Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose New Pond

My father in law has some land in Wilkinson County, Georgia. They are finishing mining kaolin on his property and have made him a 10 acre pond. They have all ready completed the damn as well as grading around the pond. The pond sits on a kaolin (kaolin is a white chalky substance with a wide range of uses if you are not familiar with it)base so percolation of the water should not be a problem. He wants it to be a catfish/bass pond while I would rather it be just a bass pond. I need some help in persuading him on what to do. I'm just afraid that in 5 years, we may have a large catfish population versus a small bass popultation. I really have zero knowledge in how to go about this and the pros and cons of it all. The kaolin company is going to take care of coordinating the stocking of the pond, we just have to let them know what we want. Any help would be appreciated in this matter. Thanks

Dawg,

I believe both you and your father-in-law can achieve what you want in the new pond. Read through all the previous posts concerning stocking rates, predator-prey relationships, ...
The information your looking for has been, and continues to be discussed in this forum. Use the search feature in the upper right hand corner, and type in your desired subject. Lots of great info.

Lastly remember, it is your daddy-in-laws pond. If he inisists on a catfish pond, pat yourself on the back for marrying so well, and learn to skin ya' a catfish.

Welcome to pond boss.

P.

Wow I never thought of that. Most of my family is from Wilkinson and Twiggs Counties. I help manage about 3400 acres in those counties which is in a crazy family trust my great uncle set up years ago. We currently have 6 active Kaolin mines. As the leases run out they are to be reclaimed and replanted by the Kaolin companies.
Couple of questions; is the company required to do a pond by the lease terms. I think there are only 4 kaolin companies left, which one are you dealing with. Any water quality issues?
If I could get ponds build instead of trees planted the value of the land would go way up.

GO DAWGS

Hey Pedro,
Thanks for the info. I just read about this web site in the latest field and stream magazine and did not take the time to do much looking on the web site. I'll take a look and I'm sure I'll find what I need.

Hey Bill,
The company currently working on his land is Huber-Jordan. Now, they don't replant trees, they just replant grass. But, he worked for Englehard forever and knows the kaolin industry inside and out. Englehard does replant trees though. The reason they are putting a pond on his land is because they originally dug down roughly 100' for a pit. They did not have enough fill to put back in this area with the other large mines they are working on, so he asked them to do the pond. By the lease agreement, I don't think they are required to do a pond but they have to reclaim the grade at a 3:1 slope on the hills. I'm sure it is something you could ask the company about. About water quality issues, there should not be any. The bottom is a kaolin base with all runoff of the site going into the pond. This is great that a local person got back in touch with me. Hope this helps out a little with your questions.

Jaw,
Do as Pedro suggests .. there are really too many posts on stocking but ALOT of info here. Then come back with specific questions. The people here will be glad to help.

Well I just have to say, this particular thread shows the beauty of this PondBoss site!

That exchange of information could be so valuable for Bill.

Rock on, Pond Boss!

Thanks Dawg, here is my suggestion, do what we do when replanting pine trees on reclaimed land,do it yourself. Instead of having the koalin company stocking the pond find out there budget, have them pay it to your father-in-law and stock it with the aid of a pond consultant.

My Putnam County pond has a bass-catfish mixture and I am getting excellent growth from my bass. Also Hybrid stripers are an great option for stocking.

As you go through this site a name that you will keep seeing is Greg Grimes, he is a local pond consultant that really know his stuff. I wish I knew Greg when I stocked my pond. Lot of good consultants in Ga but Greg's tops. Here is his website
www.lakework.com

I do appreciate all the help ya'll have given me. Thanks a bunch.

A lot is possible in a 10 acre pond. I like the idea of getting the cash $$$ in hand and do the stocking with quality managers. The next best advise is keep father-in-law happy and enjoy the fishing. GO DAWG