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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 725
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OP
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 725 |
Well, after playing the wonderful world of mortgage games, it's offical, we close Friday...Never knew it was so much work to get an aprasail!!!
Now for the good stuff...The pond is a well fed pond right at a half acre from using planimeter to measure...Supposed to be 12' at its deepest point...Shape is kind of trapizoidal...Very manicured with stone around edges...It already has aeration from a windmill and electic pump..Small floating dock...
I can see BG and FHM from the edges since the weather is warming...
And now for the question you guys all love to answer...What do I do FIRST?...
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 939
Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 939 |
Congrats! First thing I would do; go pond side and kick it with a few cocktails...I remember that moment..it was a very special one for me and my family!! Congrat's again.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,082 Likes: 282
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,082 Likes: 282 |
I would probably have a beer on the dock. Make sure your Wife is sitting with you. It will pay off big time.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,692
Hall of Fame 2015 Lunker
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Hall of Fame 2015 Lunker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,692 |
Good advice so far! 
Last edited by JKB; 04/15/13 03:08 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 725
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OP
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 725 |
Beer by the pond is always a good thing...
The house and pond are just on the edge of town...Was originally supposed to be a shared pond, but the neighbors wanted no part of it... Wish it was a little more secluded and private, but my wife wants no part of county living...GRRRRRR!!!!
The goals I have set for it are a place for the boys to swim and hang out as well and manage for BIG BG...
Down the road goals are a fixed position dock and move the smaller floating dock to the center for a swim platform...
Will probably go with artificial structure unless someone can give me a good reason I should not...
To feed or not feed, that is another question?..To my knowledge no one has ever fed the fish in the pond...Will know more on Friday...
Getting more excited by the minute!!!
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,642 Likes: 877
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent  Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,642 Likes: 877 |
Congrats!
Do you actually own the whole pond, or just part and are will be taking care of the whole thing by default?
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 725
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OP
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 725 |
I will own the whole thing... Their property starts about 25 yards to the east of it.. So I have enough room to run a piece of equipment if needed on that side...
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,642 Likes: 877
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,642 Likes: 877 |
Good. If you didn't own the whole thing, and the neighbor started to take a liking to the pond after you fixed it, they could really booger things up if they stocked fish that didn't agree with your long term goals.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,642 Likes: 877
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,642 Likes: 877 |
No need to rush into things. Get a good idea of the fish population in there. Species, size, condition and numbers. BG that aren't feed trained will learn to eat pellets, it just takes longer. What's nice about artificial structure is that it doesn't degrade over time.
The key to getting the fish to realize pellets are good to eat is to feed a very palatable food, and feed at the same time every day in the same place in the pond.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,082 Likes: 282
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
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You just mentioned the key ingredient; boys.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 725
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OP
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 725 |
My cousins husband is an avid fisherman and he is going to fish it with me for a make shift fish survey...
Also stopped at the local feed store.. They are going to get me a price on AM500 tomorrow..
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 725
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OP
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 725 |
You just mentioned the key ingredient; boys. They are very excited and love the outdoors... Our youngest just turned 6 today.. Our oldest turns 9 in July... Grandmas are both a little reserved about the pond being right out the back door, but they are both pretty good kids and have been around water their entire lives.. Not saying I trust them, believe me I was a little boy once...
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 621
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Joined: Mar 2011
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Sounds like a dream come true. How bout some pics?
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 725
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OP
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 725 |
I actually don't have any pictures but will get them up as soon as I get some..
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,187 Likes: 29
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,187 Likes: 29 |
Congrats! Lucky it is close to the house, mine is 1000' away. Never take it for granted that you have a pond, it is a wonderful distraction from the "grind".
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,358 Likes: 4
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Joined: May 2012
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You could break out the canoe and try to map the bottom a little. Make sure your 12' is really 12'!
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 236
Fingerling
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Fingerling
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 236 |
Congrats! Now grab a rod and a beer and see what is in there!
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 725
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OP
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 725 |
Here is google image of the new house and pond... 
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,642 Likes: 877
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,642 Likes: 877 |
That's a purty place!! You'll get a lot of enjoyment out of it.
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,712 Likes: 3
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,712 Likes: 3 |
Fantastic. Thinking about what you might be feeling -- there is an old adage that the happiest two days of a boat owner's life is the day he buys it and the day he sells it. It isn't that way with ponds. Most of us have loved them from before we actually had them -- kind of liking waiting for a new baby to be born. For us "mature" guys, we don't want to face the day we get too feeble to play with our ponds.
The kids will greatly benefit from it. It will be a place of friends and family gatherings. It will be a place of great memories.
Take some time to get the know the pond a little bit. The season is still early. Figure out what is in the pond. The fishing pole survey you are planning is a great first start. Keep track of what you catch by size and type. Figure out what your goals are. Feeding will also help give you an idea of what size fish are in the pond. Many here can help guide you in your planning.
When you do your bottom mapping -- if it ain't 12' foot deep, it is no big deal. If it is more than 6-7 foot deep, that is all you really need.
Good luck, and welcome to Pond Boss.
Ken
P.S. You posted the photo while I was preparing this note. It looks beautiful.
Last edited by catmandoo; 04/17/13 12:18 PM. Reason: P.S. note
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 616
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Joined: Jan 2013
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Here is google image of the new house and pond... dang you could fish right off the deck your a really lucky guy.
Last edited by small pond; 04/17/13 12:20 PM.
Sarcasm...yet another free service I offer.
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,435
Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,435 |
Looks great. When I clicked on this thread again and saw your house and pond, I said "now what could possibly be the problem here", so I had to reread the thread. You're going to love that place. You mentioned that your youngest is 6, how old is the other?
Also, they can swim, right?
Just do it...
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 910
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 910 |
ODL247, that is a beautiful place. Good luck.
Two ponds, 13 and 15 acres on the Mattaponi River.
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,692
Hall of Fame 2015 Lunker
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Hall of Fame 2015 Lunker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,692 |
Great place there 247! Again, Congrats!
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 725
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OP
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 725 |
Thanks for all the positive comments guys..
As for depth that will be one of the 1st things I check when time allows...I do know it was 6 feet deep at the end of the dock...
Boys (almost 9 & 6) and swimming, yes but I still don't trust them...We have a camper at the river in the town I grew up in and they know to stay away without adult supervision..
The house also has a closed loop geothermal in the pond, but other than that no structure that I know of..
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