Hey gainesc,

I too am a novice at this pond building, but have gained alot of knowledge from this blog. I just finished my pond (about 14 acres) and I believe that the very most important piece is the Keyway. If you feel like you've gone deep enough...go another 5 feet. It won't cost that much more and worth the peace of mind. you can see some photos of my progress at http://www.trophybasslake.com