Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations What is the difference between a lake and a pond?

Someone ( I think a local gamewarden) once told me that apond has no source other than runoff and that a lake has a source such as a creek, spring, etc. So if this is true you could have a 1 acre lake which I have fished on one of those (spring fed) or you could have a 55 acre pond such as Ray Scotts which is fed purely by rainoff (I think).
Does anyone know if this indeed true or just sounds real good.

That doesn't quite sound right to me. What I have heard/believe is that the body of water is a pond up until app. 10 surface acres and then more then that the term lake would be applied. I don't know if there is a clear concensus on this one, I doubt there is.

No hard and fast rules on this but . . .

Generally, we call a body of water less than 5-6 surface acres a pond. If it's larger, we tend to refer to it as a lake.

Then again, if you have 5 acres of water on your property, it's a lake. If that 5 acres is on your neighbor's place, it's a pond.

Mark McDonald
Editor, Pond Boss

"Then again, if you have 5 acres of water on your property, it's a lake. If that 5 acres is on your neighbor's place, it's a pond."

Ha ha ha I like that.