Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat New 1/4 acre pond

Hi y’all! My 0.25 acre pond is almost complete in a very arid part of SW Texas. My pond builder just completed covering the bentonite layer with 12” of caliche material & topsoil that came from the hole. My plan is to grow the largest BG’s I can while providing a source of drinking water for deer, turkeys and doves. Thinking of stocking CNBG at this point strictly for the size aspect. Possibly some RESF and traditional BG as well.

I just ordered an aeration kit from Amazon that will be here next week. The builder will be back at some point between now and then to construct a waterfall (aesthetics and further aeration). I’ll be supplementing our low avg annual rainfall with my water well. I first considered fencing the pond to prevent feral pigs from wallowing and making a mess of it, but was told pigs will only help seal it by their use. (For the record, I have about as much regard for feral hogs as I do fire ants and coyotes, but if they’re not detrimental to the pond, … 🤷🏻‍♂️)

I’ve been advised to create fish structure with cinder blocks and construction adhesive and to lean more towards vertical, rather than horizontal. Considering the small size of the pond, I’ve been advised against using natural materials such as logs, dead trees, etc. as they will decompose/rot over time and be messy, as in future muck. I’ll be adding a dump truck load of pea gravel to one end of the pond for bedding purposes.

With all this in mind, please consider offering your advice on any/all of the above. I’m particularly interested in recommendations for structure/habitat, growing food/bait, specific BG species to stock, etc. I’d also like to know how soon I can start adding fish once I have the pond full of water. I’ve also seen it said that new pond owners should concentrate on growing forage or bait first before stocking with the target fish. If that’s true, where should I start? Minnows? What about small crawdads or fresh water shrimp? I’ve also seen “beneficial” bacteria for sale. Are there certain plants I should consider as well in and/or around it?

Finally, should I add dye from the get-go to help prevent unwanted masses of algae, or wait until a problem actually arises? I may not have much of an issue with that with all the aeration, but I don’t know. Anything else you can add will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

Welcome to PB. I have a pond that size. After about 40+
years, it is now a mutant green sunfish pond. Since it’s a mile from the house(I don’t live there), it gets fed when I show up on the property.

One consideration is that every predator needs prey and every prey needs a predator to keep it from over spawning, fouling the water, and having a fish killing oxygen crash. I would probably add some channel cats; about 25. They seldom pull off a successful spawn so shouldn’t over crowd it.

Also start with about 5 pounds of fathead minnows. Over time, they will disappear but will help jump start the bluegills. Add some dry brush for them to spawn on.

Have fun with it and don’t lie to the wife about expenses. You’re gonna get caught.

Thanks. How soon after filling it up can I begin adding FHM’s? BG’s?

Growing really big BG in a small pond requires special planning, proper management and diligent efforts. I am working on a post of basic requirements for growing big BG in a small pond. Stay tuned.

Deer Tex, give them a couple of months before adding bass. If you want catfish, this is also the time. Once bass get established, stocking time is over.

That said, I have about 2 acres with bass, big bluegills, a couple of huge hybrid stripers and some really big cats. I’m going to put in about 10 pounds of fathead minnows when the 105 to 109 weather ends. They won’t last long due to quick predation. That’s ok with me. I never see a small fish so they are all getting eaten.

I also have a 1/4 acre mutant green sunfish pond that I’ll add about 5 pounds of fatheads. Due to limited spawning, those guys are getting skinny. They don’t spawn. This one is about a mile from the house so I toss pellets when I get there. I’ll also add some fatheads here as a quick snack.

Watching for it, Bill. Thanks!

Thanks, Dave. Considering the small size of my pond, I wasn’t planning to stock any predator fish other than BG, CNBG and RES. I really want to get the Fatheads & possibly PK shrimp started first. I’ll gladly set up a deer feeder with pellets too, but think the minnows and shrimp will be the best start. Still wait a couple of months for the forage, or forage right away, then the predators later? Thnx!

Did I read that correctly that you don't want any fish other than BG/RES in the pond with a goal of the biggest BG you can produce? Or are you thinking you will delay predators until the BG/RES get started?

I thought that might be confusing after I posted it. The BG/RES will be the predators of the minnows and possibly freshwater shrimp. Sorry that was as clear as mud.

There is a problem with a BG only pond. Bill Cody's post that he mentioned above will help greatly but you need something in the water to take out large amounts of the BG spawns. Trophy BG ponds work by allowing a select few to get big and the predators take out the smalls. Last time I googled BG spawn amount per year it was about 60,000 eggs annually. These are per fish numbers. Think of what that looks like if you have 200-500 fish in the pond. Southern waters more and northern waters less.

Due to the mouth size of the BG, they will not be eating enough of the fry and you'll end up with an overcrowded pond full of small fish.

Most everything I have seen on Trophy BG ponds is using LMB and allow them to stunt. Anything that gets above 12-14" is culled from the pond. You want those small bass to do your work for you eating all those little BG while you promote the best looking BIG ones. Many others on the forum with loads more experience that I have but I would encourage research and reading for sure.