I'm in year #5 of an 8 acre new pond in NE Oklahoma. Fish are thriving; bluegills in all size classes pounding feed on three feeders. I'm happy with the fishing, bass population, and size. Water quality visually looks really good. I don't have a secci but I'd estimate visibility around 18" with a nice olive color. My goals of a good fishing hole are being exceeded. I spend just as much time relaxing on the dock as I do fishing.

Weed growth in year 5 is now peaked; all water 3 feet and less has weed growth from thick to super thick. American pond weed on all shore lines and the thick stuff, I believe, is a grassy stringy mess which I think is sago pondweed. I'd say of the 8 acres; there is 3 to 3.5 acres of weeds.

To my question - is that amount of weed coverage - 40-45% - 'BAD'? The weeds don't bother me one bit. They all died off nicely last year as they should in our cold winters. Fishing those shallows in spring and fall was excellent.

I hear folks killing weeds off with all kinds of products but I don't really want to, or plan to, unless they are doing anything to the system that might be harmful. FWIW I did put in about 15 grass carp a couple years ago and 30# of tilapia this year. I know that isn't enough for weed control but that's all the budget wanted to take this year.