Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Renovating a Pond or Lake? bought me a used pond, low miles, dam busted

I bought 5 acres of beautiful land just South of where I work and just enough out in the country for me and close enough to the city for my wife. Right now the plan is to drain and re-dig it to about 1/4 acre size and stock some BG and CC in it. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions as I go about it. Just put my garden in and plan to wait until it needs watering really good to drain the pond... knock out 2 birds, don't cha know.

Nice potential for a small pond.
First thoughts.
1. Remove most if not all the trees within 50-100ft. Replant with evergreens if you want trees. Evergreens can block wind blown leaves entering the pond. Tree leaves in a pond will be your biggest problem. Next biggest problem will be all the filamentous algae that grows. YOu will get more algae if the pond receives annual inputs from tree leaves. Degree of problem will be proportional to amount of tree leaves the pond receives. Annual inputs of tree leaves also shortens the useful life span of a pond. Ponds fill up with undecomposed black bottom muck which is dead organic matter that has not decomposed. Getting lots of tree leaves to decompose each year is a big challenge for all pond owners.
2. If you don't want largemouth bass consider using hybrid bluegills and maybe a few hybrid striped bass (HSB). A few HSB (6-12) would compliment the 0.25 ac pond with bluegill and catfish especialaly if the pond received fish food pellets at least once or twice a week.
See these for some homework:
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=256325#Post256325
Note the hybrid bluegill HBG are just an option instead of pure stain BG. Each type of bluegill has pros and cons. Determine your goals then decide which one best fits your needs.

HSB inch for inch are the hardest fighting freshwater fish you will ever catch.
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92629#Post92629

Thanks Bill!!! Great tip on the Evergreens. I have cedars in abundance and have already been moving some of them to the south fence line to create a privacy hedge anyway. I'll start on that homework right soon.

Good pics...just watch your original plans expand in the coming weeks. Mark this post, it started innocently enough:

"Right now the plan is to drain and re-dig it to about 1/4 acre size and stock some BG and CC in it."

I predict in one month it will be:

"Well, spoke to the engineer and we're expanding the 1/4 pond to 1 acre, and will be digging 3 more "micro" ponds of .2 acres to allow for forage and/or specialty fisheries. Thinking maybe I try some Redfish and Snook? I really like the idea of trying to get Yellow Perch, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass and Muskie going in the main pond - to my knowledge it will be the only one of it's kind in MS. Already ordered aeration systems from Sue Cruz, and the double decker dock from Nate should look really nice when I get power dug to the ponds."

LOL, welcome aboard again, and prepare for the sting of the pond management addiction!

Agree with Bill about the HBG and HSB. Set up a feeder and enjoy life.

A word of advice. Don't lie to your Wife about the costs. You're gonna get caught.

get your self a green house to cover and/or a good heater for the winter and they should do just fine. unless you are near the coast and your water does not drop below the very high 40's. for long....