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Jan 10th, 2023
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 8
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OP
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 8 |
We just purchased 90 acres from my parent's estate in Central Ohio. Very hilly and had a pond in the 70's that washed out long ago. Now looking at new pond site in the valley near old washed out pond but much flatter. Got only one contractor to bid on a new half acre pond. We are not really fishermen but would be nice to have some of course. Found an Eastern Box Turtle at the site yesterday and considered that a good sign. Question is what forums here are good ones to check out other people's experiences in bringing new ponds along from the very earliest stages. Thanks for any suggestions.
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 977 Likes: 1
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 977 Likes: 1 |
MloYlo,
Welcome to Pond Boss...tons of good info and helpful folks here. Post some pics of your pond site when you have time.
...when in doubt...set the hook...
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,053 Likes: 277
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,053 Likes: 277 |
If I were going to start from ground Zero I would buy Mike Otto's book Just Add Water. It will answer questions that you may never find out that you need to ask.
And, there is an entire section here on pond building.
Last edited by Dave Davidson1; 05/25/15 06:00 PM.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 8
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OP
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 8 |
Still taking things slow. We have been whacking at "wild rose clumps" with hand tools and our DR brush mower. Really hard to find experienced pond builders in Central Ohio. Got the Mike Otto book last week for my b'day and have been reading through that and it is very helpful. We did a little test hole with a shovel yesterday and rolled up the dirt to an egg size and dropped on the ground. Did not break so that is a good sign. Finally drying out after a very wet June and July. Next step is to try to outline where the pond shoreline could be. Will post pictures when there is more to show. Need topo maps and soil maps. Enjoying the heck out of this project!
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 227
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 227 |
Found an Eastern Box Turtle at the site yesterday and considered that a good sign. Welcome to pond boss! I'm a new pond owner too, why does the turtle make it a good pond site?
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 6,088 Likes: 96
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 6,088 Likes: 96 |
Be careful with that "not being much of a fisherman" statement. I was not either and like 99% of the population around me BB, GSF, and any other sunfish were all just "perch". Here is my saga of never much being interested in fishing and fish. Now I spend an inordinate amount of time around the pond. Never been much for fishing Ponds can be adictive. Welcome to the forum. Lots of good info and people here.
John
I subscribe to Pond Boss Magazine
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Joined: May 2015
Posts: 8
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OP
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 8 |
Not sure about the turtle sighting meaning we have a good site but more along the lines of it being a good sign. I have lived in the area over 30 years and have only seen one other turtle like this crawling through our property. From what I read about them this guy could be over 20 years old and if having a pond to forage around helps him out that is another good reason to pursue this dream we have.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,053 Likes: 277
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,053 Likes: 277 |
Otto once said that his kids used to make a clod out of the clay. Then they threw it against the side of his pickup to see what happened to it.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,864 Likes: 298
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,864 Likes: 298 |
Still taking things slow. We have been whacking at "wild rose clumps" with hand tools and our DR brush mower. Really hard to find experienced pond builders in Central Ohio. Got the Mike Otto book last week for my b'day and have been reading through that and it is very helpful. We did a little test hole with a shovel yesterday and rolled up the dirt to an egg size and dropped on the ground. Did not break so that is a good sign. Finally drying out after a very wet June and July. Next step is to try to outline where the pond shoreline could be. Will post pictures when there is more to show. Need topo maps and soil maps. Enjoying the heck out of this project! I'm a new pond owner -- okay, dam owner, the pond has yet to fill -- and my experience is that the soil is the key. Do you have enough clay to build a good dam and core trench? Is it the right kind of clay with the right PI? Just a suggestion, but I'd get someone out with a backhoe to dig a few trenches to check this out before going final. Need someone there who knows soils, too. I assumed the red clay hill on my property was clay (it's red, so...) but that turned out to be a wrong assumption. Always get it checked by an expert before you build! Best of luck from a former Ohioan and still Buckeye fan! 
7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160
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