Our pond isn’t big. But it’s big enough for me. Us Labs are water dogs and absolutely love swimmin’, especially in the summertime. Pop mainly put it in a few years ago because he knew the cattle would need a water source even though they have troughs of well water that get refreshed every day. Besides, sometimes a heifer or a horse just needs to wade in and cool off. And Pop really wanted a fishin’ hole anyway. Turns out I like fishin’ too. I get so excited when somebody is pullin’ one in my tail just about wags off.
So, since Pop had the pond stocked with bass, bluegill, and shellcracker a few years ago, he’s been purty diligent with feedin’ the fish and trying to learn about aquatic management. We’ve had a couple of natural fish kills due to lightnin’ strikes or algae blooms and Pop has had to re-stock a couple of times. The guys who stocked the pond have even been down a time or two to shock the pond.
That involves scootin’ a small boat around the pond draggin’ these whisker lookin’ metal wires through the water. They’re attached to an electric motor that generates just enough current to stun fish within about 5 feet of the surface and about the same distance from the boat. One fella steers the boat and another scoops up the stunned fish with a net. Then they weigh and measure ‘em, and then turn ‘em loose once they recover within a few minutes. It’s a good way to find out what your fish population is or isn’t.
Well, me been the curious Labradog I am, and also been the swimmy dog I am, I just couldn’t stand watchin’ all this activity from the bank so I just had to hop in and see the action close up. Like I said, I love watchin’ ‘em get caught. Turns out that wasn’t a great idea after all.
About the time I got close enough to a floatin’ fish to check him out, I felt that same zap that had knocked him silly. It’s not as bad as peein’ on an electric fence but it sure doesn’t feel good either! It didn’t take long for me to wise up and get my tail out of the water and watch the goin’s on with Pop.
I’m now content just to watch Pop yank a big ‘un out and throw him back in so we can catch him all over again. Yep, I sure do like fishin’ . . . from the bank.