Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - 5 acre pond build

Hello, All

Newbie here so go easy wheezy!lol

I live in SE Michigan and would very much like to do something different than just the normal bass/bluegill pond. I was fully planning on going South in 5 years and live out my remaining years fishing the big ponds(ocean) however as is the case for a lot of us married folk the wife through a wrench in that plan. As a comprise to staying here at least part time I get a pond and a barn to occupy my time….so now I have a lot of damn questions and learning to do.

I’m hoping to have the pond completed by this time next year…It will be 5 acres and 25-30 foot deep if deemed appropriate for my needs/wants. Regardless it’ll be 5 acres, but the depth is my major concern or unknown. I’d like to have a walleye, perch, possibly crappie, pike fishery. Yes, I’m aware that reproducing is unlikely if not impossible, but I’m not against stocking periodically. No offense to the bass bluegill crowd, but I’m just not a fan.lol

Here’s my big question or dilemma…can I aerate, keep the temps down and the oxygen good at 25-30 feet to accommodate these species. I fully plan to stock and very possibly even hatch my own food fish(minnows) to keep my predators happy.

I know this is way outside the norm where I live, but it’s what I’d like to do/try if even remotely possible. It will be my primary hobby when I retire, well at least while I’m here in the warmer months.

Thanks for any and all advice and look forward to learning from y’all!!!

Have a good day, Pez

Hold off on adding any gamefish. You don't want anything eating the YOY minnows for the first season. A full season for reproduction will create a lot of forage minnows for the next season's gamefish and that lot will create even more. The second seasons YOY minnows will be the base diet for the smaller stocked fingerlings leaving the adults to keep making more. Do your homework on what types of structures the the minnow species that you choose require for adequate reproduction. I know the FHM's need elevated flat surfaces that they can lay eggs on and the GSH like submerged grasses , IIRC. You'll get much better results by adding ample structure for the minnows to do their thing. Without the structure, reproduction will be limited at best.