Brother built a new pond, now what to do?

Attachment 140182
(Facing the dam way back there)

Hello, brother just finished a new pond earlier this year with the help of the soil conservation people's help. He said its going to be an acre and a half or so full. 30'-35' at deepest depth and has a feeder creek that was dug out to give it a long triangle shape with a round deep normal stock tank at end. It's maybe 80% today. He put 100 channel cats and 5lbs of minnows back when 30% full.
My question is, what kind of structure should we add to the tank? My idea was a couple 16' low boys full of hardwood trees dropped on NW side of the lake up in the channel going down to deepest depth. In a line.
He's not sure what to stock since he doesn't fish much. I thought catfish,bluegill,red ears, and hybrid perch. He said he's not sure about black bass or crappie.
Attachment 140183
(From the point in front of the dam)

The ponds in central Tx around a lot of farm land. Black dirt/clay bottom.
Looking for ideas for an occasional fisherman to do.

Stocking Crappie in a pond that size is a bad idea. Bass, Catfish, and Bluegill, on the other hand, can be really good when stocked and managed/maintained properly. This link should help you get started.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/a-fact/0010.html

CMJ got this one. No crappie.

I'd go with channel cat, blue gill and crappie. Of course I'd keep the crappie population down due to fishin' for 'em. Channel cats will do well as will the blue gill
and any other sunfish you choose. Looks good from where I'm sitting. 10 to 15 lbs. of fat head minnows to start with will keep 'em growing and they will
multiply too.

I agree. We did some crappie in a couple ponds. Some the original stocking went to 2lb sized with no recruitment in a heavy bass pond. Another fresh pond they did well but only to 6-7" or so.
Dont worry about Crappie, there's a big lake nearby for that.
looking more as in habitat. Or what to add. Thanks

Your brother should talk to the conservation people about what to stock; they may actually have fish they will stock for him, quite possibly free of charge, since they are already involved. In that sized pond if the crappies do they will overdo and quite likely the bluegills will also. Even the bluegills will need active management to keep from overpopulating and stunting. Shell crackers might be better.

Habitat in the pond is not really so much of an issue as natural planting along the shoreline to keep the neighboring farm land from eroding into it and silting it out. He should find out what native fish are in the creek, too, because they will end up in the pond and may influence what he should stock and what is stocked will end up in the creek, too.

In your brother's place I would have a look at redfin pickerel and consider what kinds of native aquatic plants to try rather than trying to build artificial habitat and quite possibly forgo the sunfish altogether, especially if he decides against black bass. He might also be warm enough for Rio Grande Perch, the Texas Cichlid. Texas Parks and Wildlife may be able to advise on the cichlids. There have been some successful stockings up into central Texas.

The standard pond stocking pattern for most of the country is catfish, bluegills and black bass, and that generally has to be pretty carefully and actively managed to keep the balances proper, but this is likely quite a little warmer than the average.

The catfish may not have enough running water to spawn, either; so your brother may have to restock them from time to time, although any survivors may attain surprising size. BTW if there are bullheads in the creek, and there probably are, he is almost certain to get them in the pond and given its size they will almost certainly overpopulate and stunt out, too. There may also be native sunfish there that will show up, too, as well as native minnows.

That's good info.
I have a couple hundred Rio's Im planning to stock in the spring.



No one is mentioning adding wood. I thought something other than a dirt bottom would be ideal.

I was thinking more of planting the shoreline to stabilize the banks against erosion.

That looks like an impounded prairie creek. What we called a crik back where I grew up in Iowa. Mud bottom over a similar clay base that essentially keeps it watertight. The one I am most familiar with was simply named the Mud Creek, even on Iowa highway maps, a little meandering thing that has since been significantly straightened by the local corn farmers. Mud is very descriptive of it however, and it is full of fish life with occasional deep holes that often even produce pike for all that you can wade across it most places, often without even getting your knees wet in mid to late summer.

Dirt bottom is really ok for the fish in that kind of water, since as the pond matures a big part of the forage base will be insects and bottom invertebrates that will live in and hatch out of that bottom dirt.

Your or your brother might contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife about the nearest successful stocking of the Rios to see if you can move some of them into your water. They will be the best bet for success in your area, being already pre-adapted to being as far north as you are. Around here moving fish between waters is illegal without permission. If possible and legal, since they are exotic to your area, they will know about the necessary permits and permissions. Better to play by the rules now, instead of assuming and have that come back to bite you later.

Good luck.

No1son is correct, involve Texas Wildlife, they won`t steer you wrong. As far as cover get several buckets, about three or four 6- 8` locust or osage orange limbs, insert and add cement. Place with a float (2 liter bottle ) attached and carefully put about 200- 250 10 hole red bricks around each, both to help stabilize it and create crayfish habitat assuming they are already present in the creek...cut off float when done. The locust/ osage should easily last 20+ yrs underwater, the bricks about forever...place in between 10-20 fow if they will stay put.

Something to consider. When I had my pond dug (3/4 acre) I contacted TPW and asked if they stocked my pond, would I be required to allow folks driving down the road
to stop and fish without my permission. Yep was the answer. Trespassers don't care how they leave anything when they depart private property, much less a lake.
I paid for my stock fish and trespassers are not welcome on my property. I know, I've had to run too many off my private property. Anyone asking has never been denied
access to fish. As for cover, cinder blocks stacked work well and will last forever. A sack of sacrete in the bottom of an old tire that will hold air in the top works well in
ponds and they will last forever too. Catfish love old tires. Different states have different laws that apply to stocking and public access. You cannot depend on just calling
the office and asking questions. I called several game wardens and got a consensus.

Look at some of the fish suppliers like Dunn Fish Farm in Texas....if you want crappie you can make it work....but you really need to get the crappie from them....they will provide black crappie that are 95% sterile....which will take care of the over population.....if you put white crappie you won't be able to catch them out quick enough to keep them stunting......

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Originally Posted by no1son

Your brother should talk to the conservation people about what to stock; they may actually have fish they will stock for him, quite possibly free of charge, since they are already involved. In that sized pond if the crappies do they will overdo and quite likely the bluegills will also. Even the bluegills will need active management to keep from overpopulating and stunting. Shell crackers might be better.

Habitat in the pond is not really so much of an issue as natural planting along the shoreline to keep the neighboring farm land from eroding into it and silting it out. He should find out what native fish are in the creek, too, because they will end up in the pond and may influence what he should stock and what is stocked will end up in the creek, too.

In your brother's place I would have a look at redfin pickerel and consider what kinds of native aquatic plants to try rather than trying to build artificial habitat and quite possibly forgo the sunfish altogether, especially if he decides against black bass. He might also be warm enough for Rio Grande Perch, the Texas Cichlid. Texas Parks and Wildlife may be able to advise on the cichlids. There have been some successful stockings up into central Texas.

The standard pond stocking pattern for most of the country is catfish, bluegills and black bass, and that generally has to be pretty carefully and actively managed to keep the balances proper, but this is likely quite a little warmer than the average.

The catfish may not have enough running water to spawn, either; so your brother may have to restock them from time to time, although any survivors may attain surprising size. BTW if there are bullheads in the creek, and there probably are, he is almost certain to get them in the pond and given its size they will almost certainly overpopulate and stunt out, too. There may also be native sunfish there that will show up, too, as well as native minnows.

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Never heard of Channel Cats needing runnin water to spawn? Helps to have something sunkem like buckets or wooden boxes for nest boxes though.

First off I never have had a pond of my own. But have helped advise on many new structures as far as best way to stock. The most successful ponds I have seen is where the minnows were stocked a year prior to adding any fish. Study up on what types of minnows do best in ponds and supply what they are going to need to spawn. Example fathead minnows need shaded cover to spawn. Sunken skids provide excellent breeding cover for this species.

If pond is NOT located near the house. Excellent fish feeders can be built in about 5 to 6 foot of water. Using four posts and some kind of expanded metal like an oversized screen door. Opening size in mesh ( expanded metal ) holds waste material that draws flies. By waste material I mean stuff like fish entrails which works great. The maggots when they hatch wiggle around until they fall in water. All fish eat maggots. Maggots are like 98% protein. The type of protein that is ideal for fish and their growth. This idea was shown to me by a man that raised pond bluegills in Central Ohio. He sold the fillets to non-profit entities for fund raising fish fries, also sold to individuals.

The health , growth rate and population of your pond will relate directly to its optimal supply of food. It is real easy for a private pond to soon be overpopulated with fish and stunting begins. On the other side I have never seen ponds with too much food sources. Neat thing about this is that it is a one time investment if done right. The minnows being acclimated to pond will never be completely wiped out and will breed every year. The maggot feeder if built by durable materials will never need replaced. Pond is too near house the maggot feeder is not an option because of smell. Two of these per acre of water will do wonders for your fishes growth rate.

In ponds with an already established fish population. Adding to minnows to pond is like a one time feeding. Seen 10 or 20 pounds of minnows dumped in shallow end of pond. Fish acted like a school of piranahs as the water almost literally boiled with feeding fish. Establishing a good food chain for your pond is not as exciting or interesting as stocking the fish. But if the pond has good water and is built correctly just establishing the ponds food sources for the first year and starting to stock fish the second year. I can almost guarantee the pond will thrive.

Another reason to add some LONG LASTING wooden cover for those minnows...