3 to 1 is sort of the standard for this area, thats what most NRCS ponds are designed around, 4 to 1 is pretty rare and I am not aware of ever seeing one with a 5 to 1 slope, that's pretty flat, unless it may be on a pond dug into flat ground and needing a place to go with dirt, which is what I am getting ready to do for a neighbor who just wants a swimming hole for the kids.
I put an area of 5:1 in my pond to act as a sort of beach area and an area to have young dogs able to go in the water and not have to start swimming right away. Not very wide, maybe 20 feet.
