Last year we dug a 120+' X 40+' "hole" with a 25+' deep area at one end. The soil is ALL clay the entire depth! It was going to take about 1-2 years to fill-----then the rains started and it filled up in 3 weeks!!! Minnows showed up last year also???? The water clarity is not that good, I 'spose the clay has yet to entirely settle? There is mossy/algae stuff attached to the banks we rake out on occasion. We have planted lots of lillies, strawberries, iris's, grasses etc as well as placed huge boulders for landscaping, along with a few trees. Things look nice this year. What I would like to know is where do I go from here? I would like to throw a couple of crappy and bluegill in it so area kids can fish. Anything you folks see I'm doing wrong PLEASE let me know.

From everything that I have read, it is best to stock the fish that you want as soon as the pond fills to avoid unwanted species from dominating.

I wouldn't put crappie in there as they tend to overpopulate easily without intensive fish management. Bluegills and Largemouth will do fine.

That's a pretty deep hole for as narrow as it is! Can someone easily walk out if they slip in the water?

Dang it, where's my manners? Welcome to Pond Boss!!!

Welcome to Pond Boss, Bruce5! Sounds like a really interesting pond you've got. I agree with esshup's concerns about that sort of depth and whether or not someone like your kids would be able to easily get out in the event of accidentally falling in. Just something to consider from a pure safety standpoint and certainly not a criticism at all. If the sides are steep, you might want to consider adding some sort of structure to assist "swimmers" in exiting, maybe something as simple as a ladder or even a rope. Again, just throwing out some ideas.

Do you have any pictures of your pond that you could post? It sounds like a really cool project and I'm sure I'm not the only one who would like to see how it looks.

Again, welcome! Stick around and join in the learning and fun!

Well if I can figger it out I'll put up 3 pics!

Ok, maybe I figgered it out?? Sorry, I'm old and used to another forum's posting sizes etal.

Nice looking pond Bruce5! Jeez is that a big backhoe or what! Welcome to Pond Boss, we're glad you found us.

IMHO as was mentioned by Esshup, I would avoid crappie. Crappie reproduction is sporadic so they can be difficult to manage. That being said it's your pond.

What would you like to fish for?

What are your goals for the pond?

Several suggestions here...
Visit with our buddies at the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at SDSU in Brookings. They might be interested in assisting with advice and then monitoring what you do from time to time. You should be able to stock some fish that would become a good fishery.
JHAP is correct...we need to know your goals before giving any advice here.
Focus on native species of fish which do well in small ponds in SE South Dakota...specifically: pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch and smallmouth bass. Those are the main choices. There are other fish, but those three are most commonly stocked. The pumpkinseeds may not be readily available from hatcheries there.

What JHAP said - that is one big excavator! Wow!

Really cool looking setup, Bruce5. And now you've gotten the best input there is to get - Bob Lusk himself! Bob is THE man, THE Pond Boss, and THE authority! Like those old E. F. Hutton investment commercials, when Bob speaks, people listen!

Bet you guys thought you'd never hear that phrase from THE Pond Boss.

And that my friends is good post number 35.

That's two this week! And you guys though I'd never break the 30 mark. HAH!!!

OK, I'll get in touch with SDSU and tell them my story! My initial reasons for the pond were to have a few fish to catch, a place for the wood ducks to seek refuge, and to take an occasional dip. But after watching the LOML plant flowers and such it's just kinda nice to see the amazing transformation that has been ongoing! I bet we wander "back there" 5-10 times a day. We watch the minnows (still don't know how they got there but they're numerous), turtles, frogs and scare up a goose or duck pair. It's just FUN! No livestock has access to the water it's just for US! With those observations I will let the collective wisdom of this board guide me with any further items that may need doing.

Yes, that is a "big hoe", it has a 2 yard bucket with a 60' reach. He came and excavated it in a couple of days and then brought in a D6? Cat to push the dirt around but, I still had to rent a skidsteer to do the "finishing touches" as the Cat left MAJOR tracks! So far I have about $6000 into this project and hopefully we're finished!!??

Bruce

Hey, who dropped the rock on top of the cats?

Good eye DD1! Whoever did had good aim.

Or are those cattails starting to grow?