- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Building a Fishing Pond
Posted on 6/21/19 at 1:24 pm
Posted on 6/21/19 at 1:24 pm
Looking to put a pond on my land in the next 6 months. 2-4 acres. Anyone do so or have fished one extensively and can recommend advice? I'd like to fill it with the basics...bass, catfish, perch. I know there are plenty of aspects to it like slopes, shelves, structures, holes, etc...I just don't know the details about it. Thanks
8
Posted on 6/21/19 at 1:34 pm to southside
I am interested in doing the same. I have heard you don't need to have those three in pond together. Maybe someone can chime in on types of fish that do well together.
Posted on 6/21/19 at 1:45 pm to southside
start here, lots of valuable info to digest Pond Boss
May want to contact your local county/Parish agent's office and inquire about a soil sample (clay) and drainage possibilities. Once you have an idea on pond location, shape, depth, then start getting bids from dozer operators in your area. Do your research b/c not everyone can build a pond that will hold water.
You may need clay (bentonite) to seal the pond. Topsoil from the digging should be used to support the dam area. Definitely helps to have a "drainage" area to catch water. If it's just a free standing tank it will likely never fill up.
edited for spellcheck
May want to contact your local county/Parish agent's office and inquire about a soil sample (clay) and drainage possibilities. Once you have an idea on pond location, shape, depth, then start getting bids from dozer operators in your area. Do your research b/c not everyone can build a pond that will hold water.
You may need clay (bentonite) to seal the pond. Topsoil from the digging should be used to support the dam area. Definitely helps to have a "drainage" area to catch water. If it's just a free standing tank it will likely never fill up.
edited for spellcheck
This post was edited on 6/21/19 at 2:04 pm
Posted on 6/21/19 at 2:14 pm to southside
google it, there are websites dedicated to nothing but designing, building, and maintaining healthy vibrant fishing ponds of all sizes
Posted on 6/21/19 at 2:25 pm to southside
Start by contacting your district USDA-NRCS office. LINK. They will survey, take soil core samples if required, and design the pond using criteria that should be followed to build a proper pond, and all “free” on your taxpayers dime. Ask about any potential cost-sharing - sometimes they have a program for that.
While you’re waiting on NRCS read the southern states recreational pond and small lake manuals. I like the Miss recreational Pond Manual LINK it’s somewhat more current than Louisiana’s. But by all means read the Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, and Alabama recreational pond and small lake manuals (just google them, they’ll pop right up). All are well written, from the same script with the same recommendations, but sometimes one author has a way of stating something in a manner that resonates better than another.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries can provide you a list of gamefish producers licensed to sell gamefish fingerlings in Louisiana.
And yes, Pond Boss is also a good resource.
If you read these first, you’ll be better prepared to ask more specific questions perhaps not answered or clear to you.
While you’re waiting on NRCS read the southern states recreational pond and small lake manuals. I like the Miss recreational Pond Manual LINK it’s somewhat more current than Louisiana’s. But by all means read the Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, and Alabama recreational pond and small lake manuals (just google them, they’ll pop right up). All are well written, from the same script with the same recommendations, but sometimes one author has a way of stating something in a manner that resonates better than another.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries can provide you a list of gamefish producers licensed to sell gamefish fingerlings in Louisiana.
And yes, Pond Boss is also a good resource.
If you read these first, you’ll be better prepared to ask more specific questions perhaps not answered or clear to you.
Posted on 6/21/19 at 2:32 pm to southside
We built one last year.
As mentioned, do your research.
I'm not saying this is how to do it, but we built one right at an acre. 10' deep at it's deepest with a median depth 6'. It drains about 10 acres, so it filled up rapidly and stays pretty full so far (1st summer). Ours is mostly bowled out because we went prepper style. Channel cat, chinquapin and minnows only.
For a bass pond you'll need more structure like you mentioned. That takes more time and time is money.
Also as someone mentioned, crappie are not well suited for ponds as they'll out compete other fish. That said, I don't see why you couldn't do a crappie and minnow only pond.
As mentioned, do your research.
I'm not saying this is how to do it, but we built one right at an acre. 10' deep at it's deepest with a median depth 6'. It drains about 10 acres, so it filled up rapidly and stays pretty full so far (1st summer). Ours is mostly bowled out because we went prepper style. Channel cat, chinquapin and minnows only.
For a bass pond you'll need more structure like you mentioned. That takes more time and time is money.
Also as someone mentioned, crappie are not well suited for ponds as they'll out compete other fish. That said, I don't see why you couldn't do a crappie and minnow only pond.
Posted on 6/21/19 at 2:44 pm to Clyde Tipton
Yeah, I think the 5 rules of crappie in a pond begin with:
1. Don't put crappie in a pond,
2. See rule #1,
1. Don't put crappie in a pond,
2. See rule #1,
Posted on 6/21/19 at 2:51 pm to southside
Make sure you leave a spot for the pond heater
Posted on 6/21/19 at 3:11 pm to southside
just try not to focus too much on making it pretty. what i mean by that is, make damn sure and keep the "grass" in the water along the banks no matter how ugly it looks.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News