Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - Starting a New Older Pond

Hey everyone.

I'm in south Louisiana and have a pond that is around 1 1/2 acres and about 25 years old. It was an old shooting range we had we built a levee on one end. It is 475' long and 157' wide and shaped that a tree top.

The pond had become overgrown with common salvania, alligator grass, etc. Over the past 15 years it had become unable to use.

I started the process of removing the grass last week from the surface and have about 90% cleaned except for residual growing around the banks that will be sprayed later this week. I plan on spraying with Roundup custom, diquat, and a surfactant.

I have been in touch with LSU Ag center about water tests and was reassured that the water quality was probably still good with the ability to grow vegitation, clarity and depth.

The pond averages about 5-8' deep with one 20x20 spot on one end that is 15-18'.
Water clarity was always a problem being about to see between 5-6' deep.

A few days ago I introduced around 1500 native bluegill and have been supplemental feeding. Was recommended to utilize the bluegill to keep down green sun fish and catfish overtaking the pond.

I plan to add fathead minnows in the next few weeks.

There had seemed to be zero fish activity after the majority of the vegetation was removed. I suspected the cause of thick vegetation and 2 hurricanes that pretty much hit us dead on last year. This was the reason I had started to restock.

I'm looking to put in a good aeration system on a couple of spots. One on the deepest spot and one around 150 ft away. Looking for recommendations on good systems for this type of application.

The pond is also in line with drainage from a cow pond. I was recommended not to fertilize the pond and instead use dye but want as natural looking as possible while being able to solve the clarity problem.

I would like to make this pond a descent trophy pond with the ability to fish and just enjoy everyday.

I use to fish this pond everyday when I was younger and there was no management to it whatsoever.
I now have control over this pond and would like to manage and grow it to the best of my ability.

The biggest driving factor is to get it back to where it was 15 years ago where you could catch 10-15 bass in the evening with the occasion 5-6# fish. Bigger the better. I would like my son to enjoy it when he gets older, his friends, cousins, and other family members so the kids can get out and do something.

I just want to be assured I'm heading I the right direction and gain some knowledge on the way.
Looking forward to everyone's input and recommendations and getting to know everyone.

Welcome to PB, BB.

I don't have any good advice for you, but someone who does will be along to share it soon enough.

Are there any bass in it now? That sq ft'age is about 1.7 acres - 1500 bluegill should get off a few good spawns this year and establish a great forage base for LMB