After construction, we received plenty of rain and it filled a bunch pretty quick, still short of the overflow. Pond relies on rainfall, numerous small springs, and over flow from a neighbors very small pond. We're currently in a bit of a drought, we've only got 1" of rain in the last 22 days and the pond has lost some level. Rain projection for the next week is not good either. frown The deepest part is at the over flow at approximately 11' and level gradually declines from natural slope going right
Because the pond was mostly filled in Aug-Sep, I would not add any BG or sunfish. I would even consider not even adding FHM anymore this Fall; although you can add some FHM to get a small group well established in the new pond water conditions for healthy individuals for a Spring spawn. In my experience new stocker FHM from bait suppliers will very likely not be in an egg bearing nor spawning condition enough for the short time available for the water to be in the FHM preferred spawning temp. Stocker FHM have usually been in crowned conditions and have been food deprived so they tolerate movement, handling and stocking. Stocker fish are almost always deprived of food prior to being moved, held and sold. Aged water and future warm water conditions and FHM food availability are all lacking in very new water in early Fall. Very soon in West PA ,water will be lower than 60F temperature conditions below spawn temp for FHM. Been there and experienced with this. If you add some FHM add only about 1/3 to 1/2 the suggested number so they have enough natural food of the limited food available to be able to accumulate some better body condition to tolerate winter ice cover conditions.
Let the pond develop during fall, winter and early spring to build a better and stronger natural good supply of plankton and numerous invertebrate species. Then add more FHM and other fish so they are placed into a pond teeming with natural foods that will be available for any new small stocker fish. New fish in Spring will survive better and grow better plus and older FHM and new added FHM will be able to spawn better and provide more of a natural food invertebrate basis compared to adding many fish now that overeat whatever new invertebrate foods that are trying to develop a small foods community in this very new water pond. Give the pond and natural production time to develop first before overloading it with new fish in a current low production pond system.
Not bragging, but I am a trained aquatic biologist with experience of invertebrate food production in new pond systems. Now if you are going to feed the minnows and new BG appropriate sized high quality foods to get them well conditioned this fall until water gets 50F then more small fish can be stocked now.
