[Kristen]

I'm making a new pond which has very steep (80 degree) sides and varies between 1m and 1.2m deep at the sides (flat bottom, but at a slight slope).

Pond is oval - diameter between 8M - 10M

I presume this is too deep for a Heron to get into to stand-to-fish

Will Herons still fish? from the side? (planning a brick edge) and is that likely to be a problem - compared to them standing in the pond to fish?

Thanks

[8doubles]

Your pond should be deep enough to stop them wading but they will still take fish from the margins. A  few CD`s hung up keep the herons away from my pond (so far) and a length of fishing line around the edge of the pond may stop them walking to the edge.

If your pond is steep sided remember to have a few ramps so any clumsy hedgehogs can climb out.

[arugula]

I'm making a new pond which has very steep (80 degree) sides and varies between 1m and 1.2m deep at the sides (flat bottom, but at a slight slope).

Pond is oval - diameter between 8M - 10M

I presume this is too deep for a Heron to get into to stand-to-fish

Will Herons still fish? from the side? (planning a brick edge) and is that likely to be a problem - compared to them standing in the pond to fish?

Thanks

Yes they will. I've seen electric fence used to try and stop them.

[Trillium]

You get a hungry heron and it will do almost anything to feed itself, particularly as fish will frequently come to the top for air at which time they're vulnerable to snatching.

[RichardA]

we have fishing line on stakes around edge at 12 inch high and 18 inch high and ropes across at about 6 foot high as our local herons used to sit in a close by tree and then glide down. We have CD's hung from the ropes as well and stones around edge of pond. Pond is metre deep with steep sides but I am not risking it. We have herons looking at us regularly but as far  as I know we have never lost a fish yet. Touch wood.
R

[8doubles]

Do not under estimate herons we had one stand on the edge of a water butt near my greenhouse and remove my anti-mozzie goldfish.

[Kristen]

The motion-detecting, automated, machine-gun-emplacement is nearly completed []

[Redgoat]

They are very determined (if beautiful) birds.

I've found that having some pond plants such as lilies give the fish room to hide from them whilst the fact I tend to loiter after feeding means their usually safe.

[Spana]

Depth makes no difference to a Heron.  Our lake is 9ft deep, so what do they do, they swim about catching fish as they go.

[8doubles]

Depth makes no difference to a Heron.  Our lake is 9ft deep, so what do they do, they swim about catching fish as they go.

That would be good to video if you get the chance. I have never seen one swim in fact i have only seen one youngster wading chest deep , it had a shoal of small roach around it that it missed every time.
A friend did see one swim once but that was when a rotten branch snapped and dropped the bird in the river.

[Spana]

. I have never seen one swim

I couldn't believe what i was seeing first time I saw one swim.  Wouldn't say it was an everyday occurrence but it does happen. They take off from the swimming position as well

Edited to add, talking of herons we had a Crane in the field next to the lake last week, it was huge.  Seems strange, but it stood there looking about . Cant think where it came from.