First I would like to say thanks for all the info from the many threads I have read. I'm not sure who told me about Pondboss, but I have spent many hours looking thru the site.
After deciding I wanted to build a pond/lake, I needed a dirt guy. Well one of the guys I kept reading about happened to live just a couple hours away, Mike Otto. After calling and setting up a time to meet he came out to look at the property,and he thought the location, and more important the dirt type, would be great. We discussed the general design, location, and such. This was late April 2014 and Mike was a few months behind, so he thought October....maybe November at the latest. Well the rain hit and it rained till the next summer! But it FINALLY dried up, and Mike finally caught up, and September 2015 was the start date.
First thing was to clear the land, and it was an exciting day when the dozers showed up. It took several days just for the clearing.
Last edited by BrianL; 07/17/1712:32 PM.
1.8 acre pond with CNBG, RES, HSB, and LMB Trophy Hunter feeder.
After everything was cleared, and we walked out what i wanted, and Mike crunched his numbers, my dream lake and pocketbook were not on the same page. We sat down with Mike and figured out what size pond would fit into our budget. SO my wannabe lake is a pond, but I'm very please with the size it turned out. Then the dozer and scraper went to work.
Last edited by BrianL; 07/17/1712:35 PM.
1.8 acre pond with CNBG, RES, HSB, and LMB Trophy Hunter feeder.
To test the soil for suitability, get some that is moist, pack it into a ball and throw it against the side of Mikes pickup. If it falls apart, try from a different location and repeat the test. Keep going until it kinda sticks together. Tell him Dave advised it.
Last edited by Dave Davidson1; 12/15/1508:42 AM.
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 Grandpa
I thought I would get further along last night, but by the time I figured out how to attach pictures, it was past my bedtime. I will get back on it tonight, but lets just say it will be a FAST build:). Still trying to figure out how to make pictures post in thread instead of just a link. Can someone point me toward the directions to do that?
Chris I'm in the Faught area.
1.8 acre pond with CNBG, RES, HSB, and LMB Trophy Hunter feeder.
About 3 weeks, much work, and many gallons of diesel later, the pond was almost dug and really looking great. Mike had suggested building a point out into the pond. I am really glad he suggested it. Also they way he did the shelf it made for great fish structure.
Last edited by BrianL; 07/17/1712:39 PM.
1.8 acre pond with CNBG, RES, HSB, and LMB Trophy Hunter feeder.
Once most of the digging was done, I started working on fish structure. We had some old concrete patios around and old home place on the property that Mike broke into smaller pieces so I could handle with my smaller tractor. We got about a 2" rain which put about 1.5 feet in the bottom of the pond, but fortunately we were done with that part. WE still had some touch up work around the edges, with the point, and the upper end, and digging out the shelf a little lower.
Last edited by BrianL; 07/17/1712:44 PM.
1.8 acre pond with CNBG, RES, HSB, and LMB Trophy Hunter feeder.
Few more and one showing them down the dam. We got a couple of rains, a 2" then a 4" which starting bringing up the water level. It had been so dry, there wasn't much runoff till the end of the 4" rain.
Last edited by BrianL; 07/17/1712:46 PM.
1.8 acre pond with CNBG, RES, HSB, and LMB Trophy Hunter feeder.
Then the rain hit. 9" in two days. It is full !!!! Mike the terrace worked GREAT!!! Construction started September 11th, and November 27th I had a full pond. Timing of everything was perfect. Many thanks to Mike and his crew. They were great to work with, and really enjoyed the process.
Now I have to figure what fish to stock. I see many more hours in that section of the forum.
Last edited by BrianL; 07/17/1712:52 PM.
1.8 acre pond with CNBG, RES, HSB, and LMB Trophy Hunter feeder.
![[Linked Image]](http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=download&Number=11852&filename=I_subscribe_zps2qlyoyn2.gif)
!!!! Mike the terrace worked GREAT!!! 
Construction started September 11th, and November 27th I had a full pond. Timing of everything was perfect. Many thanks to Mike and his crew. They were great to work with, and really enjoyed the process. 
