Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Pond Shape

Does pond shape(coves, inlets, points) have any effect on growth and numbers of bass and wipers? Also is it more expensive to build a pond with coves and points?

Water bodies like you describe (complex shorelines) have more shoreline and shallow water zones. These areas are the food factories of a pond or lake. They are called littoral zones. However keep in mind that shallow water areas are also where the majority of "string" algae and rooted plants grow. Lots of shallow water grows lots of fish but it can also cause lots of headaches due to excessive weed growth.

Cost of building a pond is by the hour of equipment usage and amount of dirt moved.

Keep in mind that fish are raised in tanks with no structure at all commercially. Bass production is based on available food, and cover for a forage base can be made in open water. Coves make good homes for weeds.

it's understood that a simple bowl shape will hold the same number of fish, but a varied structure and lake design will help you to find the fish you want to catch. i catch over 90% of my fish in less than 10% of my water.

BE careful not to mix aquaculture and natural production; two different concepts of fish production. It's like comparing the raising of cattle or grazers on pasture land vs in a feed lot.

You catch 90% of the fish in 10% of the water because in the 10% is where the majority of the secondary production and higher occurrance of medium and larger forage items occur. Thus the predators "hang" or frequent places where their primary forage occurs. Fish are often quite adaptable to many situations.

The simple bowl shape might hold the same number of fish as the acreage of complex shoreline BUT I'm pretty sure that the simple bowl shape will not produce over the long term the same number of bigger fish as the same acreage of littoral zone if both have the same fertility. Most of the open water is considered lower in larger forage organisms to feed the larger catchable fish. Much of the phytoplankton and zooplankton production in open water is not used & lost to the pond/lake deepwater basin via death & sedimentation.

Exceptions Always Occcur. Nature does have fish that are primarily adapted to feed in open water situations; fish like shad and wipers. However the majority of "pondfish" thrive in littoral zones.

As I said earlier shallow water zones in a pond are problematic due to their propensity for weed growth which although they are highly productive for fish production, fishermen hate large amounts of weeds/algae because it interfers with their ability to catch fish. I say the weeds & heavy algae growth are good especially in small waters with heavy fishing pressure because it prevents most fishermen from harassing the fish. It gives fish a seasonal respite.