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Joined: Nov 2020
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 30 Likes: 7 |
Hi everyone. New member here and appreciate the wealth of info I've found here so far. This crazy year with Covid had both my businesses down and lots of free time on my hands. I own a trackloader and decided to build a watering hole for deer while things were slow. Well covid continued to drag on and I continued to dig. What started as a watering hole has now turned into a 1+ acre pond big enough for fish. I've been working on it a day or two a week when I could find time. The pond is a wooded build where two small ravines converge. Finally to the point where the build is wrapping up and ready to start thinking about structure. Will start to post some pics shortly to get the build up to speed and hopefully get some help added some decent and correct amount of structure. Jeremy
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Joined: Oct 2016
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Joined: Oct 2016
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Welcome to the forum. We like pictures. It is always fun to see new ponds being built.
Bob
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,055 Likes: 277
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
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It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,387 Likes: 607
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,387 Likes: 607 |
JK, that is a beautiful site and beautiful pond.
Are you sure you have enough acre-feet to support that beast in your final picture?
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Joined: Nov 2020
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
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JK, that is a beautiful site and beautiful pond.
Are you sure you have enough acre-feet to support that beast in your final picture? Good on water. Food is the problem. He pushes about 215 lbs this time of year when he's bulking up for the winter.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,387 Likes: 607
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,387 Likes: 607 |
215#! I'm not sure why you needed the trackloader to excavate your pond. Surely, you could have just buried some bones in strategic locations - and let the dog do all of the hard work.
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Joined: Nov 2020
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
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Last edited by jk96; 11/26/20 12:46 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,387 Likes: 607
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,387 Likes: 607 |
That is a massive root ball in your next to last picture.
Did you dig and roll that out using only your Case trackloader? Impressive!
I also like the picturesque rocks that you washed. Most people have to pay trucking to get attractive landscaping rocks around their ponds.
Good luck developing your pond!
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Joined: Nov 2020
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 30 Likes: 7 |
Tree was dug out and pushed over while it was still standing. This was the biggest of all of them. Around 38" at the base. I can roll it end over end or lift a bit and push it with the loader but can't pick it up. Loader has a 9,000 lb tipping weight and this one lifts the rear of the machine before it even starts to come off the ground. Video of that tree coming down October 15, 2020
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,110 Likes: 76
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,110 Likes: 76 |
Wow, that looks like a big tree to take down with a track loader. What size is your track loader, and how long did it take to bring it down?
Bob
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Joined: Nov 2020
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
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Case TV450. 11,000 lb machine. This one was dug around as I was moving dirt from this hillside over to the dam so it wasn't really dug in one pass. With the stump bucket I can make pretty quick work of most trees if they are standing and can use their leverage. Depends on soil but an 8" tree can be taken down in a matter of seconds. 14-16" tree in about 2-5 minutes. 24" tree in about 10 minutes of digging. Here's a video of a 14" tree being taken down in soft soil. TV450 & Titan HD Stump Bucket - 14_ tree
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,110 Likes: 76
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,110 Likes: 76 |
Thanks, cool video. I hope to get a track loader one of these days. Looks like that stump bucket works great. They make a lot of attachments for them.
Bob
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282 |
That dog can probably help fill the pond too. They sure do slobber! Gentle giants though, but are unfortunately a short lived breed. Thanks for sharing pics and video of your project.
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Joined: Nov 2020
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
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He just turned 11 this October and is doing surprisingly well for his age. Not too common for them to make it this long. Will try to get remaining pics uploaded in the next day or two of where the pond project is currently at.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282 |
You must be taking very good care of him to reach that age. Lucky dog!
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Joined: Nov 2020
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
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Here's the last few pics bringing this project up to speed. Looking across the dam from the NW corner 50581016642_f19385d0ee_o (1) Looking North toward the dam. All of the walk paths around the pond are cut in. 50587144962_96031f9b4f_o A before and after pic 50587105496_b158b74f63_o This is where the project sits as of this morning. Hoping to get the trash pump out today and drain the water from the pond then get back to work on the dam. Working on bringing the slope out close to a 3:1 on the water side. As soon as that is finished I'll be ready to work on habitat. 50649211681_dae0d604c2_o
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1 member likes this:
RStringer |
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,470 Likes: 107
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,470 Likes: 107 |
Jk96 your going to have a very nice looking spot. Love the look of a pond surounded by trees.
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1 member likes this:
Quarter Acre |
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Joined: Oct 2016
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,110 Likes: 76 |
Bob
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,055 Likes: 277 |
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,387 Likes: 607
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,387 Likes: 607 |
Good ponds make good pics! Your grapple beside the cut bank looks like excellent cover for the LMB once the pond fills.
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,470 Likes: 107
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,470 Likes: 107 |
I like the side by side comparison picture. That's pretty cool to see that. I'm not that good with computers to do that.
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Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 461 Likes: 16
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Joined: Jul 2020
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Are you available for hire?
Im going to ask a lot of questions, but only because I'm clueless
5-20 Acres in Florida. Bass/Tilapia/Bowfin/Gator
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 30 Likes: 7
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 30 Likes: 7 |
Are you available for hire? First pond I've built so this will either be a lesson on why you should hire a professional or encouragement for some of you diy guys. Will know this spring. Finally found some time to finish up the dam. This unusually warm Dec weather helped. Only thing left now is working on habitat. 2020-12-20_12-35-20
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 30 Likes: 7
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 30 Likes: 7 |
Was able to get the muck out of deepest part of the pond and some good clay dirt worked in before the freeze for some peace of mind. This area was dug through some limestone and wanted to make sure and get a good seal here. 20201221_101840
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1 member likes this:
RStringer |
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Joined: Nov 2020
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 30 Likes: 7 |
Working on a few artificial structures for fish while the pond bottom is still either dry or frozen. Here's the start of the first one. Need to finish adding the pex tubing to the sticks of pvc to create some branch like structure. This will be the largest as it's made of 20' sticks of pvc. Most left over from my siphon system I used to drain the pond several times during construction. 2020-12-28_03-56-51
Last edited by jk96; 12/28/20 05:15 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,499 Likes: 267
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,499 Likes: 267 |
Nice work !
Post a finished pic of the structure so we can add it to the structure archive.
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 30 Likes: 7
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 30 Likes: 7 |
Well my laziness has bit me in the a**. Instead of driving to pick up a bar guard for the intake pipe I ordered one online. Still waiting on it. I figured only snow this time of year so no hurry and it saved my an hour and a half of driving. Here's the pond after our rain and ice event a few days ago. Now it's snowing today with about 4" of snow on the ground and more coming down and no bar guard on the pipe. 2021-01-01_03-26-39
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Joined: Nov 2020
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
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I was able to get the bar guard on this morning without draining the pond. Took about 30 minutes to get feeling back into my hands and glad I don't have to repeat this job. The pipe was about 8" below the water surface so I was able to drill a couple of holes in the pipe with a long bit and secure it with some 1/2" wide heavy plastic zip ties to make sure it doesn't pull out of the pipe. 2021-01-04_10-33-052021-01-04_10-32-59
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,722 Likes: 282 |
I have 3 of these in vertical pipes and they are just held in place by gravity. I did wire one in a horizontal pipe in the past but that one now has an elbow that turned it up vertical.
Last edited by RAH; 01/04/21 12:21 PM. Reason: addition
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Joined: Oct 2016
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Joined: Oct 2016
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Looks like it is off to a good start!
Bob
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OP
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Finished up the larger fish structure. Should make for a good area to hold fish. 20 foot in diameter by 6 foot tall. Still have two smaller ones that I plan to make in one of the shallower areas. 2021-01-14_03-04-13
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,470 Likes: 107
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,470 Likes: 107 |
You will always know where your honey hole is. That's a pretty good looking structure. It's like a fish mansion.
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,668 Likes: 57
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,668 Likes: 57 |
from my experience i would ruff up the outside of the pvc. On my first ones i added to the pond i don't see many fish around them. I don't think they feel much comfort in being against something white where they stand out. After ruffing the pipe up you will see more of mother natures plants and animals attach thenselves to the pipe which make the pipe more natural and may hide the fish alittle more.
Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.
Tracy
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Joined: Nov 2020
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
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from my experience i would ruff up the outside of the pvc. On my first ones i added to the pond i don't see many fish around them. I don't think they feel much comfort in being against something white where they stand out. After ruffing the pipe up you will see more of mother natures plants and animals attach thenselves to the pipe which make the pipe more natural and may hide the fish alittle more. Maybe hit with some green spray paint? Would be much easier than scuffing that much pvc
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 491 Likes: 13
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Joined: Aug 2016
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looks great!!!! have any osage orange on the property? they make excellent brush pile material . I would make a pile that extends perpendicular from the bank and transitions from relatively shallow water to deep water - this way fish can relate to that pile throughout the seasons. It can provide for some great fishing action for kids. The osage will last several years where as some other woods will only last 2-3 max. Locust is a good alternative as well
Mat Peirce 1.25 acre southeast Iowa pond LMB, BG, YP, WE, HSB, RES, BCP
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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 897 Likes: 201
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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 897 Likes: 201 |
looks great!!!! have any osage orange on the property? they make excellent brush pile material . I would make a pile that extends perpendicular from the bank and transitions from relatively shallow water to deep water - this way fish can relate to that pile throughout the seasons. It can provide for some great fishing action for kids. The osage will last several years where as some other woods will only last 2-3 max. Locust is a good alternative as well Osage orange will outlast the pond pretty much, no? that stuff just doesnt rot, we used to use it for posts and my dad, rest his soul, used to say it will out last the hole. and a very prolific root system that will make some amazing fish habitat.
All the really good ideas I've ever had came to me while I was milking a cow.
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Joined: Nov 2020
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
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Yes on osage orange. We have a bunch and makes great firewood as well. I have a couple of stumps that I dug out this spring I plan to add. You are correct about the root system on them.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Might cut some to keep as many knife makers use it for very nice decorative handles.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,974 Likes: 277
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,974 Likes: 277 |
My favorite Osage Orange info is from Bob Lusk:
"That's the wood that lasts for a hundred years, and then turns into a rock."
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Joined: Nov 2020
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
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The pond continues to slowly inch up as we loose what little snow we had. Good sign as it means the bottom of the pond that penetrated the bedrock is sealed up well. 2021-01-20_09-50-27Also here's one of the osage orange stumps that needs moved to the pond. 2021-01-20_09-58-07
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RStringer |
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Joined: May 2004
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Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
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Most of the exposed orange roots are sapwood, and will rot away fairly quickly (for Hedge Apple/Osage Orange, that's 5-10 years). But the core of each bigger root section will be around as long as the rest of the wood.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Joined: Nov 2020
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
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We recieved about 3/4" of rain yesterday. Pond level in creaping up into the flats now. Also painted all of the white pvc. 2021-01-31_09-38-55 2021-01-31_11-02-15 Kovac[/url]
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Joined: Nov 2020
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
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Looks like we finally have some rain in the forecast. Next four days looks like a decent chance. At the moment it doesn't look like anything heavy but it's a start. Hopefully we will get enough to at least get the rest of the bottom covered. Used the last two 55 gallon drums I had today and a roll of 3" drain tile to make one more artificial habitat in a shallower area of the pond before things get wet. 2021-03-09_06-16-21
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Augie |
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Joined: May 2004
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Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: May 2004
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I trust you have those barrels weighted down. Many types of plastic are slightly buoyant - the 4" corrugated drainage tile certainly is.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,387 Likes: 607
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,387 Likes: 607 |
jk,
Your pond is looking great! Hopefully you get a series of nice gentle rains to fill it up and the clay stays in the banks until it is full.
P.S. Do Daleks make good fish structure?
Best wishes, Rod
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Joined: Nov 2020
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
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I trust you have those barrels weighted down. Many types of plastic are slightly buoyant - the 4" corrugated drainage tile certainly is. About 100 lbs of large rock in each.
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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 897 Likes: 201
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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 897 Likes: 201 |
Youve got the fish's version of a Mar e lago there, the fish should be happy!
All the really good ideas I've ever had came to me while I was milking a cow.
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Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 39 Likes: 1
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Joined: Jan 2021
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Looks like a fishy place, can someone tell a rookie about the benefits of the red pex added onto the pvc?
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Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 30 Likes: 7
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
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Slowly making progress here. Got some seed down on the dam and walk paths before the rain. 2021-04-10_10-46-05
Last edited by jk96; 04/10/21 12:33 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,387 Likes: 607
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,387 Likes: 607 |
I still love the look of your pond surrounded by the trees and rolling hills.
I am looking forward to the pics when it is at full pool and the sediment has dropped out.
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Joined: Nov 2020
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
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I still love the look of your pond surrounded by the trees and rolling hills.
I am looking forward to the pics when it is at full pool and the sediment has dropped out. Thanks. This is the part that makes me nervous. Never built a pond before so hoping it holds. No heavy runoff events yet so the fill has been pretty slow so far this year but what we have got seems to be holding.
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Joined: Nov 2020
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OP
Joined: Nov 2020
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Haven't posted in awhile as the heavy rains never came this year. Finally a good storm last week and more on the way tomorrow and Wed. The storm last week added about 4 ft of water to the pond. I have another 4 ft to go. Also have a question about water loss. It looks like I have lost about 6" from the high water mark last week. I'm assuming some loss is normal on a new fill especially 4 ft due to the ground taking in water and saturating. Does this seem like a normal amount of loss or something to be concerned about? Here's a few pics of the pond from today. 20210626_071304 ] 2021-06-25_09-15-05 2021-06-25_09-14-53
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Joined: Oct 2016
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Joined: Oct 2016
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Nice to see it filling. I would put a measuring stick in and keep a close watch on it and see if your losses per day get better.
Bob
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
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Chairman, Pond Boss Legacy award; Moderator; field correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 8,798 Likes: 68 |
Congrats! Keep an eye on vertical water loss per Bobbs and reach out anytime if you are still seeing daily loss. Tj@hudlandmgmt.com. Happy to help my time is free to the forum family.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
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