Jimmy,

I will try this again.

It is early am, I am waiting for my brother to show up so we can go pick up a tractor. He is always late so I should have some time for my favorite subject.... Habitat.

My favorite pond work is putting out habitat. It makes my kids go crazy as they see habitat as lure traps. You may want to make a map of your habitats for future reference or even consider marking the largest and a few of the best with nylon rope attached to some old duck decoys. There is nothing like knowing exactly where the cover is when you are competing in a mini-bass tourneyment.

A small island would be great.

If possible, cut down a cedar tree and drag it in one piece into the pond. I like the natural look of a fallen tree in the shallow water but it should not be too big for the size of the pond.

I suggest you buy the BASIC POND MANAGEMENT by Lusk and McDonald; available from Pond Boss.

Here are just a few items from the book:

Brush piles should be about 10 by 10 ft with 5 to 10 per acre.

The book recommends making fish hotels by stacking broken cinder blocks about four feet high. Rock piles are great, the bigger the rock, the better.

The book discusses using PVC piping.

The book shows how to use tires tied together in a pyramid of three rows of three tires each. Cut vent holes in the tires.

A pond needs a lot of cover in the shallows where bass feed in the spring and summer.

Make the cover extend from the shallow to the deeper areas to allow for water level dropping in the dry months.

Make the cover connected in a natural underwater trail so fish can move around the pond without having to travel through too much open water.

Be prepared to replace any wood items over time as most will not last more than three or four years in the south.

Be sure to take three old oak pallets, cover them with chicken wire and weigh them down in the shallows, stagger them towards the deeper water. These will be needed to allow fathead minnows a place to live safely and lay their eggs in a secure spot. The chicken wire will help keep the egg eating fish away from the fathead nests. Smaller mesh would be better if available. You may want to tie some brush to the pallets.

By the way, don't work yourself to death, you are suppose to be enjoying the pond as a pond manager. At this stage and for the next few years, it is easy to forget you are suppose to take the time and just enjoy using the pond. In other words, do not become a pond slave. I think a top priority for every private pond is a canoe or two man boat.

Got to go. Good luck,

Dennis