First, much appreciation to all the great posters here that are willing to help do-it-yourselfers like me. Especially ESSHUP who has been very helpful so far. Here are some pond specifics and pond goals that might help narrow down some options:
Pond specifics- location: North Central Illinois
1. 2 acre, kidney shaped pond. 18 feet at deepest, most of it is 10-12 feet deep, with the shallower end at 8 or so feet.
2. From the peninsula in the middle part of the kidney, I have constructed and earthen under-water ridge all the way from it to the adjacent shoreline. It is appx. 5 feet high and will be appx. 6-8 feet underwater at full pool. Adjacent to the ridge will be various types of structure. Was trying to create the "fish highway" frequently talked about here.
3. A 20' x 60' Beach is currently being constructed at the southeast point of the pond. We will also add a dock with a 125-200 sq. ft. platform adjacent to the beach in the same SE part of the pond.
4. We will aerate the pond. Might pellet feed, not sure yet.
Depends on $.
5. Pond is fed by agricultural tiles and also by water gathered by a field waterway and settled out in a 1/4 acre silt basin that I just constructed last week. (Thanks PB posters for that idea).
Acreage for tiled water is appx. 30 acres. Runoff from waterway is the same 30 acres. Also 9 acres around property will drain toward pond.
Pond goals:
1. Fun recreation for Me, my wife, and 2 boys (and friends). Swimming, canoeing, ect...
1a. Grow really tasty fish. We love fish in some hot oil!! FAVS are YP, WE, CC, any panfish.
2. Grow some 4-6 pound wall hangers for dad to fight with. Was thinking SMB, but prevoius postings seem to say that SMB may not do real well when CC are present. Going to have a bunch of used tractor tires in various formations in the pond so if present, CC will most definitely spawn. Would really like to have CC to catch in the evenings with friends. Used to spend countless summer evenings doing that in nearby rivers/lakes with friends growing up. Great memories I want to pass on to my boys.
3. If possible, have something in the mix a little different, but overall a mix that doesn't take a biology degree to manage
Thanks in advance everyone. I will get some pics of the project this weekend and post to PB.
