Hello all. First off, this is an awesome site! You guys are amazing and selflessly giving of your vast and hard earned knowledge. My hats off to you and thanks for all the tips and tricks I have learned through my readings already. I look forward to being a bigger part of the forums and hopefully adding things that I learn along the way.

I have the same old problems as most all new pond owners...35 year old pond, huge bluegill (like a dozen or so), and millions of 10-15 inch bass. It is a clear water 3.8 acre pond about 20' deep in the middle and fed by a couple of springs. I just purchased the property about six months ago and will be doing some major renovations and will keep "The Boss" apprised of my happenings and learnings as I go.

But first a couple of questions to you pros out there.....I have an amazing rock-bottom spillway at the end of the dam and a drain pipe through the center of the dam. Not sure what this type of pipe is called...sure there is a technical description but it drains the pond to the same elevation as the pipe extends in the air on the opposite side of the dam (see pic). Also, it has a valve that allows me to drain the pond to the elevation of the end of the pipe on the pond side of the dam (makes the pond about 1.5 acres in size, wont allow me to drain it completely).

I had a wonderful gentleman from the local NRCS office out to take a look and he agreed the pipe could be plugged or extended to an elevation higher than the spillway to allow the pond to stay at "flood stage" without a problem. The spillway has an amazing waterfall on the backside of the dam and is awesome. There is no concern for erosion and it makes the pond much bigger and look like the pond of my dreams.

And finally the question: A friend of mine and I have a bet on wether or not this pipe can be plugged easily and if there is additional pressure on it as the pond fills and eventually reaches flood stage. I feel the pressure will be somewhat constant and will not exceed light pressure at best. A "cap" of sorts could be placed on the pipe (welded or otherwise) and not be blown off by pressure caused by the growing body of water on the pond side. So.....what do the pros out there think? Easy capping or creating a British Petroleum type situation that will eventually have the Feds moving in and confiscating my man-made Old Faithful? Also, any unforeseen problems/consequences I may be overlooking by doing this?

Question #2: I have taken 200 bass out of the pond but still catch around 30 bass per hour. I plan on taking at least a couple hundred more. When I stock my CNB/BG (thanks for all the previous post about this), how large do they need to be to avoid being bait? I have read adds for 4-5 inchers from local hatcheries but nothing bigger.

Thanks in advance for the advice and hopefully the pics I have will actually make this post.

http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab229/larryboy918/pond/E87V2810.jpg?t=1277249363

http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab229/larryboy918/pond/E87V2818.jpg?t=1277249363

http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab229/larryboy918/pond/E87V2819.jpg?t=1277249363

[Linked Image from i108.photobucket.com]