Good morning, LearinboutFish!
Thanks for the reply!
My fish goals are very basic. Healthy balance between bluegill / shell crackers and bass. Sounds like these fish along with minnows - is the starting point.
I don’t lean one way or the other. I don’t need 2 lb sunfish nor 10 lb bass. I’d like to strive toward a healthy balance that makes for good panfish fishing and the opportunity to catch a 5 lb bass.
Learning how to arrive at that balance - and then, equally as important, I think - learning how to assess and maintain that balance - appears to be $10,000 equation question.
That goal is more important than any swimming goal. My wife will be in the pond more than anyone, I have never been able to keep her out of a creek, lake or river. I would be more likely to put a lawn chair in 18” of water and have a cold beer!
My biggest concern was when it would be safe (and recommended) to add the fish and in what order.
I emailed back and forth yesterday with a fish farm that is not far from our house (40 miles) and he suggested the minnows and panfish in spring of 2026 and the bass in fall of 2026. The fish farm is closed for winter but he suggested I call him in late January to develop a plan.
My biggest questions leading up to that are how to get the water in the right state (and how to keep it there), making sure I have enough cover in the pond and in general, helping to create an environment that starts at the micro and grows from there. The problem, clearly, is that I do t know much about it - so I see a learning curve!
I have read about fertilized versus not - and there seems to be a divide there. Again, I don’t need giant fish but I am not opposed to the fert costs at all.
What does not seem optional is pH.
Also, it would seem that aeration is a no brainer and yes, the boss would like a fountain.
We are gonna build a gazebo on the berm on the SW corner and I have already run power and a water spigot to the site. Nothing fancy but a paddle fan, a few lights, some seating and a small table for eating, playing cards etc. We will use something like a FryDaddy occasionally, so I need good power. OK OK, I admit it. My brother was an electrician and he would not let me do it on the cheap!
I went ahead and ran enough wire (gauge) for a 100 amp sub panel for the gazebo. I already added the 100 amp breaker in the 200 amp main panel.
The sub panel will feed power to the gazebo along with the aerator and fountain.
At the end of the day the pond is for enjoyment, some fishing and another place for us to spend time as we enjoy retirement and living here on the farm.
I do have the top side planted in oats, winter peas and clover. It attracts the deer (we have way too many), turkeys, squirrels, etc - along with hawks, coyotes etc as predators.
Obviously, we will enjoy the turtles, snakes, frogs etc as we enjoy the pond.
I am stunned (and very pleased) to see how interested and excited Jo is. She normally leaves the farm work to me and will ride by on her Honda occasionally and say “yeah, that looks nice”.
Okay - thank you for your questions and thoughts!!!!
Jim
