Guys -
Wow, thanks for the input - all great ideas and worthwhile info. I'll ramble through my responses and comments, if that's OK. Yes, I understand about the permiting process. I worked in IT for a local govt agency and know full well the requirements, impact and enforcement in this area. Currently, the Brainerd Lkes area is under attack from both sides - lakeshore owners want to do whatever they darnned well please - "It's my land" - and regulators want to manage and preserve the resource for everyone's children and grandchildren. It's a hot topic and not one that will ever be solved, at least not in our area I don't think. regradless - Before we bought this hunk of land, I checked with the state and DNR and found neither cared about the wetland - it's too small to be a designated and enforced body of water - at their level. I was surprised to hear that but got it on good authority so believe it. However, my local jurisdiction, the city, does care and needs to be consulted if I want to do anything. I already asked for and received their approval for a "boardwalk" across the wetland - I installed a dock which is pretty close. I had the county Soil and Water folks out and they determined the OHW - ordinary high water mark - and told me not to pass that point with any construction - no problems there we are nowhere close. we do not own the entire wetland - it is bordered by Northwest Paper Company land and some private outlots. Any and everyone from this area treats paper company land like public land - they go where they please and use it how they want. Because of that, I don't want to invest large sums of $$ into a resource I can't manage completely. However, I still want to try to get a population of some species going. As I mentioned earlier, I'd like to be able to guarantee our kids and grandkids a good time and give them the opportunity to come to love being close to and on the water as much as we do.
CJBS2003 - Yes, BG and PSS are what I dumped in. I just can't see any reason why that big 25 foot deep hole in the middle of the wetland wouldn't be enough space for the fish during the winter. Not being too smart on this subject, my concerns for the fish in the winter would be oxygen. There is plenty of plantlife but if it all dies off in the winter, doesn't that take away the oxygen? I don't know if the springs provide oxygen for the fish but the ice sure looks cool around those areas - lots of frozen "bubbles" in the ice make pretty patterns.
BZ, thanks for the heads up regarding my "rights". I would have folded at the first sign of trouble - even with all my experience in the govt world. I don't plan to move any dirt in as the area where my land meets the water is below a bluff - it would be too difficult to access. If I can get to a point where I can harvest 2 lb panfish, I'll be one heck of a happy camper. I am a little concerned with the lack of lots of hard bottom for the fish to use for spawning - I'm hoping there are some areas they can use that I'm not aware of. The 5 acres I mentioned as far as size goes encompasses the water part of the wetland. There is another 10 or 15 more acres that is grass and true wetland.
I'm sure this is a pipe dream but I'd like to have one or two "hawgs" in there to chase. And, if I could get one or two big pike, I'd be happy with that too.
I guess I'll sit tight this year and see what happens with the stocking I've already done. Except for the little BG one of the minnow trappers caught in his trap, I've seen no indications of live fish. However, it's late April, the tadpoles are swimming all over the place and the water walking bugs are just starting to come out. Wouldn't it be be cool to sit on the dock in the evening with a cool one and watch the LM go after those water walkers?
Again, thanks guys for the input and suggestions. I'll be monitoring this forum regularly from this point on.
Jim
