Pond Boss
Posted By: Mdodson461 Making an existing pond bigger - 12/28/15 02:58 PM
Hello all. I'm new. I just bought 11 acres that has a .4 of an acre pond currently on it. We plan on enlarging the pond.

I'm just curious what my options are. Since it was so warm Christmas day we went fishing after our Christmas meal and ended up catching some nice fish. So I'd prefer to NOT drain the current pond.

The area we plan on expanding to is in a lower area so we'll have to build up the a dam with a spillway.

Here is a picture of the pond and where I plan on expanding it to.

Now here's the question for the experts. Do we dig another pond with a dam between the two or what?

Attached picture pond.png
Posted By: Bob-O Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 12/28/15 03:35 PM
Mdod, welcome to the best pond forum there is. Some actual experts will be along shortly so I won't give any advice. However,,,I usually give my opinions freely, so here is what I would do. Since your pond ain't broke don't try ta fix it. I have a 1/4 acre pond and that is plenty for me to maintain as best as possible with two of the smartest guys on the forum keepin me under their wings.
If I had such a sweet set up as you, I'd dig another smaller pond and use it to raise feed for your already well populated pond or to have fish that don't thrive well with the fish you already have. For instance, a YP, HSB, SMB pond with a few CC. Dig ya a small pond fairly deep and aeriate it and you will have a blast catchin those fish.
Do lots of research and ask tons of ?s before ya do anything.
Best of luck and please keep us all updated. Also keep a written and photo/video record of your endeavors. One of the blessing of getting old is ya start forgettin things.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 12/28/15 03:51 PM
Thanks Bob-O. Here is the kicker: my dad and I bought this property together. I plan on eventually building a house just to the west (about 100 yards or so) from the pond so all ground work will be to the east and north. I told him he could do whatever he wants with the pond as long as I can eventually build a house haha. Since he has horses on his 5 acres and a sloping lot he wasn't able to build a pond. So he is most definitely going to make the pond bigger.
Posted By: Bob-O Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 12/28/15 04:01 PM
What ever ya do is between you and your pop. I usually pop off before I know exactly what's goin on.
Depending on what acreage is needed for the horses your pop could possibly build a small pond. When a pond is excavated there is a bunch of dirt to be removed. It is often used in constructing a dam. A sloping ground would be benifical to the pond if located at the lowest level.
Again, I'm not an expert.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 12/28/15 04:17 PM
Its too late for him to. He has ponds on both properties next to his so he's ok without one. The land we bought is only about 5 mins from his house.
Posted By: Bob-O Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 12/28/15 04:48 PM
Got it.....finally.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/02/16 07:14 PM
What's everyone's thoughts on this? That basically doubles the pond in size making it 8/10ths of an acre.

I also play on planting willow trees on each little peninsula. Good idea?

Attached picture 2016-01-02 13.08.59.jpg
Posted By: Bill D. Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/02/16 09:55 PM
I like the shape a lot, especially the island. I would think hard before putting the willows. I like the way they look but they are messy and will be dropping a lot of "whips" and leaves into the pond. They are prone to spread and they consume huge amounts of water.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/03/16 12:29 AM
What trees are good for planting around a pond?
Posted By: John Fitzgerald Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/03/16 12:46 AM
Bald Cypress, on the side opposite the dam. No trees on the dam.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/03/16 02:58 AM
Yeah, I knew that. I don't want a future leak.

I see you're in NWA John. Is that what you have around yours?
Posted By: John Fitzgerald Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/03/16 03:06 AM
Not yet, but plan to. I had one at the last place I lived, in a wet spot, and it did well.
Posted By: esshup Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/03/16 05:38 PM
Pin Oaks like having their feet wet too, the acorns (every 2 years) provide food for Woodies, but they aren't the prettiest Oak there is.....
Posted By: Bill D. Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/03/16 06:01 PM
My concern with oak trees is tannin from the leaves, acorns and bark entering the water. I don't know if that is a problem with pin oaks.
Posted By: esshup Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/03/16 06:41 PM
Originally Posted By: Bill D.
My concern with oak trees is tannin from the leaves, acorns and bark entering the water. I don't know if that is a problem with pin oaks.


I think it all depends on the amount of tannin and/or the amount of water in the pond. I'll get enough water in my pond from the surrounding Oak forest to drop visibility from 6'-7' to approx. 24" just due from the tannins in the water. Haven't had a fishkill (yet). The forest is made of mostly Pin Oaks, due to the seasonal flooding it gets. It's considered a "Wooded Wetland". I have White Oaks, Hickories and Sugar Maples growing too, but that is on the higher ground. The woods could be flooded for 2-5 months in the Spring if it is a wet Spring.
Posted By: CJD Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/04/16 12:08 AM
Mdod, I'm in a similar situation as you. I have a pond that is about an acre and a 1/2. I am toying with the idea of adding another 1/4acre or so to the pond. I'd like to dig out a deeper section (most of the pond is between 4 and 5ft) and then simply put an 8" extension on the drain pipe near the dam to raise the water level in the spring when the snow melt stream flows into the pond.

But before I do that, I'd like to clear another 1/4acre out and give it some depth, just a few dozer blades in width but maybe 8 to 10ft deep. I have hard clay all over the place. So I am hoping by bringing the water level up, I can flood the newly dug area and then bring the water level back down to normal levels so if the area leaks, it won't effect the rest of the pond all that much.
Posted By: Bill D. Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/04/16 01:19 AM
Originally Posted By: esshup
Originally Posted By: Bill D.
My concern with oak trees is tannin from the leaves, acorns and bark entering the water. I don't know if that is a problem with pin oaks.


I think it all depends on the amount of tannin and/or the amount of water in the pond. I'll get enough water in my pond from the surrounding Oak forest to drop visibility from 6'-7' to approx. 24" just due from the tannins in the water. Haven't had a fishkill (yet). The forest is made of mostly Pin Oaks, due to the seasonal flooding it gets. It's considered a "Wooded Wetland". I have White Oaks, Hickories and Sugar Maples growing too, but that is on the higher ground. The woods could be flooded for 2-5 months in the Spring if it is a wet Spring.


If it was Illinois, and I wanted a tree close to the pond, I might go with something in the maple family I think. Yes it will drop leaves in the pond and potentially contribute to muck. My thinking is it provides great shade, looks good and the decaying leaves are a good forage for critters like scuds.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/04/16 02:37 AM
I do like the idea of having a few wood ducks on the pond. What if I planted a willow in the island but different trees on the small peninsulas for shade purposes.
Posted By: Dave Davidson1 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/04/16 11:15 AM
I've had to fight a lot of willows. New ones come up every year and I have no idea where they come from. I both pull and spray them. Actually, other than by root, I'm not sure how the willows even get to my ponds. I'm assuming wind blown spores.

I have seen willow roots 50 to 60 ft from the original tree. They are quite invasive. However, Lusk tells me that the weeping willow, although messy as the dickens, isn't all that invasive. But they still take more water than I'm comfortable giving them.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/04/16 02:37 PM
Thanks Dave. It would definitely be a weeping willow on the island, by itself. I'll be going out there every other week to weed-eat it during the warm months. If everything works out like I picture it, I'd like to have the weeping willow out there on the island big and tall weeping down with ducks out there laying underneath it. But I realize that will be a long ways down the road.

Side note on these trees. I do plan on weed-eating and mowing around the pond often so I shouldn't have too many problems with new trees popping up or anything like that.
Posted By: Dave Davidson1 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/04/16 03:04 PM
If you have ducks on the island wear rubber boots when weed whacking.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/04/16 06:58 PM
Noted haha.
Posted By: liquidsquid Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/05/16 01:54 AM
If you have the water to spare, I would plant the willow. It would look beautiful out there, and a great place to put some chairs in the shade.

I would love to be able to have a shore line like that to work with, but beggars cannot be choosers. I am just glad I can have a pond at all!
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/05/16 02:27 PM
I should have some to spare, Liquid. I mean its going to be close to an acre big so I don't think it's going to soak up too much of my water once the pond is full. I'm also going to be maintaining the land a lot so it's not like I'll have new trees popping up. I'll be about weed wacking every time I mow around the pond. I want to be able to see the snakes in the short grass before I get to them haha.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/05/16 02:47 PM
So it looks like we will get started sometime around the 1st of April. The land currently has about 8 cows on it right now and I gave the guy until March 31st to get them off before I start tearing down fences and put a lock on the gate. Also it's looking like we might get to trade out some work so the cost will be down.

The plan is to do all the pond work, then come back in when the water is low and to put our artificial structures around the points and the island.

Question about those. I have a ton of 3-4' tall cedar trees that I'm going to be cutting down. Should I just use those for the structures or put the PVC and vinyl tubing like I've seen on here???

Then plant grass along the shore and down into the pond before it fills up.
Build a dock with a gazebo type thing on it. I'll include pictures.




I plan on planting some River Burchs out there along with maybe a Red Maple and a Bald Cypress or two.



Attached picture pond.png
Posted By: RC51 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/05/16 03:06 PM
Mdodson,

Nice to have another Arkansan on the block. I am not originally from here but been here for 28 years now.

If you don't mind me asking where are you located. I have a cabin and pond near Batesville (Mark Martin Country) about 8 miles west of it.

RC

P.S Your plans and place look great! Keep us posted.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/05/16 04:10 PM
RC, I'm located in the Van Buren area.

Appreciate that.
Posted By: RC51 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/05/16 08:13 PM
Hey cool my mother in law lived in Fair Field Bay for quite some time and she still has a house there. Good to have you around.

RC
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/05/16 08:52 PM
Haha no the city Van Buren, not the county.
Posted By: RC51 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/05/16 09:26 PM
Oh lol ok....

RC
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/11/16 03:57 PM
So I've been doing some research. I believe we are planning on doing some sort of aeration for the pond. Problem is we are not going to be able to put electricity down by the pond at first (eventually will once we build a house but that won't be for several years) . Sooo, I've been looking at Solar aeration systems. I've seen the ones that Missouri Wind and Solar has put together and a couple others.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100-Watt-Solar-Pond-Aeration-Kit-with-Suntaqe-Digital-PWM-Inverter-Controller-/391163087517?hash=item5b13230a9d:g:vYEAAOSwpdpVcKDt



http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thomas-SOLAR-POND-AERATOR-AERATION-SYSTEMS-Finally-affordable-Quality-/300991760286?var=&hash=item461481c79e:m:mUF1NiXa5MuNfhIlvkGOwoA


Whats everyones thoughts on these type of systems. With it being a .8 acres should I go with one or two diffusers. I am somewhat handy so I could DIY something together as well.
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/11/16 04:38 PM
Two items from me.
1. I would not plant the willow trees anywhere near the water. I have seen weeping and other willow trees 30+ft away from the pond extend their hair roots into the pond through the side walls. The roots will appear pinkish and look like some sort of weeds on the bottom. I've seen 1.5" cottonwood roots at the water line from trees 60ft away. Tree roots permeate the bank walls and make the liner porous when the trees eventually die. Trees are aesthetic, but can ruin a pond liner to increase water loss. The added annual leaf inputs cause the pond to age prematurely due to added organics, nutrients, and resulting eutrophication. If you do decide on trees within 50-100ft of the pond select leaves that will decompose relatively quickly - for example not oaks with slow decomposing leaves. You have at least been warned. Lusk in the Jan-Feb 2016 Pond Boss Mag suggests no willow trees and keep all trees back beyond the mature tree height drip line. Mike Otto PB pond builder suggests only bald cypress trees near the pond.
2. IMO and experience for a newly dug or renovated pond you will not need to add aeration for the first 1-3 yrs before fish kills are likely. Not a lot of ecological long term damage is done to new ponds that are not aerated in the first few years. Why? During the first few years fewer organic materials are present to deplete deep water oxygen concentrations to cause major fish kills. Fertilized ponds and ponds in wooded areas are the main exceptions. Rarely will a new pond 1-3 yrs old have fish kills due to pond turnover. Summer fish kills usually occur in older fertile ponds with lots of organic sediment (dead tree leaves!) and dead aquatic vegetation from years of accumulation. These dead organic materials decay and cause fairly quick oxygen loss in a majority of the bottom deeper water. IMO you can wait a few years until electricity is available and then install aeration. If you really want solar aeration go for it.
Posted By: snrub Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/11/16 05:04 PM
I will make three comments about what Bill Cody says.

1. Listen to him, he knows.

2. Some people have things other than the pond itself as their main goal. The pond may be secondary to recreation where the shade trees may be an integral part of the recreation/aesthetics. Which is more important to you? The pond or the whole package that the pond is only a portion of? I chose to leave trees around my son's pond when I refurbished it. For our pond I told my wife she could not have trees on the dam (where she wanted them) or near the pond so we have none (and amazingly so far I got my way). Sometimes pond enthusiasts think of only what is best for the pond itself as if it is the only thing that matters.

3. Aeration will do one thing for a newer pond Bill did not say. In your latitude in the summer your pond will stratify and have a thermocline. The lower water will be of little use to fish during that portion of the year. Aeration will turn the water column over and break up that stratification so the fish can use the entire body of water whereas otherwise they could not during those summer months. If you plan to feed heavily and push your fish for growth, this could be helpful.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/11/16 05:08 PM
Thanks for the info Bill!

Really, the only place I would put a willow would be on the island. I guess after some years the island could erode away with the roots permeating the bank?


Thanks Snrub.

This land will eventually be my home. I love trees and would like to basically create a park out by the pond with a firepit and picnic tables out under a tree or two (once they are big enough).

Not sure if we plan on feeding or now. Maybe just when my grandma comes to fish (she loves her some minnows)

I've kinda always imagined the island looking something like this.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/17/16 08:01 PM
So we went out to the pond this weekend it the max depth is probably around 5' with most of the pond being between 3' and 4'

Not really what I was hoping for.
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/17/16 08:30 PM
All those tree leaves from the willow (Salix) tree will be in the pond decomposing contributing to algae. Remember this when you are dealing with or killing lots of algae each year. Roots will penetrate from all sides of the island into the pond then transpiring lots of water into the air. Also note in the 1st video below she mentions shrub Salix (willow) as an invader in the later Reed-Swamp Stage of pond succession. In a brand new pond, you are introducing the Salix (willow) tree at the start or beginning.

You should eventually aerate to keep the pond as good as it can naturally be and slow pond succession, although you won't have to aerate right away. Pond health is best if aerated soon after the pond fills, but significant ecological nor biological damage is not done if not aerated the first year or two. The longer one delays aeration the faster the pond moves through the aging process (aquatic or pond succession see example videos below).
http://www.limusicindex.com/video/UsiEcapJ3KU/pond-succession.html
http://www.limusicindex.com/video/fYC5v5d0-jA/pond-succession-l9-6.html

Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/18/16 03:33 PM
I got you Bill. What about a bald cypress then? I want some kind of tree out there on the island haha.

Also I think we are going to seine the pond in the early spring, before the snakes come out, to see what all we have in there. With the depth of the pond being an issue I think we may have to get them to excavate some different parts of the pond when the water is lowered so we get can some of those drop offs and elevation changes that fish like.
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/18/16 03:41 PM
If you absolutely have to have a tree on the island, I would choose a small mature height variety of ornamental flowering tree that will survive in your area. A good tree nursery person or the University Extension branch should be able to help you with this information. Explain your situation to them to get their best advice.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 01/18/16 04:00 PM
Haha will do.

Thanks!
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 02/16/16 04:24 PM




This was from earlier this year.Its going to be fun this summer and fall once the pond reno is done.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 02/25/16 09:16 PM
Good new. The ole boy got his cows off the property a month before I asked so now we get to move forward with our plan. Met with the builder and got the cost and what all he can do. He didn't foresee any problems. So now we are just waiting on him to get freed up to come out there and start moving dirt.

They plan on just digging a separate pond and leaving a 25' strip of land in between the two. Them coming back with the excavator and digging out the land. Said it should take about 10-12 days to complete.

Here's to hoping the spring rains hold off until they are done.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 03/04/16 02:43 PM
Well my dad couldn't wait any longer. He went out and put in 50 channel cats and 3lbs of fat head minnows.
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 03/04/16 02:57 PM
Keep us advised as to how the fishery progresses. How big were the stocker catfish?
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 03/04/16 07:47 PM
Originally Posted By: Bill Cody
Keep us advised as to how the fishery progresses. How big were the stocker catfish?


I'd say about 9"

50 for $28. For not knowing anything about buying fish, I'd say that isn't too bad.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 03/04/16 08:27 PM
RC for some reason your post was deleted but there's a fish truck that comes down to the local Farmers Co-op once a month that has 11 different species they sell.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 03/09/16 04:05 PM
And of course my builder comes by and says he's ready to start and we get 5"+ of rain this week. Going to be awhile I guess.
Posted By: willywonka Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 04/19/16 05:08 PM
Mdodson461 Any update? I am planning a similar expansion and I am very curious how the connecting of the two goes, does a lot of earth wash in when you break through? and how do the fish make out?
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 02/13/17 07:49 PM
Hey everyone. Sorry about the delay. I just got so busy with work and the kiddo that I haven't been around much lately.

So the pond got dug and was completed in about mid-May of last year. It's around an acre in size with a small island out in the middle. On the existing side the max depth is about 4 to 5 foot and on the new side it is around 7 to 8. Shortly after it was completed the big rain came and filled that sucker up (I don't think its rained since haha). It was bout a foot away from the overflow but currently is about 3 foot from it.

Here are a few pictures.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 02/13/17 07:57 PM
.

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Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 02/13/17 08:02 PM
We planted some Rye about 3 months ago to try to keep the banks in tact. But the pond is still super muddy. I think I'm going to go buy some clear jars and start doing some tests to see what I can do to clear this thing up.

Also about 3 weeks ago we went out and burned the island to get a nice, cleaned, cleared part of dirt but that didn't work like we thought. We'll have to go out again in a couple of weeks and do another burn.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 02/13/17 08:06 PM
The plan this spring:

Buy some trees to plant around the pond to give some shade.

Finish my fish attracters.

Maybe get some gravel to put around my in-flow pipe from the ditch. Also some in the ditch so when the water comes in its running over rocks instead of just mud. ( I would imagine that would help with my water clarity problem).
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 02/13/17 08:08 PM
More pictures.

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Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 02/13/17 08:19 PM
Here is the island after we burned it.

Attached picture 20170121_173103.jpg
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 02/21/17 07:09 PM
Small update: I decided to take some water samples just to see if the sediments in the water would settle to the bottom. I took this on Friday and it looked exactly the same Monday morning. Nothing settled. So I'm guessing that clay is really mucking up the water.
I contacted my local county extension office to get my water tested and took a sample down there today.

I did do a little test on the water with some gypsum. I work at a lumber yard and we have tons of sheetrock. I grounded some up and put it in the water and within 2 hours everything had settled to the bottom. Obviously I don't want to go dump a bunch of sheetrock in my pond but it was interesting how well it cleared up.


I do have a question. I have a small ditch that runs into my pond. I was thinking about digging it out a bit and putting down some riprap to help clean the water when we get enough rain rather than it running through muddy clay. What's everyone's thoughts on this?

Thanks!
Posted By: John Fitzgerald Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 02/21/17 09:00 PM
You could filter it through straw or hay in addition to the rock. It helps grab the bigger silt particles, but the water will still be muddy after going through. Clay particles are very fine.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 02/21/17 09:37 PM
Originally Posted By: John F
You could filter it through straw or hay in addition to the rock. It helps grab the bigger silt particles, but the water will still be muddy after going through. Clay particles are very fine.


Yeah I thought about that too. On this part I'm kinda thinking long term.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 03/01/17 04:54 PM
Looks like we are getting Rainman to come out and clear up the pond. I'll be sure to post before and after pictures.
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 03/08/17 09:08 PM








Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 03/08/17 09:10 PM
The next day and now you can literally see everything in the pond. It definitely isn't as deep as we thought. It has very little structure as well.






What a great job. Looks fantastic.
Posted By: snrub Re: Making an existing pond bigger (new pics) - 03/08/17 09:50 PM
Quite a difference.

Go Rex!
Had a little more fun over the weekend building some fish structures.



The white pvc you see-we made 9 of those.



We also got 5 ton of pea gravel and dumped it into the pond in several different spots for spawning bed in the future. We also lined the new bank with some 3-5" rock to help with erosion until the pond is full pool.
Originally Posted By: Mdodson461
The plan this spring:

Buy some trees to plant around the pond to give some shade.

Finish my fish attracters.

Maybe get some gravel to put around my in-flow pipe from the ditch. Also some in the ditch so when the water comes in its running over rocks instead of just mud. ( I would imagine that would help with my water clarity problem).


It will absolutely help. I'm battling this issue right now. I thought I was being smart by digging two ditches leading the water to my pond. Issue is my region is nothing but clay, so runoff is brown, brown, brown.
Originally Posted By: For the Family
Originally Posted By: Mdodson461
The plan this spring:



It will absolutely help. I'm battling this issue right now. I thought I was being smart by digging two ditches leading the water to my pond. Issue is my region is nothing but clay, so runoff is brown, brown, brown.


We did put rock around the ditch this weekend and put ag lime as well. We didn't have enough rock to lead all the way to the road ditch but got a little over halfway there. Did all this Friday thinking there was going to be a big rain Saturday and we got just a drizzle. haha.
Wasn't able to get too much done today. But did go out and plant a river birch next to where we will eventually put the dock. It's up about 10' from the bank up on a hill along the west side of the pond. I also planted a bald cypress about 5' from the bank in a low area in the southwest corner.
Haven't updated in awhile. After seeing there wasn't much in the pond we decided to stock it throughout the year. So far we have put in 35# of fathead minnows. around 300 BG and 400 RedEars along with 25 channel cats. We've been feeding twice a day (once in the morning and once in the evening) with the feeder only running for 3 seconds. Every time that thing goes off there are fish everywhere.

In the next couple of weeks we plan on stocking around 25-50 F1s or Tiger Bass (that number depends on what we are going to get). Then we are going to build just a small dock to put the feeder out on to get it off the bank and out in the water a few more feet.
Posted By: snrub Re: Making an existing pond bigger (new pics) - 11/21/17 04:10 PM
Good to hear your plan is moving along. Congrats.
Went down to JW Malones in Lonoke, AR and picked up 50 3" F1 bass.
Posted By: snrub Re: Making an existing pond bigger (new pics) - 12/12/17 05:01 PM
Always an exciting time, getting new fish.

I got some a couple weeks ago, but things went so quick hardly got to see the little beauties (they were delivered). Hope they are doing ok. Yours too.
I know. We went down and got ours. 2.5 hr drive then spent another hour at the pond getting them acclimated. They all swam out of the bag so didn't lose any that we could tell. Hopefully in a couple of years they get big.
So went out this past weekend and trimmed everything around the pond. I've just been to busy this past summer and fall and never had to chance to keep it up around the edges. But now onto the next project.

We want to build a small walkout dock that we can put the fish feeder out over the water. I'm thinking like 10' out from the bank and only about 5' wide. I've been doing a little research but haven't been able to narrow down what I'd like to do. I'm think about the blue barrels but not sure how many I would need. I think maybe just two since it wouldn't be real big. And that way I know I wouldn't be replacing the post every few years.

Whats yalls thoughts?
Posted By: snrub Re: Making an existing pond bigger (new pics) - 12/18/17 05:21 PM
For a feeder, if it was me, i would drive some pipes into the pond bottom and use the commercially available ajdustable dock brackets that clamp on to the pipe.

Where you are talking about such a short distance from shore and a relatively small dock, I would think getting the flotation "right" for accounting for both a full and empty feeder would be tricky. If I was going to put a feeder on a floating dock, I would want it to be a pretty substancial size dock to account for stability and weight changes with feeder and people.

If you do make a floating dock, seriously consider commercial dock floats. Barrels may be free but they need extra lumber and construction to "contain" them under the dock. Commercial floats bolt easily to a flat structure. By the time you add the extra lumber and construction, the total cost might not be that much more for the far superior dock floats made specifically for the purpose.
Thanks Snrub.

Its just one of the MOULTRIE 6 Gallon feeder so it isn't real heavy. What I was thinking was we'd put the dock in and then drive pipes into the ground next to the dock that allow water rise/fall. And hanging it on that.

Working at a lumber yard helps with the cost.
Hey Mdodson - As your project progresses take some photos and post or link them here on this thread so others can see your design and get some ideas for their own system. I am interested in how well your smaller sized feeder idea works. Thanks in advance.
I will Bill. What is up with all the photos from photobucket disappearing?
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 12/21/17 03:19 PM
Here is a picture of the pond from Bing maps. Looks like it right after they completed the pond 2 Mays ago.

We have put rock all along the east side of the pond to help with erosion.

Attached picture pond.png
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 12/21/17 03:23 PM
Heres the original layout

Attached picture old pond.png
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 12/21/17 03:36 PM
Here's what cover we have in the pond currently.

Still lots we need to do.

Attached picture pond INDEX.png
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 07/12/18 01:45 PM
Just a small update. We finally have the workings of a dock. Just have to cut a couple more pcs of decking then put them on. We went with composite so the actually decking should last a long time. I'll post some pics after I get it finished.

Visibility still isn't great but we finally are getting grass around the entire pond. So that should help in the coming months.

I've got minnows EVERYWHERE. I walked around my parents neighbors pond the other day and didn't see a single minnow. Then went and talked around ours and there isn't a foot around the bank that doesn't have some sort of fish swimming around.

Catfish are probably around 14-16 inches now. So basically have doubled in size in the last year. We have several different sizes of RES and BG. So they had to have spawn this last spring. Haven't had to chance to throw out a rod with a worm or minnow on yet to see how the F1 Bass are progressing. I haven't noticed them when the feeder goes off. Just lots of catfish, BG, and RES.

Still need to put a ton of cover in the pond. I do have lots of weed/grass growing out into the water about 3 ft from the bank that has a blue flower on the end. (if anyone has any info on that please let me know)
Posted By: blavis Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 10/02/18 10:21 PM
Can you post some pics of the dock? We love PICS!!!!
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 03/23/20 03:52 PM
Here's a picture of the dock (kinda haha)

Attached picture 54364844_10100636459627844_1782192096745095168_n.jpg
Posted By: Mdodson461 Re: Making an existing pond bigger - 03/23/20 04:10 PM
[img]https://cdn3.volusion.com/tpnb6.t4v5y/v/vspfiles/photos/FST4-3.jpg?v-cache=1552301954[/img]

we added 11 of these over the weekend as well.
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