I have recently discovered this forum, and have been reading for hours. The more I read the more confused I get! So, I guess the best place to get started is to describe my situation. I have a horse farm with a one acre pond in the center. The pond is 16 years old. The land is in the shape of a "U" with 3 sides falling to the middle, which is the pond. The fourth side is the dam. The pond is spring feed and continuously flows. During our worst drought in history the pond dropped 8". The pond is 12' deep at the dam and is 2'-3' at the other end. The dam is steep 3-1 pitch. I do have the as built drawings for the pond. I purchased the property at auction and do not know what was stocked in the pond. The pond had suffered serious run off problems from the surrounding land due to poor pasture management. I have renovated all of the pastures alleviating that problem. Had to replace the riser and drain through the dam, what an education, an immense project. Having all the mechanics of the pond repaired, its fish time! Please bare with me, I am an avid offshore fisherman that knows nothing about fresh water fish.
This is what I have seen in the pond. We have bass 12" - 16", crapie, blue gill, yellow perch, I believe hybrid rockfish, catfish, and six large ,24" - 30", red & white, 1 all white fish I believe are either carp or koi.
Most of these have been identified visually just by walking the edge. I fished it one time. Did not have to cast the line just drop it in along the edge and instant fish. I could see most of the fish before I hooked them. The proverbial like fishing in the fish tank!
Along the edges of the pond, in the water, there seems to be no vegetative growth. It is just dirt and a few rocks. It looks like it was just dug. Once a year we will get a bloom, not very large, that floats to the top. It usually blows to one side and I lift it out with a net. I do put 6 bales of barley in the pond. I was told it would help with the bloom.
Now after the life story, my question is how do I manage the pond, Where do I begin. Be gentle I am delicate.
Thanks in advance for your time and effort.
Ron
