I’ll start by saying I didn’t read all the posts. Just wanted to warn you about the fish you choose in the pond need to cooperate with your goals. If swimming is one of your goals, don’t stock bluegills, hybrid bluegills or pumpkinseeds. Both are fearless little shits that will take any opportunity to give your a good bite it hopes that the hair or nipple on you is good eating. Bluegill especially, as they can get large enough to go from startling to painful.

I put a single bluegill in my pond a while back, and that little jerk would chase me around the pond to bite me. The problem with water clarity is it could find me easily. Now I have pumpkinseed, which I enjoy swimming with, but are not quite as bad. A nibble here and there I can live with, but my son and his girlfriend aren’t as thrilled.

Last edited by esshup; 12/12/25 01:20 PM. Reason: added HBG