Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Renovating a Pond or Lake? New to me pond, never been stocked

I have a pond on a place I bought a few months ago. I was talking to a pond guy about what I should do to it. It is 8 or 9 years old, about 1/4 acre, and has never been stocked. This guy told me I should drain it, let it dry out, and then deepen it if necessary and do any work to it I want, then let the rain fill it back up, stock it and put a feeder out. Does this sound right? It does need a lot of clearing done around it.

I don't think I would drain it if it's only 8 or 9 years old. How deep is it? Is there some reason that he thinks there is a problem?

If you do drain it, the water has to go somewhere. And, you have to have a place to dispose of the junk that you dig out. If there are fish, you have to figure out what to do with them. If you just let them die, you will have to figure out what to do with them. I know you said that it's never been stocked but you can't rule out some people(neighbors, etc) bucket stocking,

And, you can't bet on getting enough rain to refill it these days.

That is kind of what I was thinking. I am not sure how deep it is and don't know how to find out. I am going to call someone else. He said to drain it and let it dry out to kill any mud cat that may be in it. I didn't like that idea at all because it may take 2 years to fill it back up. How do I kill any moss that is built up in it?

Depends on the type of moss. More than likely you are talking about filamentous algae. That's the nasty stringy stuff.

Go to the TAMU website and identify the weed. They will have several options for killing it.

Thanks for all of your help.

To measure depth, a long pole with markings on it and a rubber raft may be enough. There are even depth sounders you can cast out with a fishing rod and drag back if you dont want to go out on the pond. I have a chimney sweep brush I could use if I wanted to.

Personally, if it holds water and it meets your goals, I wouldn't mess with it at all, apart from cleaning vegetation out from around it. Too easy to rework a pond and make a leaky eyesore.

I'm with Dave on leaving the water and not draining the pond. Fish and weeds can be managed, but rainfall can't. I would happily swap half my fish for some rain right now.

TxM you might also Google Earth your pond. It has the option to go back in history and you could check the historic water levels. The only ponds of mine I mess with are the one's that have consistently held water.

In Lewisville, you're right on top of the the I35 corridor, and that seems to be the feast or famine line for rain.

Thanks all for your input and your thoughts are in line with what I was thinking. I am just going to start clean up around it and do some dirt work. I will get the moss all cleaned out also using Daves advise and then get it stocked come fall. Y'all are a huge help!! God Bless!