Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Where do I start?

First I am really impressed with this website. Ya'll do a great job and I am going to subscribe to the magazine come payday.
I need some help. I am the proud owner/ manager of a 6-7 acre pond in the
Huntsville,Texas area. It was dug just this last summer and because we finally got some rain is about half full. The water is as clear as glass and there is nothing in it. (some aquatic plant material, no aquatic critters) On the deep end (16' or so) it is a smooth clay bottom and in the creek areas there is a channel and some nice depth changes above that. Where do I start? I know that I need to emplace structure but what is the best thing to start with? I have unlimited access to trees (pine, oak, etc) to use and can come up with other things rocks, pallets.
I know what I want to stock and have been in contact with Overton Fisheries regarding it. (that guy is good to go!) I will start with FH and BG and then stock LMB and CC eventually.
I want this to be a nice fishery with abundant LMB and BG. With the occasional lunker.
It will eventually be aerated.

Any and all info is appreciated.

Don't leave me hanging guys!!

I would definitely send a PM to Lusk. This is exactly down his alley, and you're in his region.

Marine....or ex-Marine?

Jake B :

Welcome to the PB forum. You can find many answers here and the members will help.There is a lot on structure here. Look at the heading Creating Habitat on the home page or do a search with the search feature. Here are a few links :

On the first link go to the links in the first post for the written material and pics. in the publication.

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000123

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000132

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000083

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=002214#000003

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=001578#000004

Jake, welcome to the site, as you have already mentioned there is a wealth of knowledge here. Be patient as I am sure you will have many respond to your questions. All of the things that you mention will work well for structure. In my opinion you will want to keep 75% of your structure in the 4 to 8 foot depth and very little in the 10 foot and below range. The reason is that most of your fish will stay in water shallower than 10 foot due to poor oxygen levels below the 10 foot mark.Branches tied togeather with large wire ties work well with cement blocks tied to them to keep them in place. Pallets are also fine placed at variouse depths down to 10 foot. Tires also work well. If you want your CC to spawn they will require something to spawn in. Thats not to say that they wont spawn at all as some will spawn in holes in the bank etc. Some just restock CC after they are caught out for future fishing.
Now is the time to stock your BG as they will be the primary forage for you Bass that will follow in a couple months. BG will spawn once they reach about 2 inches which will only take a few weeks. Adding the FH will certainly help as your bass will go thru them quickly and get them off to a good start. It is also important to get on a good fertilization program at some point based on what your goals are. Make sure you stock the correct amounts of each species to start with as understocking and overstocking can get your lake off to a bad start.
Continue to look around on this site and you will find most of your questions have been asked and answered, it a great site. Dont hesitate to post additional questions as the folks on here are great and will help answer all your questions.

Big Jake


Big Jake

PM to Lusk. What is that?

Once a Marine always a Marine!

Jake B

PM is short for Private Message

BTW (short for By The Way) my little brother is a former jarhead, he served in the first gulf war as a forward observer calling in airstrikes from the ground.

Welcome aboard!

Shorty
AKA - Steve Brinkerhoff

Thanks for the welcome gentlemen and the heads up! Dudley, you are right on target!!

Before I have a water test done, are there any visual factors that may tell me the health (ph, alkalinity) of my water, ie, clarity, algae growth, aquatic plant growth??

Shorty,
BTW tell you brother thanks for his service. I was over there in the land of sand (Iraq) in 04-05. We probably pounded some of the same sand. It ain't a fun place to be. Not doing that anymore though. Growing fish and cows is what I do.

Jake B

Since you are already in contact with Overton Fisheries, consider asking Todd to do a whole survey for you. I hope Huntsville has fewer PH problems, than Coldspring. Just don't schedule him for the 16th and bump my Golden Shiner delivery.

As far as fish habitat goes, I've been sinking Xmas trees, but may forego that, because of the labor involved, transportation costs, and timeframe they last. I'm now into the Porcupine Spheres that Greg Grimes sells. PVC should be good for 50 years and I can move them easily, as needed.

I bought some of the plastic fencing that Home Depot sells for temporary fencing. I'm using Plastic tie straps to attach it to the 1/2" PVC "spines" to provide better cover for smaller fish and more surface area for algae to grow on.

Oh, that plastic fencing is only being used on 3 of the spheres than I am sinking in about 4 foot of water. The 9 being placed in deeper water get no fencing.

I seem to find every stump in the lake with the trolling motor, so, wherever I might try to go, I am keeping them 2 feet under the water. Also, definitely avoid placing them in diving or swimming areas.