Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction ahead of schedule

We got our pond finished August 27, right ahead of Isak. Since then, we've had nearly 15 inches of rain. It's a good acre surrounded by trees and is 14 ft at its deepest. There is a really good watershed into it, and already it's half full. Since it's that full, I went ahead and stocked 5 lbs of fatheads, 250 RES, and 250 HB. Next fall, I plan on adding the predators--LMB and possibly a few WE as a bonus. Later, I'll add a few CC and BC. Does this sound like an acceptable plan?

I've also been collecting tires, pallets, cedars, and concrete to use as structure at various depths. With the pond half full already and stocked, should I go ahead and add some shoreline structure or wait till spring when it's fuller and the water line's pretty well established--and the water's warmer? I'll definitely have everything added in advance of the spawn. Without any finned predators (we have had a heron visit), I didn't know if the fish in it now actually needed cover, but I also suppose such cover could be growing a nice coat of algae. By the way, I love the site and have learned an awful lot. Got my first magazine in the mail yesterday.

Welcome to PB.

Put in the structure now as its much easier than when full. See the structure archive :

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92463#Post92463

On the fish - what is your goal ? With HBG you may not have a strong enough forage species for LMB. Crappie will be problematic.

Thanks very much for your response. My goal is simply to have a healthy, well- balanced pond. I'm not interested in trophies. I suppose my primary interest would be in the bluegill, bass, and crappie. I continue to read about crappies overpopulating, but locally it seems that most pond owners have a difficult time getting and keeping them established. Are the numbers and types I added this fall ok, or should I increase or add something else in the spring? Would adding regular BG be counterproductive to the HBG? I'll have lots of structure for the FH's to spawn on, so hopefully I'll have a good population of them before adding the predators. Eventually, I plan to aerate and feed as well.