Randy,

Great note. I also once had a dog that would eat every fish I would allow him to get close to. That's a good memory. Now, about your pond.

What are your goals, expectations for the pond? The answer to that question will provide some "steerage" for folks response. Trophy bass pond, fishing for kids with lots of action, fish for food, or?

One thing I have learned regardless of your goals is that it helps tremendously to feed your fish regularly during the growing season. Toward that end, buy a quality feeder up front, such as the Stren. They cost more, but believe me they are worth it in the long run.

As to fertilization, with somewhat less certainty than feeding, I'm in favor of it. I've done it both with and without fertilization and with fertilization I've experienced much better reproduction of the lower end of the food chain, i.e fathead minnows, threadfin shad, and baby bluegill. The downside can be unwanted, undesirable plant growth. Some say that proper fertilization discourages plant growth by reducing the amount of available sunlight to the plants. Unfortunately, I've seen the opposite happen at my pond.

Finally, aeration. I just recently installed an aeration system in my 3 acre pond, mainly convinced by the experts on this Board that doing so would improve water quality, reduce algae growth, and eliminate the danger of fish kills due to pond turnover in the summer months. Too early to tell if this all holds true, but early indications are that aeration is really a good thing.

Tell us your goals and you'll get more help.