This ij typicol ol Ihe mony foim pond» which no* dot Ihc Hole.
Fishing Hole;
New Style
Rtj II. B. STOWERS
Old-timers may speak longingly and
fondly of the "old fishing holes." and
spin many yarns about how good the
fishing used to be. but the fact is that
fishermen have never had it so good.
The old fishing hole, located in an
eddy where the river made a bend,
or near the dam of a mill pond, simply
did not afford the brand of fishing
available to the modern sportsman.
The reason the modern fisherman
has better catches than his father and
grandfather is because the new
fishing holes arc scientifically planned,
stocked, fertilized, and managed;
whereas the old fishing hole was left
to nature.
Dotted over the map of North Caro¬
lina like a pattern of bird shot arc
more than 2.000 artificial fishing
ponds. These ponds were constructed
in most instances for the following rea¬
sons: (1) To obtain additional income
through fishing fees. (2) To afford
the landowner (sometimes wildlife and
sportsmen clubs), a well-stocked fish¬
ing site, and. (3) To increase the
property value of the land. Some land¬
owners arc constructing artificial duck
marshes to add to the desirability of
their property, and to afford the owner
some convenient hunting.
In order to create a successful fish¬
ing hole, the site has to be in a favor¬
able location. It has to have sufficient,
but not too much of a water supply,
and has to be cleared of all brush
and undergrowth in order that the
pond may be seined later on if the
need arises. Spillways have to be con¬
structed so that the water will not get
over six feet at the spillway, but the
pond should be at least 18 feet in
depth in other areas. Such ponds can
provide a lucrative income for the
landowner in addition to enhancing
the value and beauty of the property.
Relatively few landowners have land
upon which there is no suitable site
for a fish pond. Often the owner has
several practical sites on his property.
Size of these sites arc unimportant;
more important are such factors as
depth of water, type of soil on the
bottom, and clearness of water.
Furthermore, it is immaterial whether
the pond is of the excavated type or
the artificial fill type. Both are valu¬
able if the contour of the land is suit¬
able. and the engineering plan is
sound. Engineering and planning as¬
sistance is available, free of charge,
from the Soil Conservation District.
Immediately after the pond is con¬
structed. all brush and trees should
be removed, and a topsoil dressing
should be used on the clay soil of the
slopes and fill. Light applications of
manure or fertilizer will aid in obtain¬
ing a good growth of grass sown on the
fill and spillway. If the soil requires
it. this is also the time to lime the soil.
A light harrowing is sufficient after
seeding with a combination of Icspc-
deza. clover, and various grasses. If
seeded in the spring, a nurse crop of
oats, rye, or barley is beneficial at the
time the seeds arc sown. Here again,
you may get free advice from Farm
Agents, Extension Service. Farm Bu¬
reau. or from the State Agricultural
College.
Ponds should be fenced, and the
fences should be placed at least 100
feet back from the water line. Shrubs
and trees should not be planted closer
to the water line than 50 feet, and
should be planted as soon after con¬
struction of the pond as possible.
Maximum pleasure and benefits from
the new fishing hole are only obtained
when the shoreline and landscaping is
neat, clean, and well-kept.
The new fishing hole should be
stocked with a combination of bass,
crappies. and blucgills. The Stale Con¬
servation Department will furnish the
fish for the initial slocking, and give
information as to the best types of
pond fertilizer.
After the fish pond is Mocked,
seeded, and after allowing adequate
growing time, there is one more re¬
quirement. The pond must be fished
constantly or it will soon become filled
with stunted and undersize fish.
Typical of new fishing hole owners
is Mr. Herbert B. Lynch, near
Cameron. He has four ponds, ranging
in size from two acres to five acres,
on his 317-acre farm. Though in his
seventies, and lately in poor health, he
still cares for his four ponds, and de¬
pends on them for a substantial part of
his income. He charges one dollar per
day to fish, the fisherman being per¬
mitted to go from one pond to the
other if he desires, and rarely has a
dissatisfied customer. At least a dozen
ten pound bass have been caught in
Mr. Lynch's ponds this year, and he
says that the really big ones arc still
laying in there, fat. saucy, full of fight,
and waiting to be caught by a fisher¬
man using the right technique. The
ponds have been stocked nine years,
and Mr. Lynch states that he doubts
that they could be over-fished at this
stage.
A recent development is the Soil
Bank Program, and under this pro¬
gram landowners arc allowed to take
eligible land from production, and with
Soil Bank cost-sharing build farm
ponds for fish production. Wildfowl
marshes come under this program, and
the Federal cost-share may be up to
80 per cent of the construction. The
Soil Conservation Service determines
if the pond is practical, will supervise
construction, and furnish certification
to the County ASC Committee.
П
THE STATE. June 28. 1958
