Fannin Soil & Water Conservation District

NEWSLETTER

Volume 10

Spring 2004

Number 4-4

Fish Pond Seminar at Bonham State Park
By Karen White, volunteer

On June 2, 2004, there was a Fishpond Seminar held on the banks of the lake located within the Bonham State Park.  The seminar, which has became an annual event, was born of an effort by the Fannin Soil & Water Conservation District, Rick Maxwell, Texas Cooperative Extension Agent and Randy Moore, District Conservationist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, to give pond owners an opportunity to hear and question professionals about their plans for/and problems with their fish ponds.  Working with Lee Ellis, Park Manager for the Bonham State Park, the group was able to provide both a practical and beautiful setting for this year’s seminar.

 The Bonham State Park is a tree and honey-suckle lined 261-acre park containing a serene 65-acre lake.  The Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the park and lake in the 1930’s on land acquired from the City of Bonham.  The park provides a beautiful setting for camping, picnicking, mountain biking, boating and a sanded beach for unsupervised swimming.  It is conveniently located just two miles SSE of Bonham on Hwy 271.

 The weather cooperated and the day was as perfect as the setting for the well-attended seminar.  After a short registration period the seminar began with a fishpond assessment.  Gary Valentine, State Biologist and Randy Moore, Wildlife Biologist with the USDA-NRCS conducted a seining demonstration.  Using a long, weighed net being drug along the bottom of a shallow area along the shore a number of small fish was collected.  After collection was completed the fish were counted by species and Mr. Valentine was able to estimate the number of each species that inhabited the entire lake. 

 Mr. Bruce HySmith, Texoma Fisheries Biologist-Texas Parks and Wildlife then presented a demonstration of the use of a shock boat.  He was assisted by Craig Hodge, Hodge Fish Farm, Bonham, Texas.  Together they demonstrated how the use of a boat equipped with the proper equipment could briefly shock the fish and bring them to the surface to be evaluated without any long-term injury.  As the seminar attendees stood on the dock they were able to see the various species being brought up and then evaluated as to size and health.   Attendees were clearly fascinated and they really gave Mr. HySmith a workout with their questions.

 The piece de resistance for the fishermen in the group was the demonstration by Matt Hupp.  Mr. Hupp, a Tournament Bass Fisherman who works at Bass Pro in Grapevine, brought his beautiful boat and lots of rods and lures for the group to see.  As he stood in his boat showing the various lures and methods of using them he also recounted his catches as he participated in numerous tournaments.  Needless to say he held everyone’s attention as he showed the techniques he uses to catch the “big ones.”

After everyone was ready to get to fishing, Randy Moore and Emily Wigginton, Soil Conservationist, held a question and answer period on pond construction and vegetation control.  Again the group demonstrated their interest in the management of their ponds by a lively round of questioning.  After that it was time to reconvene in the park’s large lodge for a presentation on the use of the Grass Carp for vegetation control.  That presentation was given by Brad Littrell, a Graduate Student in the Department of Biology/Aquatic Station, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. 

 The conclusion of the day’s events was a wonderful fried catfish lunch provided by the Fannin Soil & Water Conservation District and Hodge Fish Farm with financial support from the Lenox Foundation.  The fish, French fries and hush puppies were a wonderful accompaniment to the fellowship of the group attendees as they shared pond problems and fishing stories.  The seminar was a tremendous success and if you missed this one, be sure to be on the look out for the next one in 2005. 

 If you have any questions regarding Fishpond Management, call the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Office in Bonham at 903-583-9513 x3 or by email at: randy.moore@tx.usda.gov.