Dave, sounds like a good plan to "test" the pond but with as dry as it is here we might have to create our own rain from a near by creek. But all in all sounds like that is the way to go late summer/early fall. I feel with the contractors that we had and a little work done by ourselves I am looking on the bright side and really think that the core trench and "sheep footing around" got the job done to satisfaction even with the deepest part of the pond being very close to the water table.
As far as next spring I do understand that you need to let a pond sit before throwing all of your fish in. We had planned on going with fatheads and maybe golden shiners next spring and then in 2008, after one year, introduce our desired sport species. The thought was to fill it up this fall if possible, (if we get a well and a little bit of rain water) then wait until spring to add our baitfish.
