Electrofishing process on Wallace State’s pond finds influx of largemouth bass
Kyle Moon, a biologist with Alabama Aquarium and Pond Services, holds up a fish to spectators, while also answering questions from community members and local pond owners.
HANCEVILLE, ALA. – Kyle Moon of Alabama Aquarium and Pond Services predicted that Wallace State’s campus pond was probably full of largemouth bass before his company assisted the WSCC Bass Club with an electrofishing process at the 5.3 acre pond.
He was right on the money.
The electrofishing, which was conducted in order for the BASS club to get an inventory of the pond, determined that Wallace State has a plethora of largemouth bass, spotted bass, bluegill and redear sunfish (shellcrackers) in its waters.
“Overall we were told our pond is in good health, but we have too many largemouth bass (as is the case with many small ponds). We learned that through reproduction, bass will restock themselves at a much higher rate than typically desired. Most of the yearling bass need to be removed from a pond to maintain its balance and health,” said Wallace State’s Joe Hendrix, an Industrial Electronics Instructor and BASS club faculty sponsor. “We also determined there is not enough food in our pond to allow the bass to reach the size we desire. After hearing the results, we plan on installing two fish feeders on the pond.”
Hendrix added that the club plans to add some additional bream, shellcrackers and minnows to the pond later this fall, allowing the food chain to get better and the fish to reach their potential.
A strong contingent of Wallace State students and employees, along with community members, attended the event. Biologists from Alabama Aquarium also spent time answering questions from local pond owners, heeding ways to improve their ponds through stocking, feeding and adding structure.
Wallace State’s pond is located near the back of campus, in front of the men’s dorms and directly past Tom Drake Coliseum. The public is prohibited from fishing in the pond, which was constructed in the late 1980s.
“The crew from Alabama Aquarium and Pond Services was very impressed with our campus and the surrounding area,” Hendrix said. “They offered to make this an annual event to help us keep a watch and see the results of managing a pond properly.”
Wallace State’s BASS club competed last fall and spring at Guntersville Lake, Wheeler Lake, Wilson Lake, Smith Lake and Pickwick Lake.
For more information about Wallace State, visit wallacestate.edu.
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Russell Moore
Staff Writer
Wallace State Community College
P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077
1-866-350-9722 256-352-8443 direct
Russell.Moore@wallacestate.edu
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Kristen Holmes
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Wallace State Community College
801 Main Street NW | Hanceville, AL 35077
E-mail: kristen.holmes@wallacestate.edu
Office: 256.352.8118 | Cell: 256.339.2519 | Toll Free: 866.350.9722
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