Hi,

I'm new here, and this looks to be a friendly and active group.

I'm digging a 400'X150' recreational fishing pond. I want to stock bluegill,
white crappie, bass, and perhaps red ear bream (chinquapin). For a food
supply, I will stock it with a good supply of gambusia and small freshwater
shrimp (ghost shrimp?), and of course crawfish will find their way into the
pond Any other suggestions for food chain balance?

My main question is this: I want to make about 1/3 to 1/2 of the pond 10'
deep because of the heat problem here in Cajun Country. However, I want to
make some bottom structure that will attract bluegill to spawn in. I have
seen them bed in water 1' deep, and 8' deep as well, but have decided on
4-5'

Where should I put my shallow bedding areas? Along the banks? Flat-topped
ridges out 15-20' from the banks, or where? We like to fish from the banks
with fly rods or 10' bream poles, but getting a small boat is no problem.

Oh, 1 other question. Should I make one small area in a corner of the pond
very shallow and allow weeds to grow there? My thinking is this would make a
nice refuge for the gambusia and shrimp, and allow them to multiply. It
would also protect hatchlings, but I don't know if this would cause over
population.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

1' deep and counting! Oy, that's a lotta dirt! :-\

Bob