Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations sectioning of a portion of pond

i am thinking of putting a pourous rock dam across the upper end of my pond. it will be about 40' long and 6' wide. i have equipment to dig it as deep as i need. i get lots of runoff during rains and i want to control silting. i would also like to stock it with a forage fish. i have read that fatheads spawn super good. would that area be good for raising fatheads? how often do they spawn? how do i need to prep the area? sorry for so many questions?

In high water events other fish will probably get into that area and eat your fatheads. If you can avoid that, it may very well work.... Fatheads can spawn several times in a season. If they are not being preyed on, you are correct, they do multiply very fast. There are numerous things that can be used to assist them in spawning. They like flat objects laying near the bottom. Things like pallets, plywood, shingles, cinder blocks, bricks, etc... Given lots of spawning areas and protection from predation is all they really need. Add a little bit of fish food and they'll prosper that much more.

is there an ideal spawning depth?

<2'

If it were possible, a settlement pond wouls be easier to maintain. Once the rocks start to get plugged with silt, how are you planning on making them porus again?

i am hoping the water will go over the top slowly. i am guessing, but i think that area will be about 8'-10' wide. most of the area will only be 6' wide. i am not sure what size rocks to use though. i thought about leaving it slightly above the top of the water level. i really need a place where i can cross over to the other side in that area. but like you say, the rocks will probably get plugged with silt and cause a higher pool of water than the pond level.