Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Selecting a site Pick site with drainage ditch or not

Hi all new here.

Live in Otter Tail county in MN (most lakes in any county in MN) and even though I currently live on a lake still want to manage my own pond.

Buying land which has a lake which is deep enough for no winter kill and you control the whole thing is still pricey.

SO, I think I am going to just buy rolling land and build my own.

Many of the lakes here are connected by ditches for water control, would buying land with these and buiding a lake with good outlets be good, or given all the ag run off not be a good idea?

In otherwords would simple rain run off be better or worse then a "ditch"?

I would like to have a trophy LMB / perch / BGL if you can have all three in a lake about 10 acres.

Thanks much.

Welcome, NuttyGambler.

Is this your area?

LOL, yes that is the general area.

Are those the ditches on the map? What does that mean exactly that the lakes are connected by ditches for water control? Too much rain at times?

No, they may not be on maps. They typically are just a line of cattails.

Yes, one lake flows to the next until they get to a river, so lakes don't flood and ruin lakeshore property. ie lakes have an outlet.

I have no doubt that 10 acres is plenty to accomplish this goal.

I bought rolling property myself and am very happy with the result. You will probably have more flexibility if you start with a new water body that you've created yourself.

Will you be able to get land that you can control the watershed, i.e. no neighbor above you with undesirable fish to exit into your new pond?

Is ground water readily available in case rain is insufficient? If you really want trophy LMB it would be nice if you aren't dealing with other's fish coming from a ditch.

If you control your own watershed, you can also control the chemicals/sediment/organics that enter the pond.

Well if I'm not on the ditch, there will be no fish coming into my pond. Yes ground water is readly available just high in iron.

So you are saying stay away from the ditches?
Think it would be easier too not having to worry about backing water up, or a big rain washing out your "lake". And yes... the last thing I want is little northerns or carp flowing into my hard work.

Actually I just answered my own question. The lake I live on, had very few carp, on year of high water, we ended up with PLENTY, has taken years to bow hunt them down to respectable numbers.

My well water is considered really high in iron. It measures as high as .3 ppm. My fish do great in it. Do you know what consititutes "high iron" in your area? I know you'd be better off with rainwater, but it would be nice to know if you can supplement when needed.