Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat shelves for spawning...

I am in the process of sketching out my pond and going over ideas with the contractor. I am thinking of creating a "shelf" about 1.5 feet deep extending out about 4 feet, and then dropping off to a shelf 4 ft. deep extending out about 4 ft. before sloping to the bottom. I want to plant lillies (the ones that won't take over) along the shallow shelf and put pea gravel on the deeper one for spawning. Does this sound like a good plan? Will both bluegill and bass use this area to spawn?

Geez, I have so many questions...I almost envy the guy who is fine with just digging a hole and putting fish in it, lol! You folks may get sick of me before this is over:)

It's a great plan, as long as your pond stays level full. If you expect any fluctuation, plan for it now, and make your top shelf deeper. You can grow lilies in water deeper than 1.5 feet deep.
Bluegill prefer to spawn in water six inches to three feet deep. Bass like it deeper, from 4 to 6 feet deep.
Good job, to plan it now. Keep it up.

Thanks, Bob. I don't expect a lot of fluctuation in the water level, but of course their will be some. I am digging in an area that will fill easily from ground water and we average 49" of rain per year so I think I will be ok. I did make a few adjustments just to be sure, though. I will try to attach a photo of the sketch I made. Assuming it works, let me know what you think when you have a chance. No dirt has been moved yet so their is plenty of time to make any recommended changes.

By the way, this is a great site...perfect for someone like me who is trying to build their first pond. Thanks for providing it. I just subscribed to Pond Boss Magazine about 5 minutes ago, as well. I'm looking forward to the first issue.

OK...this posting a picture thing might require a tutorial. How do I do it?

J.R.
See posting pic's in the General Forum .

Thanks, Ric. I will give it a shot tonight.

J.R. you are thinking right. I try to discourage too much water though less than 3 feet b/c leads to weed problems. You never did say where you are in GA.

I am in Waycross, Greg. About an hour northwest of Jacksonville, Fl. and right in the middle of the Okefenokee Swamp. Terrible country for snow skiing but great for digging a bass pond:) Do you work much with clients who are this far south? I know you are above Atlanta.

Let's try the photo thing... [img] [IMG]http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/jhredick/DSCF0024.jpg [/img][/IMG]

And again...


[img] [IMG]http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f350/jhredick/DSCF0024.jpg [/img][/IMG]

Dang it...

Touchdown!!

OK...here are my ideas so far. All feedback is welcome (and much appreciated). The depths of the various areas have been highlighted.

What changes would you guys make?

As a fishing hole, I think it's great. No swimming area, but that may not bother you.

However, any thoughts as to what happens to a kid, or anyone else, who falls into the deep water? For that reason, I like sloping sides all around.

I wish I had your forethought when I built.

Good idea, Dave. I may need to adjust a bit and add a swimming area..at least for getting in and out. I know my boys are going to be jumping in the thing eventually.

I do intend for the sides to slope, I just didn't think about drawing it in when I sketched this...I'm not that artistic, obviously:) What is the recommended slope...3:1? Even with the slope, the deep end is..well..deep. Maybe I should adjust to allow for a shallow shelf on that side as well. Thanks for the input!

J.R. :

A couple of thoughts/questions.

What about a pier and access right behind the house -- don't want to have to walk to the far end or to crawl over lilies to access pond. Spawning in 4 ft out from house a good place to fish for BG/RES off pier. Also a good place to slope bottom for access and put in sand if you want a beach.

On the ridges put one or 2 cross trenches to connect the trenches you show on plat. On the ridges where the trench and cross trenches will meet put sunken limbs buckets/stumps.

Make the sunken island different depths in steps from center out 2.5 ft , 3, 3.5, 4 ft. -- gives fish choices as some spawn deeper than others . When stepped it will work as good fish holding structure the rest of the year.

Good luck with the project and keep thinking about your options and adding ideas.

Great ideas, ewest. I am going to start working on a new sketch tonight and will use them. Will fish also spawn on the shelf with the lillies? Can I put gravel and lillies on the same shelf? I like the idea of creating a sand beach in front of the pier behind the house. I know fish will probably spawn their as well. Will the sand stay put or work its way down to the deep area of the pond?

J.R.:

Look at this link for the sand beach idea and note in the thread another link by Theo to the "Beach Sand" thread.

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=000127#000003

BG and RES are colony nesters but a few spawn alone. I don't know if the ledges are big enough for a colony of BG/RES beds. Bass may spawn on the ledges amongst the lilies.

Here is a good link to a discussion about gravel which I think you should read before spending a lot of $. Some is good -- don't have to have it-- and get the right size , not uniform sized pea gravel but a little bigger. I use road gravel (dime to half dollar sized).

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000124#000005

3:1 slope is "generally" recommended for a dam. I think if you have a 2:1 on the sides, it would cut down on accidents.

Sand doesn't always stay where you put it. I'm not sure I would worry about having a sandy beach swimming area. Just keep the structure out of that designated area.

If there's no sand, dock to climb down into the water from is nice for swimming. Let's you avoid coming out with muck all over your feet. Just be sure your swimmers know "no diving."

During swimming season, I cram half an 8 foot aluminum extension ladder into the bottom from the dock and tie it off to a dock post with bungees. This has proven to be nice and stable for getting in and out of the water, and comes out easy before the ice forms in Winter.