Help Great Blue Herons ate my small pond Koi fish

The other night I saw a Great Blue Heron fly over before dark,well today while we were in town for a hour and came home there was a Great Blue Heron standing at the edge of our small home built pond [15 ft round,deepest part is 4 ft.].My wife didn't know what it was,but I knew and why it was there.I chased it away,but I think they ate our [about 6 inch long] 5 fish 3 Koi and 2 Goldfish.I worked on the pond the other day and it is still cloudy so I can not see the bottom,but none of the fish came to eat.I didn't realize how much I was attached to these fish until this happened.I not sure what to do if I buy more fish,they might end up birdfood.Any thoughts on this other than shooting the birds,which is what I would like to do.
>> Steve

I had a White Heron do that to me. I saw him with a big one in his beak, I yelled at him "Drop my fish now!" he did and jumped onto my fence.
I picked up my fish and put it back and it made it. But that bugger got 3 others.
Floyd

Steve:

We had the same problem in Depoe Bay, OR

Our pond was 22x12x4 deep. It's the depth that gets them because they don't like to get their bellies wet. The fish aren't dumb either. All mine went to the bottom when the birds were around.

We had two of the devils. One "Boris Badinof" and the other "The Bogeyman." The Bogeyman was HUGE.

We had two deterrents. One our 115 lb. Doberman and the other a Sheridan pump pelt gun.

Brutus almost nailed one on day. Jumped up and just missed his foot. Scared the hell out of the Heron though.

The net crap is a PITA* though. It turns into one big mess.

*Pain In The A"

Good luck

Darrell

I have a small goldfish pond in the backyard---only about 250 gallons or so. Last year I filled it with about 20 small goldfish and cared for them throughout the the summer and even kept the pond heated during the winter to keep them alive. I would've just let them "hibernate" under the ice, but it's only 22 inches deep. Cost a bundle.

Anyway, early this spring I noticed some of them were starting to disappear. One evening while I was observing late, I noticed a raccoon skulking by not far away. His glowing eyes gave him away--thanks to my neighbors bright light next door. Well you can guess where he was headed, so I chased him away and felt like maybe I saved a fish or two that night, and finally found the culprit. But the next morning, alas, there was half a fish laying obscenely on the rocks a few feet from the pond. The damn raccoon didn't even eat the whole thing. He left it there as if to insult me. Ugh. :S

For a couple of years now, what I think is a green heron has come looking for lunch, genearally after a good rain. Good thing he doesn't have longer legs.

DJ McCracken

Attached Image:

Steve:

Forgot one thing, but I never tried it. They make a water squirter that works off heat. When a bird gets close it swings around and gives it a good dose without hurting the bird.