Hey guys,
Man, am I glad I found this website and forum. I have found so much helpful information to help us in renovating our old farm pond. I have attached an aerial photo of what it looks like now. We are enlarging it and cleaning it out so that it will end up around 2 acres and end a dog-bone shape (see the 2nd attached proposed sketch). I haven't seen a pond layout design on this site yet, so I though I would ask for opinions on my layout/sketch...we plan to stock largemouth bass and bluegill.
1. where would you put a shallow area with pea gravel for spawning beds?
2. how would you design bottom terrain changes, ledges, points, drop-offs?
3. where would you pile big boulders?
4. if this was a blank slate, how would you design the ultimate bass pond?

Thank ya'll for all the opinions!

A lot of the design depends on your topography IMO. Every pond is unique. Try to have fun. That is priceless!

I would not make the bottom smooth. It would have the terrain changes you mention. Rocks? Strung in a line from deep to shallow. Brush piles for small fish.

Bass? About 30 to 40 all female a year after the forage base is established.

I agree, have fun with the bottom of the pond. remember lmb like structure and will stay close to it. then add cover

Tracy

Yep, this whole planning process has been fun. I have taken the sketch I uploaded and penciled in several designs with various points, drop-offs, structure added, shallows for spawning, etc.
Has anyone seen any other examples or pond lay-outs or designs that they could post photos of?
I was just hoping to find a couple of examples to look at that show how good "hypothetical" bass pond might be designed or laid out...

Thank you!

I have seen pond design sketches on this forum before, but I do not know how to find them other than wading through a lot of old posts. Maybe someone who made those sketches or remembers who did will see this and post a link to the old threads.