Freshwater Shrimp

[LandDr]

For you duck hunters out there...we have started to harvest freshwater shrimp.

The populations look pretty good this year and the snow has forcecd them up to the ice so we can get at them...so we are doing pretty good on harvest so far.  The snow is making it hard to get into sites however.

We will probably harvest shrimp until the end of February if the populations hold out as we don't want to over harvest any of our ponds.

Shrimp can be an incredible means to attract and hold ducks to your pond.  They require depths so that it does not freeze to the bottom (usually 6 ft. plus) and it helps if the pond is fishless.

Simply drill a hole in the ice (like ice fishing), acclimate the shrimp to the water, and pour in.  The longer you take to acclimate them, the less stress they will have and the better chance of success.

Let me know if you have any other questions and I will be happy to respond.

Kyle, PLM

[PJ Maguire]

If I have a small farm pond with sunnies in it, will they eat up all the shrimp?

[JohnWester]

If I have a small farm pond with sunnies in it, will they eat up all the shrimp?

does a bear crap in the woods?

[Dan R.]

If I have a small farm pond with sunnies in it, will they eat up all the shrimp?

does a bear crap in the woods?

Polar Bears don't

[22lex]

If I have a small farm pond with sunnies in it, will they eat up all the shrimp?

does a bear crap in the woods?

Polar Bears don't

They will be pretty soon when all the ice is gone!  From global warming we will have a new species of "super bear" called grizzlepolar bear.

[LandDr]

The sunnies will gorge themselves and then of course slow down.  They will continue to feed on them when hungry.  If you have sufficient habitat in the pond for refuge and escape, the shrimp will persist with the sunnies...although not in as high of populations as you may like for ducks.  The sunnies will get bigger and fatter however.

Over the last couple of years, I have received more calls from people with fish ponds wanting shrimp to feed the fish.  Would like to get some duck hunters to work with however so we can restore the food sources.

Thanks for the question.

LandDr

ps...Sabortoothed Bear

[PJ Maguire]

I guess I am going to have to kill them off. The polar bears and sunnies! 

[JohnWester]

have m-80's... will travel.

are they any size?

[jdh2124]

For you duck hunters out there...we have started to harvest freshwater shrimp.

The populations look pretty good this year and the snow has forcecd them up to the ice so we can get at them...so we are doing pretty good on harvest so far.  The snow is making it hard to get into sites however.

We will probably harvest shrimp until the end of February if the populations hold out as we don't want to over harvest any of our ponds.

Shrimp can be an incredible means to attract and hold ducks to your pond.  They require depths so that it does not freeze to the bottom (usually 6 ft. plus) and it helps if the pond is fishless.

Simply drill a hole in the ice (like ice fishing), acclimate the shrimp to the water, and pour in.  The longer you take to acclimate them, the less stress they will have and the better chance of success.

Let me know if you have any other questions and I will be happy to respond.

Kyle, PLM

I have a slew with a ton of wild rice but the slew is only 4-5 feet deep is that two shalow for them.  How much do you sell them for.

[LandDr]

jdh2124...

I would not recommend putting shrimp into that pond...UNLESS...you have some flowing water or springs feeding it where there will always be sufficient water and oxygen.  Shallow ponds can freeze to the bottom or freeze far enough to the bottom to create a "no oxygen" situation.  Shrimp have gill plates on their legs and can fan them to get oxygen...but 4 to 5 feet of water is just too risky unless there were some springs or flowing water somewhere.

Sago pond weed would be an option to consider however.  Sago prefers 12 to 36 inches of water depth and can co-exist with wild rice.

Great that you have wild rice!  That can be an incredible fall attractant.

Thanks!

Kyle, PLM