Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations new member/ new pond owner

just to start off.. i've been a lurker on this site for about a month now.. and there are just alot of smart individuals in this forum.. i really injoy everyone's comments. I'm a new pond owner, My parents just picked up a 60acre ranch with 3 lakes and one pond.. the largest of the lakes is 4acres/31ft deep.. and the other two are about 1-1/2acre/17ft deep.. and one sediment pond witch is about 1/2acre.. we recently went out there to see what the fishin is like.. and come to find out .. its way overpopulated with bass.. all bass caught were 10-15 inches.. one was about 18inches.. the blue gill that were caught were about 6-10 inches. i know that i need to cull the bass.. i'm trying to grow trophy bass .. just want to say hi.. and thanks again.. hope to contribute what i know.. which is'nt much.. but thanks to this forum.. i'm learning alot

-chris

Welcome and congrats on the new ponds, How did the length to weight ratio on the bass look? If you go to my website I have a good pdf file on ratios that could let you know if you are overpopulated and don't have enough food in the ponds.

Bob

thanks bob... that is a very good article.. i printed it out.. and will use it next trip to the ranch..the fish seemed healthy and fat.. i was'nt sure on the weight, but they felt about 1/2lb.. i'm glad to be here and be a new pond owner.. i'm 28 now and its always been one of my dreams to own a stoked lake/pond.. i'm an avid fisher here in texas and enjoy every part about it.. thanks again for your reply.. and i dig your website.. beautiful pond!!!

-chris

That one is a little small only 1/3 acre but I have 10 acres beside and behind my property under contract hopefully will close the middle of next month and then I have a 2-3 acre area with a intermittant stream going through it to build the next pond.

bob, enjoyed your website. your pics are great. you've put a lot of hard work into your place. couple of questions. how would i start to learn how to do a web site where i can post pics? also, is that a well pump that you had placed just for the big pond that turns on and off to keep the pond full? or is that a fountain or what? also, i had thought about planting elephant ears along the edge of my pond (northern arkansas), but wasn't sure if they would die off or what. but they kinda look like lilly pads, but wouldn't spread like wildfire like lilly pads. and ONE more thing, what kind of plant/shrub/tree have you recently planted at the beginning right side of your pond that looks like a palm tree? oh...they don't call me "question mark" for nothing...another question!!! why are you going to raise your dock? looks great. i like the pvc post idea. i'm assuming you put the threaded long bolts through them, then added concrete? i think that is a great idea, you should post that idea under a dock idea topic. if i decide to use the pvc idea, i'd probably use a little extra heigth, and maybe 3 or 4 sets of bolt levels so i could adjust the heigth later, then cut the rest off once i decided on the final heigth of the dock. looks good sir, looks good. also, looks bigger than 1/3 acre. mark "question mark" williams!!

No problem, the well pump supplies the fountain, The plants you are talking about are dwarf musa cavendish bananas, I have to dig them up ant put them in the grenhouse for the winter as they would die if I didn't I also grow them in the large greenhouse and have one blooming now should have fresh bananas in January! Yes I put the galvanized bolts through the pipe drove 2 pieces of rebar into the ground in the center of the pipe and then filled with concrete. Very sturdy and will never rot. I had to raise the dock because the wood is about 3 inches under water when I am at full pool. I am getting ready to dig another well so I am able to keep it full the well I have is too slow but will have to wait until after I buy the new 10 acres. I am about 2 ft low right now but have only had 1.5 inches of rain in the past 60 days. Looks like my sister in Virginia Beach is gonna get my share today! I believe you are in the same zone 7a as I am so you might be able to get away with leaving EE's in the ground I would get a few in the spring and give it a try. They look real good lining the pond where I have them.

Bob