The title says it all. I used to have around 40 fish, including a couple of Koi carp. Now, I have around 4 fish, and I'm finding it hard to see them.

A heron would be the most obvious culprit and having read the advice on two sites, one of the least intrusive and cheap methods of keeping them at bay is fishing line strung around the pond edge.

This is my pond edge- Clicky and I am thinking that it would be very easy to put a hole in the mortar right underneath the slab and push a bent metal rod into the hole, so that the poles and lines run right around the very edge of the pond and not further back where there is the potential to catch them with feet.

I can't really think of anything perfectly suited to the job- ideally, I would like it to blend in, but it also needs to be strong and each piece needs to be at least a foot long (recommended height for line is six inches from the ground) and so that would rule out a number of items that could otherwise be used, such as brick ties. If they are strong and solidly fixed, I have to think about the danger of the kids and dogs impaling themselves on them.

I am going to go for a wander around B&Q, I think, when I go out soon, but if anyone has any good ideas, I'm ready.

Thanks.

I'll send a link to this thread to a mate of mine that does ponds for a living.

Buy a gun

I've got one, but there are two small problems- They are protected and, apparently, the worst of all, they tend to come around very early in the morning. I'm not getting up at 5am.

Try keeping a leopard in your back garden.

... ok am i the only person who read the title as 'anti heroin line'?

Nope

Definatly not!

We have to have a large piece of garden netting all the way over the pond to keep them off of ours.

Edd

It is the only way.

You can run lines of fishing line across as well, just drill eye bolys into the side of the rocks.

"anti-heroin line over the pond" = American anti drug slogan wtf?

Me 3

The netting is pretty much to only guaranteed way, but it's not easy, I'm sure and detracts from the pond itself of course as I'm sure you know, Edd.

The line around the pond is one of the better ways as they are supposed to land nearby and wade in. The thin line that they can't see is supposed to catch them unawares and scare them off.

I thought that there were a lot of keen fish keepers here, and that's why I asked.

For those who have taken this thread in other directions-

Fogmeister. Can you lend me that AAA, or is it not yours?

Just got my reply from the experts:

Herons will not generally land directly in the water. They tend to land nearly and walk in.

Therefore a trip line about 18” or 24” off the ground under tension will deter, 30lb strength is what we use.

Also, lines across the ponds with cat bells also work!

Don’t recommend a leopard, they tend to eat the fish also!

The culprit may not be the heron. Crows, cats and foxes all like a bit of fish.