I don't mean to jump on any toes for recent post. I was just wondering if anyone wanted to share photos of their ponds and fish with the rest of us. It kind of gives a sense of knowing the people on the other side of the screen. Here I will start with pictures of my pond that we started managing this past spring. I am happy with the management so far because at this time last year I had 100% coverage of duckweed and watermeal inches thick and no visible fish. We fished it hard early to determine what adjustments needed to be made when we stocked it. You can see the first signs of duckweed in the spring picture. My only problem right now is a very small amout of algea in which I am not concerned about yet. If anyone has suggestions please feel free. I just wanted to start a little show and tell for all of us.
http://mysite.verizon.net/res8r4e3/aaronsphotoalbum/id2.html Just don't laugh, this is the first year for this pond.
Good idea. It is nice to see the location where other pond meisters are for lack of a better word… meisting. It's also interesting to see how others are spending a majority of their time and money improving their little creature craters.
I need to upload some recent pictures of my new pond. Not too long ago, I posted photos of the structure I was working on. The general consensus on the forum was to add more structure, which I did. When I get home tonight I'll link the images.
I'm looking forward to seeing my pond level this weekend. We recently received a good amount of rainfall in the area. Hopefully, the pond is near full and I can begin planning for stocking this Fall.
Jimmy.
Nice work on the structure. I played around with photbucket and the maximum number I was able to upload at one time was 4 pictures.
I think I recognize that pig!
The pig looks like Rosie.
Alligator,
Glad you like my structure. Now, let's wait and see what the fish have to say on the topic.
What's the trick to uploading 4 photos on one link?
ML,
Nice Pic. That looks rather hilly to be too far south?
BTW, If you hit "next" or "prevoius" you get a lot of other pictures, which I assume dont belong to you. Some are rather...well, not exactly pond pictures.
Really? Must be linked to someone's elses pictures also. Maybe I can undo that. I'll try. I just posted one picture
Second attempt...Gator is this still linked to other pictures? By the way, should I look at those other pictures?
You mentioned "far south". I'm in Polk county and it has rolling land in my area. We are actually on a "hill" by East Texas standards. Hope this picture works better.
Yes, much better, no links now. Intresting shots further into the old link. How did you get the picture to show up directly insdie the post?
Oh yes, I would definitely like to do some 'bird watchng' up there
Gator,
I think I did it the correct way this time, as opposed to the previous mistake. I hit the "image" button and pasted in the link...in the other post I inadvertantly hit the "url" button and posted the link...maybe I need to check out those other pictures...probably get me thrown in Jail?
Kind of scary to think your pictures could be linked to other pictures which could be very problematic. That could cause serious unintended consequences. I may have to rethink using that method, but don't know of any other. We need a picture posting capability.
Originally posted by burgermeister:
Oh yes, I would definitely like to do some 'bird watchng' up there BM, the bank on the left side is where I usually set up the observation tent. Come on up this fall and observe the majestic water turkey in all its radiant glory.
p.s. bring a fly rod also and sample some of my BG and HSB if lucky
I'm trying out this business of posting an image directly into the message. I've never tried it before, so sorry if it doesn't work.
Lemme try this:
Wow, I have been wondering how to do that! Thanks!
ML, How about a few pics of those up and comming 3.5 lb-ers?
Gator,
I'd prefer to wait until fall on the HSB pictures. Its just too hot to stress them out right now, but if I do accidently catch one, which does happen, I'll post a picture.
Side note. I was noticing your pier, very nice by the way. I did something to enhance the security of my pier which might be of interest. I built a gate, out of wood, at the opening and lock it each time I leave. I also set traps (you may not want to do this) on the locked side. I was, emphasis on was, having someone sneak in and catch HSB from the pier with the feeder, a relatively easy thing to do. Now it isn't so easy.
ML, do you have any pictures of the gate or traps?
Gator,
I'll try to get you some this weekend and post on Monday.
Nice Pictures Guys,
I took these a couple weeks ago;
Chip, your place is gorgeous. Looks like a real dream come true. I hope to have something half that nice some day. Count your blessings.
Thanks BZ-I appreciate it. We're lucky that it finally got some rain.
Chip,
That is a beautiful place!! I just printed the picture so I could show my wife. Maybe I can get her to make a garden like that. I am in Montpelier IN which is not too far from you.
Many humble thanks Martin. If you ever fly into Lima Allen County KAOH you'll come right over us. The garden is all my wife's work, I only help her water it. That's probably why it looks like it does; I don't meddle with it.
Alabama, chip, ML (everyone else too)
you guys have some nice ponds.
bz said about Chip
I hope to have something half that nice some day.
I only hope to have something 1/10 as nice - I'd never find the time to keep up 1/2 as nice. Chip, that's gorgeous!
That said, here's my favorite fish pic from my pond, it's not the biggest fish we've caught, but it's the closest (so far) to my goal of big sunfish:
and here's my favorite overall pond pic, me between two good looking girls:
Theo,
Those are some nice fish! Those sunfish are going to be some whoppers.
It really makes me think twice about putting perch in.I grew up in Georgia and I miss those hubcap sized shellcrackers.
Chip
The track hoe left on February 28 and we have been plugging along since, I am sure this will always be a work in progress.
Talk about some great photos! It is great to see how nice all of your ponds are.
Chip, I am in the Fort Wayne area also. How long have you worked on the pond to get it that nice? My problem here is that I moved into a 30 year old muck hole. Give me a few years and I'll be able to show it with the same pride as you all.
Thanks to all so far for the great photos. Keep um coming in
Chip,
We call those swimming pools down my way...do you actually "allow" fish in there to dirty it up?
Awesome looking pond. Thats the kind of pond I want!
Sorry, I do not know what I am doing yet.
Bob
A lil help for BM! You have a beautiful place!
bmccreight, that is pretty awesome. I've never seen anything like that in Houston!
Thank You, it is just east of Centerville,Texas. I will wait to try and add fish photos, fishing is great and is the best buy of my life. Just wish I could spend more time there. I always told Meadowlark not to buy native bass as I have more than needed. Same goes for all the great people on this board.
Bob
Forgot too add that is only half of the lake, to the left of photo is an island, that right now has two baby fawns on it. The deer swim to have their babys over there. It is an awsome sight to see.
Fellas,
Those are some awful nice ponds and fish. If this drought ever ends out here in Nebraska- I will send a picture of my pond as well. I hope it turns out half as nice as these others.
Brad B.
This picture was taken 2 years ago. After having my son take my picture with this bass, he wanted his picture with it also.
WOW
Great photos everyone! All those ponds look fantastic. You guys should put disclaimers on those pictures stating to wear a dribble bib before viewing.
Robinson, I'd like to see a picture of your place and those Tennessee hills when everything has leafed out.
Chip and Alabama Woody, for a short time I had ponds like the beauties you both have....at least till the owners returned from vacation
Russ
bmccreight,
If the invite is still open, I'd like to visit this fall.
Robinson, pretty country. My son and family live in Franklin. When I come visit I can bring up some nice blues to stock.
No, PI...I havent heard that myth. I dont think BP would admit anything like that.
Yea, Cool Springs is where they lived at first, then bought a house next exit south.
Where is your place?
Burkes... PC(politically correct)
Meadowlark, That would be a great time, give me a heads up and I would love to have you. It would be doing me a favor since this year I have not been able to fish much. My cabin is not grand, but fits me just fine. I have a Bed & Breakfast in Houston, so some times week days are better then weekends. What ever works, I always enjoy your posts on this site, even if I do not chime in. I can not stop my self from reading here almost 10 times per day.
Bob
Here's the new house and pole barn overlooking our half acre pond.
Alabama, Chip...how big are your ponds?
Ours is just shy of 2 acres; it extends quite away to the right of the pictures. I'll try to post some fish sometime this week; they seem to be taking a break right now because of the heat.
Wranglerman, does your windmill drive an aerator?
Originally posted by BD:
Alabama, Chip...how big are your ponds?
I have a one acre pond.
Originally posted by David Cagle:
This picture was taken 2 years ago. After having my son take my picture with this bass, he wanted his picture with it also.8 pounds, 2 ounces ????
Just a guess, nice bass!
Hey Alabama, chip...thanks.
I am not trying to be 'nosey' my wife is asking me how big is '1 acre/2 acres/3acres' so I am trying to show her.
We (as I type this) are looking at land for what I have posted...my dream pond! (I already have the builder and have about 6,000$ with this company) I am now at this stage trying to "show" her what 5-10 acres looks like, and obviously what can be done with it. (She is more a visual person)
So only one last question Alabama, Chip......how big is your total acreage? It will help "show" her, if we buy 6.7 acres, "x" can be done (provided the NRCS says yeah, etc) or 10 acres can make "x".....
Thanks gentlemen!
Thanks
burgermeister, our windmill is hooked up to a diffuser. Although, during the summer the wind doesnt do much. There's a few trees I need to take out to catch some more. It does keep a whole in the ice during winter.
BD,
We and our neighbors share the pond and split 15 acres for the home sites. We live in a farming community and they have a 7 acre minimum. The picture should give you an idea as to the lay of the land. The pond at the top of the photo is at our old place and its about 1 acre, for comparison. Good luck with getting your land and pond.
Click on the photo to enlarge;
That photo does help, thanks.
Originally posted by BD:
Hey Alabama, chip...thanks.
I am not trying to be 'nosey' my wife is asking me how big is '1 acre/2 acres/3acres' so I am trying to show her.
We (as I type this) are looking at land for what I have posted...my dream pond! (I already have the builder and have about 6,000$ with this company) I am now at this stage trying to "show" her what 5-10 acres looks like, and obviously what can be done with it. (She is more a visual person)
So only one last question Alabama, Chip......how big is your total acreage? It will help "show" her, if we buy 6.7 acres, "x" can be done (provided the NRCS says yeah, etc) or 10 acres can make "x".....
Thanks gentlemen!
Thanks
BD, I live in a "mini farm" subdivision. I only own 5 acres. I put my house 200 feet off the road, 10 yards behind the house we installed an inground swimming pool, another 200 feet past the pool is where the pond starts, it is exactly one acre in size. We are on a dead end street in a valley surrounded by mountains. I will try to post a better picture showing the whole spread.
Alabama:
Yesterday I think I found the land I want and it's almost identical to how you described yours lol.
The land is 6.7 and is sort in a cul de sac. (each lot is this big, and the house that was actually IN the cul de sac is to my left) so it goes his place, this land, and then two houses to the right.
This lot is also up in the mountains (so to speak)
I am hoping I can get away with a 2.5 acre pond.
Sounds like a plan BD! Good luck with everything. The back of my property line is actually a deep ditch that allows drainage from the mountain, it worked out really well for me to connect to it with my overflow pipe. I spent the most money on hauling off the dirt versus "spreading it around".
Alabama Woody, If I remember right the bass was 6 lb. 8 oz. and 22 1/2 inches long. That was the largest of 9 lunkers I caught that summer from my lake.
This is my first attempt to post a photo, if it works big thanks to Alligator. The photo is a PB that is about one and a half years old and 3#.
Don,
Great picture of the peacock. They are a beautiful fish. Have you caught one on a fly, yet? How's your fly fishing coming along?
Very nice PB.
I would really like to have a pond full of those!
ML, They are mean critters and full of fight, closer to your HSB but catch and release without stressing. I believe this variety will max out around 10# will be fun and lots more if I get this fly fishing down. I am still in Afghanistan but returning home 12 August, still waiting on the fly rod w/fingers crossed to arrive here before then. This one was caught on a Yo Zuri minnow.
That's a little slice of heaven Jayman; nice photos.
Is that a catfish in the hands? Looks a little like a grinnel to me.
Grinel? Is that a bowfin? Snakehead? None of those up here. That picture is of a pretty typical brown bullhead. Maybe a little under weight.
I've never seen a brown bullhead that I'm aware of. I guess we have black bullheads around here. That fish looks like it has scales on the body in the picture. Yeah, grinnel is bowfin.
Lordy, that's a dandy bullhead! I admit, though, that we've used some that big for flathead bait when we can't get any smaller ones...
Bruce :
Great looking ponds with beautiful landscapes. Now everyone knows that Neb. is a lot more than flat ground and grass and crops. Having driven through years ago I saw varied landscapes and elevations with trees . ewest
End result of all that hard work?
BAIT!
Bruce:
That's not fair, you have HILLS!
Very nice looking bunch of water. One question: what's the story with the rectangular pond in the upper right corner of your first picture? Swimming hole with 4 sides of nice white sand? White plastic liner? Nebraska's only Beach Volleyball court?
Bruce :
I want to order some bait but from the looks of that bait I don't have much that can eat bait that big . How big -- looks like 1.5 lbs and young , small tail and head. Lets hear the story and don't be bashful -- as sgt. Joe Friday use to say --just the facts sir. Was he from the all male pond ? ewest
The Kansan Glaciation period occurred about 400,00 years ago and left a big swath west of Lincoln that is about 25 miles long (north-south) and 4 miles wide (east-west). This period resulted in very hilly and extremely rocky land that row-croppers didn't have any use for. Consequently cattle grazing has been the primary use of this land. Good news for Bruce is that the land was CHEAP! It's near the town of Denton which is 10 miles west of town and land prices in 1998 were a mere 1300/acre. It also happens to have good draws for dam building and dense clay soils that hold water quite well. We're a little arid (about 25 inches or precip./yr) but that's not all bad if you have a well.
What looks like a rectangular pond is actually two side by side. What appears to be sand is 45 mil liner. The ponds are named Firestone I and Firestone II and are growout ponds for HSB and BG mutant freaks.
The bluegill in the photo, I am proud to say is a fish that I caught last night. It is an age-2 fish that is 9.5 inches and weighed 460 grams (just over one pound) My wife took the picture right before we lit a campfire and made s'mores. She really didn't get why I was so happy but you all probably get it all too well.
Wife, campfire, s'mores and 1 lb gills in yer own pond...ain't life great!
That's a great place Bruce, my compliments.
Bruce, your pond looks great when its full. Can't wait to get back up there and do some fall fishin'. I will try to crawl up on my roof and get some shots.
Nice looking ponds Bruce! Can't wait to see them during HSB season this Fall.
Ed
Thanks for the comments! In all seriousness, next time I've toiling away and frustrated because all I do is WORK, WORK, WORK then I'm going to pull up this thread for consolation.
bmccreight
How big is that Lake of yours!!! Man !! I wish I could have something like this!! WOW!!!
Maybe some day I'll get there.....maybe some day..
Hey Bruce
That ain't bait-that's supper. BTW very nice place you've got
My brother got one of those powered parachutes and started doing some aerial photography. Here's the south 4 acres of our property.
Full Size image
WranglerManJ
If your brother ever has a hankering to dive over East Texas, I'd pay to pack his chute in return for a picture like that!
Big Pond, when I bought it, they said 12 acres. Hard to tell, it has a island in center and coves around. It was a good buy with just 55 acres of land. Had a cabin, barn, well and pump house. Two hour drive from Houston.
http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=10&Z=15&X=1120&Y=17407&W=3&qs=%7cflo%7ctx%7c
Robinson,
I couldn't agree more with you on quality vs quantity....in ponds and most everything else.
I couldn't help buy wonder as I read your description of that great pond with the limestone ledge, how much indeed that limestone/mineral deposite had to do with your great fishing. A lot I suspect.
You touched on a subject that facinates me...My Pop's place has Indian artifacts, burial mounds, and a natural spring. It's even marked on the maps as "tanyard" where the indians would cure their hides. It is awesome to roam thru the creekbeds, almost all the pools are crystal clear with lots of fish, no 5 lbs. though.
My property has 3 what appear to be graves on it as well, creates a spooky environment late at night when you're in the area
Just wondering what one of those powered parachutes might cost....
My wife and I were discussing that the other night, and have no idea.....
Bruce Condello,
Very nice ponds! Are the upper two excavated? Are these the ones you installed liners in? Do you keep those full with well water?
Brad Becker
Brad,
The upper two on the draw are excavated, but the two on the right are lined and filled with well water. All of the excavated ponds are about 50/50 mix of well and rain water. I think that you can kind of see the liner on the ponds to the right of the picture that shows five ponds.
This pic thing is great everyones ponds are real nice I am going to attemp to put a pic in
My brother got his from this company.
Alliant He actually used to work there and was on the design team that came up with the Falcon.
As far as pricing, I have no idea. They occasionally get used stuff in. Check ebay as well.
Here's a picture of ~1/4 acre pond 1 that provides one of the ravine crossings to our homesite. I wasn't there when this one was built and am still too angry to discuss it. But hey, it's still better than no pond.
Pond 2 was created as an excuse to move our building site to a more scenic area and cross/dam another ravine in the process.
Last summer after completion.
About three weeks ago. This pond has ~9 acres of watershed and will take about 2 more years to fill. This summer has been brutal. Only a few contact springs have been maintaining the level you see. I'll cut the riser when I'm satisfied with the level.
Nice pictures...but if it was me, those trees would have to go. Can't tell for sure, but I'm guessing they may die anyway when it fills.
Yes,
That was one of the issues I had with the 1st pond builders. One 12" red oak is already dying. The large cottonwood might make it. You have to be there to make sure things get done right. These folks were recommended by the local NRCS technician.
I'll maintain a foot or two of freeboard below the big oak in pond #2 so it will hopefully make it.
A little comic releif. Here is my weed eater. 280 tons of stone and over 50 trees removed just to get these guys in here for a snack.........
actually this is my little nest egg. Thanks to all of you I can now see water and fish. Before I had 100% heavy duckweed and no wanted fish could survive. I now have a healthy and loaded pond that will be ready for fishing in a few short years. This is the first year in my total renovation. no holds barred.
Here are a few of my spring stocking fish. The growth of these guys is amazing so far. Before my pond had crappie, bullhead, green sunfish. We fished it hard to remove all unwanted fish before stocking it. Now I see fish all over and they are the fish that I want to see.....
Thanks to all so far for the overwhelming replies and keep um comin'
I started a post like this a few months back and got spanked by the pondboss, guess I'm not a LUNKER like you guys. I noticed BOB hasn't said anything so here goes again enjoy
http://www.rockytoppers.com/the_pond.htm You guys have some beauties
AaronhomeIN
I just noticed your weed-eaters….!
How are they working out?
Check my post:
http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=000189 George Glazener
George,
They goats work really well for weeds and roughage. If you want them to mow the grass they will not. Sheep will though. I allow my goats to browse the banks for about 2 hours a day before I head off to work. The pond bank was entangled about 6 feet high with briars and saplings. You can see the end result. I burn my banks in the spring and let the goats trim it through the summer. I know manure run off with goats fenced around a pond would probably end up on the unwanted side. Although it would take quite a while to match the manure left by one cow mess. My pond is already to nutrient rich and very fertile so I did not fence them in there. I do not feed my goats until after they have done thier chores around the pond. They know excactly were to go and love it. They can mow down some serious vegetation in short time. I keep them penned all but the 2 hours to keep them safe for my goats are pygmy goats and can fall prey to the nice neighbor dog easily. The goats make easily cared for pets. The kids love them and they save me time on the trimming.
Robinson, The house is 1750 sq ft living space it is open from one end to the other, 3 stores, 27 foot high ceiling,double lofts, you can see it in detail on my home design pages of the rockytoppers site. It's not really an A frame it has vertical walls and wrap around porches. If all three floors spanned the entire foot print the shell could house 3000+ sq ft. As for cost I designed it and built 90% of it myself in 1996. less than 85k invested(excluding my labor) It was very labor intensive. I would estimate in todays dollars if you hired it all done it would be more costly than a conventional ranch style because of the added labor cost to roof it and work at the 27 foot heights, took lots of scfolding to build.
Aaron,
I've never been much on goats until I got to looking at the pygmies. Cute little critters, and looks like they're useful too. I'll talk to the Department of the Interior (my wife) and see what she thinks.
You said in an earlier post that your pond would be ready to fish in a few years. Well, I think 1 year would be a closer guess than 2 years until you have some good fishing.
NEDOC's pond!!
Hey Bruce, thanks a million. It is kinda hard to see as I took the pics at sunrise with steam coming off of the water(from on top of my roof). I will try to take some with a little better light.
Wow, I love this thread with all of these pictures. They have given me a million ideas. I guess my wife will have to start working harder so that I can afford some more pond amenities.
DUUUDE! SMOKE ON THE WATER!
Here's to Theo lettin' his freak flag fly!
Man, were you at Bhudokhan in '71?
Man, were you at Bhudokhan in '71?
Uhh, I don't remember. Was that where the brown acid was bad? :p
Here is a pic of my pond :
End result of all that hard work?
BAIT!
I cant believe this is the first time I have seen bruce dressed in his cowboy stripper outfit WITH hat!!!
Have you seen him dressed in his cowboy stripper outfit WITHOUT hat or something?
I cant believe this is the first time I have seen bruce dressed in his cowboy stripper outfit WITH hat!!!
I happen to know for a fact that he knows all the letters in "Y-M-C-A".
Have you seen him dressed in his cowboy stripper outfit WITHOUT hat or something?
you must have missed the PB convention AFTERparty...
