Pond dreaming is over

[philbuilt]

Well the 210 was delivered and the rock has been carried down.

 

[philbuilt]

I put an hour on the machine and the swing just quit. So now they are bringing a smaller replacement. I don't know what happened but it just kept on swinging till I shut the machine down. Walked it back to the road so they can replace.
The windmill in the picture is for scale.20' high

 

[philbuilt]

OK they just dropped off a 140 .its just not the same but its new 241.4 hrs. I have to quit for the night so here's a progress shot.

 

[Bdavis]

You are correct. But I don't know how it got there. I only have stocked it with trout.

That small mouth bass looks like it is about 3 years old. I have watched my large mouth growth about 3 inches per year. I have heard that birds populate
a lot of ponds and even drainage ditches by the eggs sticking to their feet.

Don't know if that is true or not but it makes sense to me. I know one thing if they are anything like the large mouth they will keep your population of forage
fish low (bream, fat head minnows,shad)

I had to add some structure and some fat head minnows to mine last year, they had just wiped everything out. I actually had some large bass 14- 18
inches placed in the pond about 3 years ago so they have been spawning the last couple of years. After the spawn I can actually watch the schools of bass fry being chased around the pond and eaten !!

 

[philbuilt]

Here are some more pics. The day is done and the 140 just doesn't compare to the 210 it was a bummer but I got it done.

 

[philbuilt]

The last picture withe the rocks. Those are normally under water. This project dropped the level 14".

 

[philbuilt]

Bdavis
3" a year nice. Before the dig I caught a 9" I hope the fish kill was minimal but the results of the dig will be huge.
Thanks for the info

 

[Bdavis]

Bdavis
3" a year nice. Before the dig I caught a 9" I hope the fish kill was minimal but the results of the dig will be huge.
Thanks for the info

From the research I have done and just observation that is an average growth rate for the first 3 years. Actually a little more year 1 and 2 a little
less year 3. According to what I have read afer year 3 the growth rate slows alot and the rate is even more dependent on their surroundings (water temp, oxygen levels, forage fish)

I have thought about trying to catch a few of the small ones that are obviously hatched in the pond and trying to tag them to track their progress
a little more accurately.

I don't really have a way to do it but it would be interesting to see how
many survive the first couple of years.

Good luck with dig !!

Bill

 

[EddieWalker]

Pond looks great. Wher is all the dirt you dug? Where you able to use the blade on the 140 to spread it out?

Eddie

 

[philbuilt]

Well it been about ayear and I thought that I should add a picture. The windmill works great and did keep some open water all winter.
This picture was taken last weekend by my sister in law.
Eddie, I'm so sorry that I didn't answer your question last year. Ipad so frustrating. now back on a PC. The dirt is being spread around
the field around the pond. Work has been insane so I've had little time to work at the pond.
I did stock 50 rainbow trout this year. the pond seems to have plenty of forage fish for them to eat. I did add 75 4-5" sinners this spring as well.
I am feeding and the fish are rising so very cool to see.