Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Spring Fed?

I have just purchased a property with a 2.5 ac pond ,someone had asked me if the pond was run off or spring fed.How do you check to see which is the case? Of course being located in Iowa the pond is frozen over now- but I would like to ask you all ..... I mean- ya all ( I forgot this is a Texas site!) your opinion. Also, The Iowa DNR will help supply fish for my pond, but the pond needs to be completly void of fish before this can happen. ( why? ) T
hey will supply Blue Gill, LMBass and cat,They will not supply Crappie nor do they recomend stocking Crappie ( why? )Thanks in advance! GREAT SITE!!

Your pond is probably run off, few are spring fed.

As for your other questions, read the other posts on this site to get more info than you want about stocking and why not stocking crappie, ect.

Thanks Nick. I did get a chance to view other post on the site with some good advice on mixing certain fish together. I have always done well cathing both bass and crappies in quite a few ponds over the years, but I never realized how much they compete in smaller ponds.

Mr. Willy, I am a biologist who works as a lake and pond consultant and service provider in WI and IL. I have several accounts on the IL/IA border and have considered expanding that way. If you're not too far off the beaten path I may be able to help you out. [email protected]

Howdy, Mr. Willy.
A spring fed pond tends to flow, year round. Even when frozen on top, spring water moves, so you should see an area of constant flow, a stream or small creek with ice, but water flowing underneath.
If not, you likely have a runoff pond.
The DNR wants a pond void of fish to ensure success of their stocking. They have to answer to taxpayers, and they don't want to hear about three or four big bass eating all the little fish they stocked into your pond.
And, you have read about crappie.
A tip of our ten gallon hat to ya'll.

Sorry for the late reply Bob. I have been working away from home ( somebody has to pay for this pond!)I am probably too far south from you, 30mi south of DesMoines, But if you are looking to go into Iowa, the southern part of the state is by far pond heavy when compaired to the rest of the state see...http://www.onicetour.com go under articles titled southern style pan Fish. We tend to take our ponds seriously down here due to the lack of large lakes and reservoirs.To mister Lusk... what does a guy have to do to buy a hat around here any way?