Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Updated pond pics and a question for ya

Ok, read the post on how to upload pics so lets see if theis came out. Pond was built last september and we have been working on it constantly. We got the dock in, and I have been box blading the sides to make it level all the way around. Here is the question.: As you can see the pond has 2 feet more to fill. Right now from box blading the top is a real hard clay base about 5' in width. It is real nice to be able to walk all around the pond. The sides are all grass covered but the top is not. Do I have to fill the top with grass or can I leave it hardpan? Also, are there any pond plants you suggest I plant around it, trees? I just put in the 16x40 foot beach that leads to the dock. The water in front of it is about 3-4 ft deep. As it goes around it gets deeper and deeper and in the middle it is around 20' deep. Pond currently has YP, LMB, Crappies and a ton of FHM. I have a few posts on here about managing crappies in a pond and am giving it a try. I have also started a 2nd pond that will be a real small feeder minnow pond only. Like a 20' swimming pool but 10' deep. Hope the pics take, if not ill try again. Thanks for looking.

just one pic, hm, lets try again

ok im totally confused. The first one took, I did all the rest the same way and they are coming up as red x's??? I am missing something. I did them as medium 640. hmmm,if someone chimes in here Ill try some more, I dont wanna keep bothering everyone with red x's!
You can see the pond from the first one though, that will give you an idea. Here is the link to the other ones from Picasa.
https://picasaweb.google.com/greenlantern412/CellPhonePicsJuly202011?authkey=Gv1sRgCOiE5ID2luChBw#

yes, something should be started on the flat hardpan. If not, during periods of hard rain, it might wash some of the clay into the pond. I'd get rye started there asap (if you have enough moisture), then get a mixture of warm and cool season grass going.

Plants around the pond - it all depends if your water level will vary much. If not, then any marginals will do. Sweet Flag, Arrowhead, Pickrelweed, Blue Iris, Rushes, Sedges, etc. Those will work with depth variances of 18" or so.

I have no idea why one pic worked and the others didn't.

Thanks for the Pics. Great looking place!

Looks like you have "http" repeated twice in the URL of the pics

jsec, that was the problem! You da man!!!! greenlantern I fixed it for ya.

excellent, thank you!! And now I know how to do pics, great.