Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction New Member From Pa

So far I can say my brain hurts, what a place to learn an share.

I manage a 1/2 acre pond, I am full of questions and am trying to read all I can on this site before I ask questions.

My first concern is my pond deep enuff? 6 feet max depth and a lot of 4 feet, spring fed pond, water stays cool enuff to support the two trout that are in the pond.

During July and August the pond get about a 50% moss cover that I remove, shows in picture.

I want to start a feeding program, I also stock my own panfish from fishing trips I take, maybe not a good thing, I have BG's also hybrids BG's about 8 bass from 10 inches up to a big 5 lb bass.

Thanks for allowing me to be hear.

Best site on ponds on the net.

Welcome ! Does the pond ice over in winter or is the spring water enough to keep it open ? The more you know about the springs the better (enough O2 , temps , vol etc) My concern would be winter kill in a frozen over pond at only 6 ft.

First, welcome to Pond Boss. The photo of your pond makes it look pretty beautiful.

I'm a little south of you, but my weather is probably a little colder, on average, because of elevation and mountains.

I don't think you would have any problems growing fish in your pond, as you describe it.

I wouldn't recommend stocking the pond with fish that you catch from public waters. There are just way too many possible problems and variations -- from disease, invasive species, non-purebred stock, too much interbreeding, etc. Instead, I'd suggest getting fish from a reputable supplier. I know there are several in the Harrisburg area -- and hopefully one of your neighbors will pop in here with suggestions. If nothing else, come on down about an hour south on I-81 to Zetts, in Inwood, WV -- a few miles south of Martinsburg, just off I-81. I believe they are closed down for the winter, but they'll be open again in the spring time.

Give us an idea of what you would really like from your pond. Big bluegill? Big bass?? Don't rule out channel catfish, hybrid striped bass, or winter trout. There are lots of variations -- some just conflict with other possibilities, like big bass and big bluegill in the same pond.

Ken

Welcome,
I have a pond just outside of lebanon in Mt. Zion. Your just up the road from me.I will send you a private message if you would like to stop by and get some ideas.

Thanks Cody, sorry it took me so long to respond, I am not interested in big bass, BG,CC,crappie are my main goals.

Catmandoo, the pond does freeze but not that deep.

I am so glad I was recommemded to this pond site, being retired now I will spend all winter on this site learning.

We had a flood this year and way too much sediment washed into my pond, its hard work with a shovel and a wheel barrow.

Finding this site is my best x-mas preasant.thanks folks.

Crappie in a pond are difficult to manage, and you will be spending a lot of time managing them. If they aren't in your pond now, please do a lot of searching and reading before introducing them to it.

It's mostly because of their "boom or bust" spawning cycle, and because they spawn before LMB.

Rather than stocking from fishing trips, I'd really recommend getting fish from a reliable source. There are just too many variables, plus possible diseases, from fish taken from public waters. I believe you have a couple of suppliers in the Harrisburg area. If not, Zetts in Inwood, WV is right off I-81, just outside of Martinsburg.

I don't think you will find many here on the Pond Boss site who would recommend crappie in a small pond. As Esshup says, they are just too difficult to manage.

But, you can add trout, at least for the fall/winter/spring months. Think about red-eared sunfish. They don't compete with the bluegill, and they actually get even bigger than bluegill -- they are just harder to catch. Channel catfish are another reasonable addition to a pond in this area.

Ken