few years ago on it.

If the owner stocks it with the Florida/Northern strain bass they will grow much faster and bigger then a pure northern strain. The reason this strain was made was to get the aggressive feeding of the northern mixed in with the size and growth rate of the F1. A common problem with stocking pure F1's in ponds is that after they get big they become uninterested in artificial lures, hence the aggressiveness of the northern. They will cost more then pure northern and Florida strains but it would probably be worth it in the long run. Do you know what strain was in this lake before it drained? Have the owner take a look at these. Here are a couple of links. American Sport Fish has copyright to the name Tiger Bass for these but other fish hatcheries have them and call them other names. Sorry to hear about your Honey Hole. Id be devastated.

http://www.americans...h.com/index.php

http://www.strikekin...nal/00022/1.php

See any big dead bass?

Ouch!!!! Truly feel for you.

On a side note it it kind of cool now that you can take a bunch of pics of what it looks like under water.

Im headed out to see it for myself.....I'm sure the coons have taken away most of the fish by now, but im gonna look for one bigger than the one I cought there almost 1 month ago! What a turn around, one month from pb, to not there

Jeff

Im headed out to see it for myself.....I'm sure the coons have taken away most of the fish by now, but im gonna look for one bigger than the one I cought there almost 1 month ago! What a turn around, one month from pb, to not there

Jeff

Take it as an opportunity, plant cover where you want and take pictures of the structure. Honestly, I wish this would happen to one of my ponds.

That is a sad story, I really feel for you. On a brighter note, you can definitely turn this into a positive.

Wow! its amazing what mother nature can do! sorry for the loss of your honey hole, I bet you'll find another

Sorry to hear that man, hopefully it will be back to what it was one day

Wow ! What a bummer ! I can hardly imagine....

A few times in the past, I've heard of entire lakes draining over night... a couple X's from broken dam's, but once from a giant sink hole ! Either way, their are many things that can make the fishing turn tough on your favorite body of water > But I guess nothing else quite compares to "your lake disappeared" !

BTW, just out of curiosity, most all ponds have drainage creeks, which often lead to other bodies of water. Any chance that some (most ?) of those fish might have survived, and just ended up in a different body(ies) of water, farther down stream ?

Anyway, sorry to hear about this

Fish

I can really feel for you here. I'm headed to a wildlife area a couple hours south of here Sunday to fish for 4 days in the strip pits in southeastern Kansas. I had one pit that always, always produced and always produced good fish. A couple weeks ago I got a picturemail from my brother-in-law that lives down there. There was nothing but a big puddle where the pond used to be. Nobody has any idea what happened to it but I felt sick to my stomach once I realized what pond it was. I'm hoping that the puddle that was left had enough water for the fish to survive and after the rain they've been having down there this last month it will fill back up! Just try to stay positive. Maybe the lost of this pond will lead you to looking for another and finding an even better one!

Wow ! What a bummer ! I can hardly imagine....

A few times in the past, I've heard of entire lakes draining over night... a couple X's from broken dam's, but once from a giant sink hole ! Either way, their are many things that can make the fishing turn tough on your favorite body of water > But I guess nothing else quite compares to "your lake disappeared" !

BTW, just out of curiosity, most all ponds have drainage creeks, which often lead to other bodies of water. Any chance that some (most ?) of those fish might have survived, and just ended up in a different body(ies) of water, farther down stream ?

Anyway, sorry to hear about this

Fish

The water leaving the levy side, goes back into woods for miles. Its so spread out it would be hard to find any if they did survive. There was one little hole near the side that produced 21 5lb+ bass the day after, but that was because they were confined. Once past the levy side, into the woods and hopefully they make it to the smaller tributaries to survive. I know I counted at least 5 5lb+ fish dead on dry spots. VERY VERY sad thing. smelled even worse. Lots of raccoons, crows, turkey vultures and snakes.

Jeff

man am i feeling your pain i live in ks and me and bluebasser86 had a big fishing trip planed for his wedding party which consisted of going to a hole ton of strip pits in South east kansas and my honey hole that was ur exact discription did the same thing. my body who live down there called me to break the news and i thought he was being a tom foolery until he posted pics on his facebook and talk about a kick in the junk man why does god play with us like this...

At least some of them survived. So some good genes are still there. You'll be bafk on it faster than you think.

At least some of them survived. So some good genes are still there. You'll be bafk on it faster than you think.

That hole was cleared out by the water flowing out of it. Nothing survived. It was really sad seeing fish with their backs out of the water in just a couple inches of water and nowhere to go. They are all gonna die. Guess the only good thing that comes out of this is room for improvement, which is years down the road, and fat bellies for all the snakes, deer, coyote, raccoons, vultures and crows we saw out there. Even saw one dead alligator gar, which we had no clue was even in there!

As soon as the grounds are dry enough, we are gonna make many fish attractors, beds and what not. Also help make a new pier and clean up some of the buck brush to make areas passable. get proper drainage for the levy and get it rebuilt and see what the owner is gonna do about restocking or not?

jeff

Amazing picture.I'm glad you're ok.

I see a Pond Boss Magazine subscription in your future.