Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Structure Placement

I'm getting ready to put some structure in my 1/2 acre pond that is also used for swimming. It slopes gradually from the beach area to the main part of the pond that has quite a large area that is 15-18 feet deep.

My question is, at what depths should I place structure? I'm mostly looking for areas that would provide shelter for bait fish and young predators.

I would suggest the upper 6 feet or so. I think relatively few ponds in Ohio lose the multiple feet of depth due to dry conditions common to Texas and other areas (based on my experience of an 8" maximum depth loss in the Summer). But you can find what is probably better advice than that in several threads in this section on placing cover/structure.

I strongly advise you to take careful note of where you put it (lots of pictures are great), especially since you plan on swimming in the pond. All the structure in our pond with the exception of four rock piles (which are so deep they may not be effective as structure, but are too far down to interfere with surface swimming) are in a "no swimming" zone marked off by a floating polypropylene rope. So we don't have to worry about getting hung up in Christmas trees or whatever while swimming.

For baitfish and small predators keep structure shallow 1 ft to 4 ft deep. That is why you often see small fish near shoreline areas especially newly introduced minnows. Weed beds are the best refuge areas for small fish. Pond weeds usually grow in water less than 6'-8' deep and often from bottom to near the surface in summer. Tall stands of vertical cover. Predators often keep small fish chased out of loose, "open weave", (fluffy) deeply placed structure such as limbs and brush, rock piles. Deep structure is usually dominated by larger fish; fishing spots. A search of the Creating Habitat section using key words will provide more ideas.

Rocky1,

Recognize that I'm in Texas and certainly do not have similar climate conditions to you. It may not be practical for your situation, but this has worked very well for me so I offer it for your consideration:

In addition to shallow water structure, there can be significant benefits associated with deep water structure. You have a large area 15-18 feet deep. Much of that area may very well go largely unused by your fish without the presence of any structure. That is a lot of area to just "waste".

My solution was to add underwater "islands" in the deep areas rising up to within a couple of feet of the surface. These islands were created during construction with pilled up dirt and brush on top. That may not be an option for you and may not even be desired if swimming in that same area is planned.

However, it works. The largest BG ever taken from my ponds was from one of those islands. The largest HSB was also taken from an island in deep structure. That approach I feel, has made productive water out of what otherwise would have been unproductive water.

Thanks for the good information.

Rocky:

Also remember that if you're going to ice fish this pond most fish (IMO & experience) are taken from the deeper or even deepest spots in the pond during hard water times...it's different.