Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat 8 acre pond - open water structure needed?

This large Va pond has been established for 8 years but it just became my responsibility 6months ago. Average depth is 8 ft, 16' at the deepest, creek fed, deep mud bottom. The majority of the LMB are hugged close to the banks for what little structure there is, 12" bass will feed on the shad in the middle (8 to 12 ft deep). No structure in the middle at all, and I am slowly building structure everywhere. My question is, if I take the time to build open water structure , will any of the fish use it? I will build 3' by 3' high structures, do I or should I build them from the bottom all the way up to the surface? I have LMB, perch, some brown cats and some CC, I've only been catching 8-12" LMB , only a few 4lb plus, but thats another post.....
Thanks....

Welcome to the forum!

Some light reading for you:
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92463#Post92463

If placing the cover in open water, some things to consider.

1) What time of the year do you want the fish to use the cover?

2) Will there be sufficient O2 levels where the cover is during the time of year that you expect the fish to utilize the cover? (O2 levels aren't the same from top to the bottom of the water column during most times of the year)

3) You need to make a "highway" between islands of cover.

4) Cover with large open spaces won't hold baitfish/forage fish. Cover with small spaces that allow baitfish/forage fish to escape predators will.