Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations New Property/Pond Owner Here !!

I just closed on an awsome property in middle GA! 45 acres of undeveloped wooded land with a creek/spring fed 2 acre pond, all located less than 4 miles from the edge of my hometown. I've been away from my hometown for 26 years now. 4 more years until retirement, then I'll move back and build on the property.

Pond Info: According to the owner, who inherited the property from famly, the deepest area, by the dam, is about 8-10' deep, with the average being 3-4'. About 10 years ago, it was drained and re-stocked with bream, bass, and grass carp.

Question: I will hire someone to keep the grass surrounding the pond cut, but what can I do or should I do inbetween now and when I move back in 4 years? Obviously I can't do much from HI except on occasional trips back. To my knowledge, the pond has not been managed much. Should I just wait until I get back to start doing anything?

Nice looking place!

Near Macon, I'd guess? Or a little east of? That's pretty much "middle GA". Pretty country.

Yea, about two counties or 40 minutes away from Macon.

Congrats, Looks awesome!!!

Super good looking place. Looks like you have a full pool. its been dry around here lately. You could begin management practices by giving all of us a key to the gate while you are away.. haha.. just kidding. I am about 40 or 50 miles away from macon myself, just across the state line in alabama. I currently have a pond at my house but just bought 46 acres about 5 minutes away. I have a pond being constructed now that hopefully is going to be 2 or 3 acres.

That looks like a beautiful property. I can almost hear the breeze whistling through the pines from here. Besides keeping it mowed, I don't know what else I would do, other than dream of the possibilities over the next four years......Congratulations.

Thanks guys.

I'd figure out what you want to do with the pond, and give Greg Grimes a call. http://lakework.com/site/index.php

Discuss what you want to do and let him run with it. It'll be well on it's way to what you dream when you finally get there.

Why waste 4 years?

Yep, I've already surfed his website. He is about 3 hours away from my pond. Believe me, I'd love to move back now, but I've got a few more years until I can retire.

Even at 3 hrs, he's a whole lot closer than you are, and he does good work. I'd trust him with my pond if I was an absentee landowner.

Congrats! Beautiful place and definitely something to look forward to returning home to!

I second Scott's suggestion on Greg. Get him involved and get talking about your goals. Like Scott said, Greg can have the pond well on its way by the time you are home for good.

You may also want to consider finding someone local that you can trust and establishing an arrangement with them to be your local eyes on a very regular basis so the risk of anything really bad happening there is minimized. Knowing someone is regularly on the land - even daily if they are very close - goes a long way to discouraging all but the most determined ne'er do wells.

Congrats again! Keep us posted on what you choose to do there!

Thanks for the suggestions. My brother lives only 3 miles from this property and his son loves to hunt & fish, so they will be my eyes and ears for a while.

There is about a 10-15 yard area that is cleared and you can see the road from the dam area. I'm thinking go ahead and plant some Leyland Cypress trees to block the highway out next time I'm back there.

Any other suggestions?

Looks like a great find RW.

I like Todds and Esshups advice on letting a pro manage it till you are there full time. Greg may even be able to assign your brother with some "to-do lists" that he would enjoy if he fishes. In four years with proper management, it could be spectacular. If you don't decide to do that, then you should let the guys here know that. I bet there are many things you should/could start doing.

Congratulations, keep it fun...

What a beautiful property. I am seriously envious.

As you know, don't plant them on the dam.

What are your goals for the place?

As for the property, I'll build a log home on a flat area that is up a slight rise that overlooks the pond, cut trails for the grandkids to ride 4 wheelers, UTVs, etc., food plots to enjoy the wildlife.

As far as the pond goes, I'll have it e-shocked to see where I'm at. My main goals is aesthetics first. Maybe put a log gazebo that matches the log home near the pond. Growing huge trophy bass isn't as important to me as being able for family and friends to be able to wet a line and pull in something. I'm leaning towards large BGs with a few bass, so that the bass that are in there will have an overabundance of forage. Definitely want to have a quality feeder (TH) for the BGs. Perhaps feed trained FL strain will find a way into the pond.

I understand what you guys are saying about start now on the pond so it'll be in top shape upon my return, but for me, I'm in no rush. Most of the enjoyment to a quality pond is the journey getting it there, not just the end result.

Question: I will moniter the outflow behing the dam, but with that amound of water exiting on a regular basis, I wonder if it is enough to turn a small water wheel or some type of air pump? Free aeration?