Welcome to the forum. Where are you? My place is South of town off Picket Run Road.

A couple of thoughts.

The fish will successfully spawn without gravel.

I've never used any kind of liner nor built any type of spawning shelves or beds for my place. I doubt that a liner will really keep gravel in place that well. That stuff just seems to move around. A neighbor tried using tires with gravel over a piece of plywood. However, the whole works got filled with sediment.

Our water levels vary so much that a permanent spawning spot might be tough to use. In other words, you need a consistent level for that to work and that means rain that we have been woefully short of.

My pond is down about 7+ ft and the forage pond is down 5 ft.

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