Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction new pond being help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi i started a new pond mid summer of 2010. Its only about 50yrds long and 25yrds wide right now. We stopped digging cause it just kepted falling in on its self. Now we r plan is to start again in feb. We r going to pump out existing water and also go bigger.I went out to night and look at deeps we were down 10ft on initial digging but now deeps r 4'8. The other issue is the water color is almost orange full of iron and minerials. I plan on stock the follwing walleyes/crappies/true blues/and maybe some jumbo perch. Anyone have some advise on not only my species on how to dig it with a limited budget as well as water clearing???????

Hey ryan welcome. Hold tight someone one will be along to help you out. Sounds like your having some real issues. I can tell you this, unless your going to go a whole lot bigger I would leave out the crappie in your pond. The over populate fast and they say you should have at least 15 or more acres for crappie.

Welcome Ryan!

It sounds like you are making the sides very steep. Personally, I prefer a pond to have 3:1 or less slope because it's too hard to walk on the bank otherwise. What is the proposed slope that you are shooting for?

Limited $$ funds = more time spent on the project. Good/fast/newer equipment costs more $$. You would be better off to make sure you have a good construction plan rather than winging it - it'll save you bunches of $$ in the long run. Have you consulted with your county NRCS agent? It's free.

ya i got the miners permit. i tried to put some pics of the progress but i cant figure out how. i have a guy i recently met that has a 7 arce pond he dug. that pond is loaded with walleyes 16 to 27 inches,true blues 9",crappie class is only about 9" bass and few pike. He going to visit my digging site tomarrow and give me a plan. Also he said i can use his pumps to dewater. i can rent heavy equipment from my family's employer pretty cheap. as far as the soil its mostly sand with some peet in areas. it kinda weird i dig with a shovel down about 3ft and hit water. The water table is high with a swamp with in 110yrds from the digging site.

I also took a sample of the water and put it in clear jars. The one jar has not settled yet. And the other jar i add 2 tsb of viniger and it is clear after 24 hrs. What does this mean??????

You better get a proffessional to help you.. Sounds like a mosquito pit in the making.. Just being blunt. Its hard to build a good pond by just digging a hole and filling it with water. Take a couple weeks and just read whats posted on this site on pond building and i think you will learn alot and second quess your approach, or atleast know which way the right direction is..

Just remember that with a groundwater pond that isn't sealed, the level of water in the pond reflects the level of water (somewhat) that is in the ground. When the groundwater table drops due to low amounts of rainfall, so will the water in the pond. My pond is such a pond, and this year it currently is 66" below what it was in late March of 2010.