[Chipmaker]

HELP! I am being outwitted by two 10" koi. They escaped their enclosure in the bigger pond when I took that oak tree down, when a limb pushed the hardware cloth used for confinement down a bit. I did not think any of the fish got out, but alas, I have two rouges running free. Out in the main section of this pond they are prone to being eaten by some pretty large sized bass and cat fish as well as herons etc.

I have tried a seine net, dip nets, fish traps and nothing has worked. I hate to say it but I have spent more time devoted to trying to recapture these two fish than I care to speak of........If I get in the pond in one area they sort of run me ragged, going to the opposite side, of where I am, and allow me to get just about but not quite close enough and off they go. I assume laughing as they swim away. Any ideas on getting these two fellas caught up unharmed? They stick together most of the time, and every time I see them free and swiming in that larger unsecured area I just see $$ at risk if they get caught by a predator. Koi of this size are not cheap, but if I had to pay my wages on the time invested in trying to catch them I probably could have bought a dozen more just like them already! Right now its an obsession with me to outwit these two KOI and put em where they belong.

Any ideas appreciated!

 

[guest2]

Seems like they're too smart for their own good. Is it possible to use some kind of netting and reduce their free area until you can confine them enough to grab them?
I'd really like to hear more about the pond. The picture was impressive but I didn't realize what was living in it. What is the overall size? What about the "floor" is just earth or some type of liner to hold the water?

 

[Greg]

Chipmaker,

Do you have Koi food? Does it look something like puppy food nuggets but it should float? If not, get some. When you see the Koi, toss a little bit of the food to them. Then a little closer toward you but where they can get it. It make take a few days but as you keep tossing the food to them closer and closer they will follow it to you. Eventually they will even come to you if you hold your hand out like you are going to toss food.

Gradually "call" them to an area you can close off. When you get them inside the area, close it up and you are done.

Do you have cats? Your own or strays? They love Koi so be careful and cover the Koi "pond" with wire screen.

Greg

 

[slipshod]

koi

How about a cane pole, bobber, earth worm and a hook?

 

[Stewart]

Re: koi

Originally posted by slipshod
How about a cane pole, bobber, earth worm and a hook?

Sorry that is good! I was going to say DuPont!!
I couldn't resist!eace:

 

[Chipmaker]

Originally posted by sixchows
Seems like they're too smart for their own good. Is it possible to use some kind of netting and reduce their free area until you can confine them enough to grab them?
I'd really like to hear more about the pond. The picture was impressive but I didn't realize what was living in it. What is the overall size? What about the "floor" is just earth or some type of liner to hold the water?

The pond is just an earth bottom. Holds water great, lots of clay based soil. Started to dig it with a dozer back in about 1985 or so, and the water table was too high, and afdter getting the Cat 955K stuck numerous times as well as a CAT earth mover (scraper / pan). After the fiasco with the scraper and needing two dozers (CAT 933 and 955) to unstick it, we rented a tracked backhoe to dig it. Its approx 20+ feet deep with steep deep banks. As fast as a bucket of dirt was pulled out water took its place, and by the time it was finished being dug, it was full.........only ever been down one time and that was only about 2 feet. Since its original depth and water level I rasied it over two more additional feet to get some more surface area and a few shallower areas for planting aquatic plants here and there. Beforehand the banks were way too deep top allow planting of cat tails and elephant ears etc around the edges. It covers a tad bit more than an acre in surface size. No subsurface structures at all unless I can't get that stump out thats currently in about 3 feet of water layiing root side up right now. Pond mainly fills from ground water infiltration but the layout of the pond has good surface water fill as well. I get 1" of rain the pond gets about 4" higher.

Pond has some beautiful hydrid Florida bass as well as the common large mouth bass, a few 3 foot plus white amurs (grass carp) some hand sized shell crackers and nice large 10# plus channel catfish. There are three albino channel cats in the pond as well. probably 15 pounds or more.

Since you can't really set outside and enjoy bass and catfish,(unless they are on the grill) we built a hardware cloth enclosure that emcompases a small portion in which we have KOI and goldfish, directly in front of the wifes water garden and the gazebo.

I priced netting but its pretty pricey, much more $$ than the KOI are worth. Tried feeding them and luring them in closer but they back off when they get near any nets and stuctures I placed in there to try and trap em.

I am borrowing a 8' cast ney tomorrow, and hopefully that will get those rogue KOI.........Its been a few years since I threw a cast net, but all it should take is a few practice throws, hopefully.

 

[guest2]

Chip
When you said "pond" I'm thinking like 20'x30' or something the size of a pool. That sounds more like a lake. I wish I had something like that. Do you go boating in it?

 

[Fusion1970]

I know! Just dam up one end of the pond with all your Craftsman stuff. They wont be able to get past it, and it will act as an artificial reef.

Just kiddin, man- I couldn't resist. As for a logical answer, I have not a clue. As smart as they sound, you better make the first throw of the net count. Otherwise, their gonna be onto ya, still laughing as they dart by.

Greg

 

[balmoralboy]

Aren't you the DYNAMITE king?




:furious: :furious: :furious: :furious: :furious: :furious:

Sorry, Chip, the devil made me do it!

 

[guest]

pond sounds nice chip.. good luck..

<img src=http://sio.midco.net/gator/Florida_Keys/Awesome_Scuba_diving_Shawn.jpg>

 

[Stewart]

Good luck Chip! I know you will figure it out. Sorry I couldn't resist the dynamite thing!

 

[Chipmaker]

Re: koi

Originally posted by slipshod
How about a cane pole, bobber, earth worm and a hook?

Ahhhhh, the honest to goodness bona fide Redneck Bream fishing setup! Just substitute a container of crickets in place of the worms and your in for a lot of action in southern waters catching shell crackers and bream with that setup.

 

[slipshod]

Re: Re: koi

Originally posted by Chipmaker
Ahhhhh, the honest to goodness bona fide Redneck Bream fishing setup! Just substitute a container of crickets in place of the worms and your in for a lot of action in southern waters catching shell crackers and bream with that setup.

"Been there done that" I figured worms might work better for koi.

 

[Chipmaker]

Got them two dudes!

Originally posted by Fusion1970
I know! Just dam up one end of the pond with all your Craftsman stuff. They wont be able to get past it, and it will act as an artificial reef.

snip

Greg

I don't think I have enough Crapsman stuff to even block off one end of a 50 gal aquarium anymore. BUT..........perserverance pays off. I got them two dudes this afternoon, all with one throw of the cast net........of course I had to throw it about 100 times to get the knack of throwing again as its been a very long time since I threw a cast net. Lots harder off a pond bank than off a pier or boat transom........ and getting spread on a 10' cast net is kind of hard. I had originally thought the net was smaller from what I was told but it turned out to be a 10 footer.......but anyhow once those two dudes came around today, it was all over but the crying for them......Both are back in their enclosure. Even managed to snatch a nice catfish which is going to be invited to supper tonight.

 

[Fusion1970]

LOL...Congrats. Glad the pond is at rest. Sounds like you had a hell of a time with 'em.

And the thought of a nice sized catfish with a little lemon butter and cajun seasoning on the grill is making me hungry. :homereat:

Greg

 

[Argee]

Kinda reminds me of the time a bat got into the house last year...I was in here postin' on TF when I hear a shriek from the living room..My wife had spotted a bat....I tried in vain to capture it with a towel..finally to the towel and started snapping at it like I was in a locker room....nailed it and killed it,,,not what I wanted to do, but it got it out of the house.