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Dutch clover is the low-growing stuff that has the little white blossoms. Your local feed store/farm-n-home/ag supply should have it.

Newest picture of my place. Still need to smooth out some places around the banks. Its mayb somewhere between 1-2 feet low at this picture. One picture from the breezeway the other from far side of the pond.

Looks fantastic RS!

Really looks inviting! Good job

Looking great, Rusto!

That's looking pretty sweet. Love the death machine out on the peninsula. lol

Thank you fellas, I move the death machine around every time I mow. I want to put it underground but that's a whole another project.

Put that thing six feet under before it puts you six feet under! lol

We had some friends over last night for some drinks. One of there kids the boy (11 year old) in the picture wanted to go fishing. It was an unplanned party or it might have got the fella some worms or some kinda bait. Turns out tht we didnt need any. He laughed and ran to there ride and said let's try a chicken nugget. He had a few left over from earlier. Put a small chunk on a hook and he was fishing with a smile. Within 5 seconds "FISH ON FISH ON". To say the least he was pumped and the fighting began. He was using his ultra lite rod. Looked like he had a whale on there and fighting like a dolphin. Snapped his line at the bank. He jumped on it lol. Got them safe distance on shore then stepped back and was nervous bout touching it again. He wanted me pick it up I told him nope this is your fish. We weighted it at 3 1/2 pounds. I didnt think about getting a length. It had a beer belly on it for sure. The little girl is his sister. She was about as pumped as he was.

While I still enjoy fishing, its not as magical as it was when I was a kid and caught a nice fish like that. I'm sure he'll always remember that one. I still remember all of my first bigger fish. I probably remember all of my bigger fish I've ever caught since there hasn't been that many. Lol!

Yep, those kids are what it's all about.

One of my twins caught a whopper. She was pretty excited since she cast it also.

Great pic !

Okay I have a question / observation. My pond is the clearest it's ever been. Its maybe 18 inches of clarity. But now I have a abundance of moss (FA). When I take this stuff out from the bank it seems to hold onto the clay. It will create a cloud looking ball if I rake it to fast. So my question is. Does the moss filter out clay particles?

Ruston, I'm curious to see what kind of replies you get. I'm thinking anything growing helps keep the clay settled. I'm also thinking that as long as it doesn't get out of control, even FA growing is better than nothing. I'm kind of in the same boat as you. I haven't worried too much about it.I just figured it was a cycle that all new ponds go through and that at least it was using up some of the nutrients and was making some cover for the fry. I also figured and hoped that most of the FA will be replaced with a more desirable vegetation as the pond ages. Hopefully someone that knows more will set us straight.

The part of my pond tht gotten out control is shallow. Iv got maybe a 75 X 75 spot that's only about 2 foot deep now. It will be 3-4 foot deep when it's full. I'm thinking of adding some tilapia next year. But not 100% of that yet.

I have very little shallow water. Other than the inlet end of the pond, the dam and the corner areas of the dam, my sides are pretty steep. I mostly just get a few feet wide ring around the edge of the pond.

Giving myself a bump. Anyone have an answer to my question? Does filamentous algae collect clay particles?

Good question. See this about clay issues in ponds. FA uses nutrients out of the water which causes chemical changes to the water. Chemical changes can cause clay flocculation which would make the water clearer. Not sure that is your question.

https://srac.tamu.edu/fact-sheets/serve/108

Well that wasnt really my question but it answers it. I was thinking the FA was kind of trapping it. Because when I take rake it fast it seems like a cloud of clay comes from it. If I pull it slow the water stays clear. But our explanation of the chemical change makes since. Thank you

FishinRod this is for you. When we meet at Snrubs you said you havnt seen my koi on here. I'm guessing its 16-18 inches long. It hasnt been very easy to get a picture of. I hear most are friendly mine swims away from me most of the time.

RS - I suspect two things happen that cause the clouds of murkiness to come from the FA...key word "suspect". FA starts out on the bottom, so it could easily carry sediments up to the surface with it and water constantly moves around in my pond which leads me to think that the FA also filters any floaties that the water currents try to carry through it. We might also be seeing some of the FA decaying at the surface causing even more materials to form the cloud as the moss is disturbed.

QA from wht I'm understanding the FA in moderation is a good thing. It in some aspects creates a filter and also changes the chemistry in the pond. I just have more this year than ever before. My water is also better than ever as far as clarity..

I was up on the roof putting up Christmas lights. Decided to take the opportunity to take some different angle picture.

Rusto out multi-tasking!

That angle in the photo definitely shows your pond outline better. I would use that photo again if you ever start a new thread on advice for expanding your pond.

Do you think your wife got you a 30-ton excavator for your stocking this year?