jpsdad, thanks for picking off a few questions. That is what I was hoping would occur, so I didn't cause anyone's keyboard to melt down.
I am contemplating a "modified" paint roller tray design. My plan is to cut a trench down the middle of the forage pond the width of my dozer blade (10' - 14'). The final product would look like the trench drain system at an auto repair shop.
The pond bottom (outside of the trench) would have a gentle slope towards the trench. The theory would be to slowly lower the water level to concentrate the fish in the trench prior to seining, which should minimize the number of stranded fish in the thick cover.
In that situation, where none of the "structure" in the pond would interfere with seining, would you recommend very high structure coverage - like 90% of the shallow bottom?
Would rooted aquatic vegetation also be a benefit for full life cycle development of most types of forage species? If so, then I am considering pushing topsoil back into the shallow bottom areas after the forage pond is compacted and sealed. (The forage pond will be filled with pumped water, so storm erosion will not be a problem.)
I think I could easily create the conditions similar to an old, rich (highly eutrophic) pond with heavy vegetation and lots of cedar trees. These would be seasonal forage ponds most years, so I could mow and apply herbicide to create open patches in the spring as desired, prior to filling.
In that situation, what bottom depth would be optimal for most types of forage fish? I was thinking of steep side slopes, and then a gently-sloped bottom towards the trench. Perhaps starting at 3' deep, then sloping to 4' at the lip of the trench.
(I may be creating a paradise for herons and cormorants. Does thick cover deter their predation? What is the depth requirement to exceed the preference of wading birds?)
