I put a pond in like yours three years ago and it has really turned out nice. I had the same priorities as you, aesthetics, swimming, fishing with the importance in that order. So far, all three have been great...the fishing way better than I ever imagined. My priority species were also SMB and YP, my pond is a little over an acre and around 21' deep with clay bottom. we put in a large clay shelf in one corner and shot pea graven over it 9"-11" deep also shot a few inches of pea gravel over beach and swim area. Then last summer shot 40 tons of white sand over beach and swim area.
We put in lots of FHM and GSH the first year then added 150 4” YP in spring and then 50 fingerling SMB in fall, we also added 100 3"-4" RES and 25 WE same size when we put perch in. We went with smaller numbers stocking to see how things would go. We hand feed twice a day in the warm months, the YP average 9"-10" now and the SMB the same...with a minnow under a bobber a perch can be caught about every 10 or 20 seconds.
We have seen YP egg ribbons all over the last two springs and see some 3"-4" perch coming up to feed now, have also seen what look like 2"-3" SMB along the rip rap. We put some of the spawning structures like RAH posted on our ledge in around 5' of water. I would think with the pea gravel you put in they will find a way to spawn especially if you add the structures.
We have been happy with the RES, they don't bother swimmers, don't breed like crazy, are very shy, add to forage base and help keep pond clean.
I think the paper shell are a great add, I'm going to do same. Would be very careful bucket stocking minnows from creeks you may end up with some odd stuff you definitely don’t want.
Last edited by H20fwler; 05/17/24 10:53 AM.
