Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Just checking in with my friends...SOLD

I apologize for neglecting my favorite web site/friends recently, I will be back in full force soon. I do enjoy "lurking", but I'm suffering from "Pond Envy" and can't post I have no fish !!!

I completed the sale of my "Eastland" property last month...rolled the proceeds via form 1031 (tax exempt) into my new 80 acre Ranch in Brown County, TX...a 5 deer county. The property does have a small pond pictured below. I plan to either enlarge it, or build new...200 acres of watershed feed the property, but topo configurations are challenging.

Here's a pic of the property and the pond.







p.s. Thanks again to the Pond Boss Booth at the Convention, I love my T-Shirt, and my Pop does too !

p.s. I got my Tractor, it should turn this field into a killer oat patch

Eastland,
Very nice! That's a beautiful piece of property. It will be fun following along with you as you "customize" it. Good luck!

Well done, Eastland....congrats, my man! Small pond, my dupa. That is a very nice start for a water feature. It looks to be a couple of acres at least...? Love the equipment, too. You're on your way, man. This is gonna be fun to follow this development. More spec's on the property please, ie; pond sizes/depths, timber types/sizes.

Russel - CONGRATULATIONS...
the only major problem that I see is that you will have to change your forum moniker from "Eastland" to "Brown".

You didn't have to move too far from your old Eastland County stomping ground..

Looking forward to accompaning you on your new journey - keep us up to date - we've missed your posts.

Enjoyed meeting you and your dad at the PB Conference.

Same here.

Any fish in there already?

Eastland, that a nice looking place - 5 deer county to boot. Are you seeing lots of deer?

Thanks guys...I will post my progress, I'm setting up a meeting with the dozer guy now, I have 3 possible pond sites.

Brettski, the current (only) pond looks to be about 1/2 acre 12-15 ft. deep, one of my options is to expand it, but I don't like the existing trees on the dam, we all know what that can lead to. The property has approx. 30 acres of large Oaks, 40 acres of Mesquite, some Elm, and a couple of huge native Pecan trees.

George, I'm thinking about the moniker too. I really miss the HSB I left behind. I will get to benefit from lessons I learned building my first pond, the new one will be designed with HSB in mind. (i.e. possibly smaller in size, but containing more acre feet of water, creating an optimal environment for threadfins to become established)

Sunil, I did not see much sign of original life in the pond, there was a nip at the surface from time to time, but visually nothing was sighted in the shallow water with 36" visibility. I did toss in 5 CC (3lbs.) and 3 LMB (1.5 lbs), and some bgill from the old place...but that was just so I had an excuse to fish ! I will begin working the forage base up once I decide if I'm drawing dawn and expanding, or creating a separate new pond.

Gator, I just took possession of the place last Monday, I did see one deer & 2 turkeys when I was moving my farm equipment into the barn. There are hundreds of sets of tracks, it looks very encouraging. I will set up a feeder/game cam next trip out to get a better perspective.

Congrats, Russel! I hope you make a website for your Brown county place that's half as good as the one you made for Eastland county. Your place looks great, and it sounds like you should have all the wildlife you can handle. Keep us posted!

Beautiful place Eastland. I'm looking forward to your seeing the fruits of your labor.

Glad to see you back in the game.

Well done Eastland . A whole new journey to begin. You can always start raising forage in the pond for use or transport to a new one.

Eastland, Where in Brown county is your place? Mine is just on the Brown/Mills county line, 1.2 miles south of Zephyr. Got lots of rain yesterday and today.

Eastland,

Congratulations! Looks like beautiful country! What is a five deer county? Five deer per square mile? You can harvest five deer? What?

Eastland,
Ain't life grand, all that worry for nothing and now you have a million projects, you must be in hog heaven.
Is 5 deer like 3 dog night?

I love you guys, you crack me up reading your posts, this site is great, a home away from home ! My Wife often sees me laughin' it up, reading posts, jokes, or stories posted here, I'm sure she thinks I'm crazy, thanks Theo, bobad, CB1, & Rad.

I'm also thankful that Bob had the Convention, and I that I have friends I know, that actually go thru the same things I experience. Thanks again to the PB members for the support & encouragement in my new development, it's appreciated more than you will ever know...motivation starts somewhere !

davatsa, I will recreate my website, it's tough to pull up roots and relocate property wise...I'm not fully adjusted myself. I had conversations with DD as to how many times one can pull this off in a lifetime (improving raw land into a retirement environment), and know it's limited, I hope I found my home. (But there are other very fine properties in the area...what if ?, hahahah)

heybud, I'm just north of May, 1/2 mile from the Comanche County line. We need to hook up...where did you get your fish from, is there a local hatchery near Brownwood ?

Ewest, I have a question for you my friend, I often look to you for advice, you haven't disappointed me yet I have 2 pond building opportunities outside from expanding the existing water. One potential pond site is directly in the overflow path from the small existing pond. The other pond site streams off a completely different watershed. Is there an advantage or disadvantage ? Would forage naturally relocate downstream, or is the effort to relocate forage the same for both scenarios ? I have a large watershed (220 acres), and substantial rains like we have now overflow the small pond.


p.s. dang, I have to edit yet another post to answer CB1's question (and possibly rad, although I think he's poking fun at me A 5 deer county in Texas allows any hunter with a license to harvest 5 deer...2 Bucks, 3 Doe. Personally, I like wildlife and enjoy watching them...there's no way I could eat 5 deer in a year , YIKES !!! But I do like to see activity when I'm out hunting for the BIG one

Eastland, We just looked at a place just a few miles south of May. I just bought a tractor from a great guy in Cisco and went through May and Rising star Thursday. Found a nice little Vineyard off 183 just out of Rising Star. I got my fish from Arms Bait and Fish at Proctor, just on the other side of Comanche headed toward Stephenville. I have been statisfied. You can drive out to his place and take a look, he is even open on Saturday. What a great looking place. I will have to come take a look sometime.

Eastland that is one tough question without having seen the land. I think it sounds like an excellent PB thread. Get some topos and pics and lets see what the real pond makers and dirt guys here say. When I get in a situation like this I call Mike Otto. With water being worth its weight in gold in your area I like the concept of capturing as much as possible from as many sources as possible. Plus it gives the wildlife 2 different water source areas to thrive in. On the other hand having 2 ponds close enough/connected (one pond below the other) gives you water transfer options via pump.

I would not let the forage part make my decision . That is only a very minor factor. Growing and moving forage fish is not to hard. Put them in feed them and seine them out to an big tub and move them. The quicker the better with minimal handling. Plus you can do the blocking net option . I think you have the nets from your old place.

Eastland, great to hear you've replaced your place north of here. I talked to you offline a while back and I live in Eastl. co., Rising Star' but our place is in north Brown co. 10+ mi. northwest May, so you are closer now than before. I had tank cleanouts done last fall and used Jack Hubbard who lives near R.S. Sounds like you are close to Sydney or about. He or a guy named Brown out of May are fam. with your area. Jack has been dozing since early 50s and oversees 2 sons about your age in the work now. Good luck.

ewest, I will do as you suggest..it will take a little time, but I would sure like to hear what others think about the building scenarios.

davemc, I have your e-mail from your profile...we are very close neighbors, I'm about 2 miles north of May, and would like to hook up for lunch next time I'm out your way...I'll write you in advance to see if you're available.

Heybud...you're invite too, my treat. Thanks for the info about Arms, looks promising.