Riggs Family pond

[Riggsgwp->]

It's not spring yet but I thought I would start documenting the progress on my pond. This is a naturally occurring shallow pond in MN and since I've owned it my dream was to get fish growing in it for my family to enjoy. Well after doing a ton of research on Pond Boss and getting some greatly appreciated advice from MnFish(hope you're ok with this) I believe the pond will be ready for stocking this spring if the permit goes through. Currently the pond is stocked with several varieties of minnows to build up the forage base for stocked fish. I wanted to share a few pictures of my pond and the aeration system.
Pond in Summer approx 1.5 acres max depth 6ft

Pond early winter with aerator running

Late winter

Power supply with air compressor shelter

3/4 hp Gast rotary vane compressor

3/4 id poly air line with 10 psi pressure release which runs to pond shore and connects to manifold with 4 valves and weighted air lines to each double membrane diffuser

 

[Riggsgwp->]

The aerator system I'm running is overkill for my pond but Im pretty new to this and I didn't want to be undersized due to the shallow depth. I was able to get some fish reserved for spring and got started on the transportation stocking permit thanks to John Chalmers from 10,000 lakes Aquaculture out of Osakis Mn. I'm starting with conservative numbers of fish and will restock as needed in the fall. Ordered 50 Bluegill, 50 Black Crappie, 200 Yellow Perch, 50 Walleye and 20-30 Smallmouth in the fall. I'm also adding 50 lbs. of additional fathead minnows. Spring can't get here soon enough!

 

[MNFISH]

..

 

[Satchmo]

Wow, beautiful set-up you have there!

 

[tooln]

Looks really good.

 

[MNFISH]

..

 

[Riggsgwp->]

I'm guessing my aeration will help open up my pond a lot faster this year. Once it opens up I think I will shut down the pump for awhile and see if I can get a handle on what survived over the winter. That will be the determining factor on moving forward. I've checked out some of your info over there and it looks pretty cool but I have to admit it's like a foreign language to me:confused: A system like that could work out for my father in laws ponds that he's working on as they will be 1/4-1/3 acre in size. My small pond doesn't currently have enough depth to be aerated but I'm hoping to change that in the future. Also my wife's sister has a 2.5 acre pond right next door to mine and I'm acting as a test dummy for them to look into aeration and fish.

 

[Riggsgwp->]

Well I'm sending out the application for my stocking permit, hopefully it goes through and I didnt piss off the wrong DNR employee. Dang MDDI may bite me in the butt yet!

 

[Bill]

Does that set up keep an open hole in the water all through the winter?

Don't want to thread jack but that solar set up MNfish has going set my duck hunting wheels spinning.
That set up would draw ducks like corn in the late season when everything is locked up.

 

[Riggsgwp->]

My setup will keep a large area open until it gets down to zero and negative. I believe MnFish struggles to keep open ice with that setup as he is pushing minimum boundaries to preserve pump life and so on. What he is doing is very cool but I don't think it would work for the duck hunting scenario. Mine would be perfect for that but expensive.

 

[Riggsgwp->]

You also have to keep in mind he's maybe getting a 6-7 hour runtime a day where my electric is operating 24/7.

 

[Bill]

You also have to keep in mind he's maybe getting a 6-7 hour runtime a day where my electric is operating 24/7.

Yep it's never a slam dunk. But food for thought. I've seen Amish milking paroles run by battery banks and solar.

Not fesible for redneck duck hunters but it's a very interesting option.

 

[Riggsgwp->]

Had some geese enjoying the open water from my aerators.

Here is a second pond that I'm hoping to turn into a bait pond with fatheads for feeding fish in big pond. Water level is normally higher but this an area I'm hoping to excavate in the future along with another spot.

 

[Riggsgwp->]

My father in law bought an excavator last year for his pond project so I trade my labor for future use of his machine:)

 

[sandbur]

My father in law bought an excavator last year for his pond project so I trade my labor for future use of his machine:)

I would love to have that excavator and a handul of permits!

 

[Riggsgwp->]

Yeah if I can get a few years with that machine and some permits my property will be awesome.

 

[Riggsgwp->]

Was able to get some work done at my property tonight.

New waterhole



Wood duck pole(just in time cause the wood ducks have showed up in full force)


Brush hogged my corn(deer only ate 1/2 of it this winter so hopefully ducks/geese deer/turkey clean up the rest)


Added pond dye to slow weed growth

 

[bwoods11]

Did anyone bring up or mention how smallmouth bass are very territorial?

I'm not a pond expert at all?? I'm just wondering if they would push crappies and gills off shallow water nests.

 

[Riggsgwp->]

I don't know. I know that if this works I'm going to have to really control blue gill and crappie numbers because they will overpopulate and stunt. So if they do push them off nests I would be okay with that. Largemouth would probably be a better choice but I don't care for them but it is always an option to add later.

 

[bwoods11]

Either way

Great pond and you will really enjoy it!