I re-read this and several other pondboss threads tonight. Again, I'm struck with how much good information is on here and what a great site it is. I'm also really struck with how much I have learned over the past eight months and how much I still don't know. Thanks for everyone's help, advice, and interest!

The pond is probably about 4 feet below the spillway yet. It will likley be full before the end of January. I didn't get three of the sediment/forage pond dams done or as much topsoil removed as desired. I fully intend to start draining it shortly after I have had a chance to mark the water levels so I can still do those next summer.

We dug the spillway down 5 feet from the top of the dam. After reading and talking with others more, I'm really tempted to try filling back in about three feet of that (we stacked the removed dirt nearby). If I do that, the lake will be slightly larger and obviously three feet deeper. My island will be smaller unless I use dug out topsoil to build it up - which I probably would. Would I really gain anything or is that something that could always be done later? What are your thoughts as to leaving only two feet of freeboard?

As soon as the ground is frozen hard enough and time permits, I intend to start hauling sand / gravel from a creek to the pond. I'm hoping to put in quite a bit.

My thoughts are firming up regarding species to stock. The bluegill and redears are a given for me. Although I like to catch and eat them, I won't stock crappie in it. I think I will go ahead with channel cats initially with plans to harvest those out.

Eight months ago, I couldn't have dreamed it, but now I'm seriously considering not stocking largemouth bass. I'm really considering stocking smallmouth bass, hybrid stripers, and walleyes as the predator fishes. I realize that reproduction of any of those species may not occur and that I would run the risk of bluegill stunting at 4" or so. We have some other ponds with largemouth bass up to 7 pounds that I could transfer from if needed. What are your thoughts about not initially stocking largemouth?

I've been monitoring the threads on grass shrimp, crawfish, and etc. to get sources for those. By not getting everything done when planned, I will likely postpone getting those until next year when the sediment/forage ponds are done and filled.

Now that I've got all this water in the pond, I'm a bit perplexed as to the specific best way to get most of it back out so I can do more work next summer. I've pretty much decided to try to rig up a siphon system. I'm thinking I will probably need pipe/hose of 6" diameter to make good progress. I've been to the ponddampiping website for ideas. I thought I would rig up a one way valve on the pond side near water level, and a twist or gate valve on the downhill side, a couple pipes sticking up on the dam with twist valves (one for water hose from pump to fill up pipe and other for air to escape from with idea to shut both after water starts coming out the second), and some type of basket and float at water end so stays near but under the surface. I'd like to keep costs relatively low, but would like ability to be able to break it down to use at other ponds too. I'm not an engineer and have no idea how much water would siphon through a 6" smooth pipe per hour or how far up siphoning will pull water, etc.

Any advice, thoughts, etc. greatly appreciated.

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