I used to put a bamboo cane in and twist it until the weed got wrapped around it, then put the weed on the side of the pond to let the creatures escape before getting rid of it once it was dry.

Try a child's fishing net.

try using something which is broader than a cane, and less slippery...like a 2x2 stick...you have to take care 'tho

Do you mean duckweed or blanket weed? They are very different.
You can use a net on duckweed but blanket weed is more difficult. I use a stick but I have got an organic treatment called Cloverleaf Blanket Answer that I have used once (3 years ago) in desperation. It is claimed to be 100% safe for fish and plants and didn't appear to have any adverse effects on any pondlife, but was brilliant and I haven't had too much of a problem since.

you realy shouldnt mess with your pond in winter as the fish are dorement andget stressed easily . duck weed and algi are single celled plants that actualy need a lot of sun . also higher plants shade the water and take up the nutriants the duck weed andalgi use . you never see a pond with a lot of willows thats got much of either duck weed or algi . i solve the problem bye having a pagoda with rolled split bamboo cane on a roll over it . on top of this i have ornimentle grapevine and virginia creeper .my pond water is clearer than my tap water and has know duck weedetc . the other option is to get a uv light to pump your water through . personaly id cover some of it and maybe get a nice big leaved lilly the other side but i dont know what your pond look . take care bye for now .

i have blogs showing my garden if you want a look or look up noseypotter on utube as theres a few films of my set up andart,dogsetc .

When I had a amall pond in Essex I used to remove blanket weed by hand - or with a stick - and any duck weed was easily captured with a small fishing net. Left in heaps on the side of the pond it would allow any water creatures to safely drop back into the pond, then if the blanket weed dried in the sun Sparrows would pull it about and make off with strands of it for their nests. In fact if I took my eyes off it I missed a whole world carrying out its daily business! ;o)

sounds like a good idea for recycling . when i water my garden i use pondwater then top the pond uo helping twice . one with all the goodies in the pond water and a water change is realy good for the pond . i do the same out the front from my huge fish tank . well huge for a house i guess .

Thanks everyone. It is quite a small pond and is in danger of being covered completely in duck weed. I mean duck weed. Very small single leaf plants which multiply like mad in summer. The trouble is that is is caught in the pond weed so a net does not get it out. I don'e have any fish so there is no danger to them, i do have tadpoles though so have to put them back if I fish any out.

just give your tadpolessomewear to get outand put a piece of ply over the rest . make sure all the tadpoles havechangedand left and clean thewhole pond out is the only real way thow it doesnt bother the wildlife infact it gives them cover . unless you want to see in the pond i shouldnt worry .

Thanks Noseypotter. I had a look at your site and enjoyed the music and slideshows. I like your garden sculptures and particularly the wall of holes. :)

thank you so much marshmallow x .