Anyone with a large man-made pond?

[Clair_Schwan]

I want to start planning for my ponds. One will be 5 foot deep and about 20 by 60 with sloped sides. Wide open to intense sun.

The other pond will be about 14 feet deep and 20 by 40 with sheer sides. Sheltered some by nearby trees.

Our winters can get to minus 25, but we typically bounce up and down in temperature every week, so we don't stay in the deep freeze for long.

These ponds will be homes for ducks and fish, both sources of food. My plan is for Muscovey ducks for meat. I am also thinking about Catfish or Bullheads and something like a Sunfish.

Any suggestions about how best to utilize large ponds for food, fishing and fun? I am most concerned about getting the right kind of fish.

Clair

[WRTN]

Are these ponds you plan to build? Sounds like it. You might want to consult a local soils expert who can give you an idea of how well the soil in the areas you plan to build the ponds will hold water. In some cases you may have to have clay trucked in but that is usually the exception.

Your best bet would be to check with your local coop or ag extension agent to find out where and who is the closest fish farm. They will likely raise fish that do the best in your area.

I stocked my ponds with a mix of black crappey, large mouth bass, hybrid bluegill, channel catfish, a few grass eating carp, some koye, and a multitude of fathead minnows. The minnows are the most important believe it or not as they multiply in amazing numbers and provide food for the larger fish, not to mention help keep the pond cleaned up.

If you have some cattle or other livestock on your place, you might check with the FSA/NRCS about if you qualify for a cost share building of your ponds.

[EarthMother]

My Oklahoma sister told me if I let the gov't help me build ponds that I would have to let anyone who wants to, fish on my land and in the gov't assisted ponds. Now my sis knows a lot but this is where I hope she is mistaken because I too need to build a pond.

Clair, I believe that flatheads are a type of catfish. If they are then you are better off with channelcat like WRTN.
I'm not sure about flatheads but I do know that mudcat tastes right down nasty. It's name tells you why.

[walls0stone]

keep uncle Sam out of it. friends of mine are draining the ponds they built becouse of all the BS. Don't talk to some gov' stuge... talk to contractors and excavators who know what's what. ( good reason to be good to those around you)

when it comes time to get fish, just go fishing at the pond of somone around you who is a friend.. take them home with you... rather than pay out tons of money for some creatures that you can get W/a day of fun.

[Clair_Schwan]

Thanks for the input so far. It is all good.

More info to consider:

My ponds will have to be lined. Our soil is powder dry many feet below the surface and we have a mixture of clay, sand and disassociated granite, sometimes, not so disassociated. The soil won't hold water.

Trust me, the government won't be involved. The word "stooge" is a good one. I also like "oaf" as a description of those that are "here to help".

And, yes, in many cases if the state stocks your pond, you have to let others fish there, and you must have a license to fish there too. All around good reasons to leave the oafs and stooges where they are.

The minnows are a great idea. I am also planning for sunken plastic barrels with soil to hold water plants (since I can't plant through the liner).

I know the county extension agent personally, and that is probably a good starting point.

Thanks again for the input,

Clair

[walls0stone]

Here we line with all clay...now if one were friends with a contractor, you could get that when they take it from a fundation or whatever, still it's all about networking. With Contractors, diplomacy is key and don't take the guy who answers his phone at noon on Tuseday.