Creating a farm pond

[Trouthunter]

Petrowske knew this would come sooner or later...

I have a 2 acre pond in my back yard that recently I have seen fish jumping in (even managed to catch a bullhead)...there is a small creek that leads eventually to the mississippi river leading out of the pond.

My home is in an area of new construction and none of the neighbors have lived on the pond for a year or longer, so no one has any idea about how the pond winters, etc.

I dug up my Smartcast wireless depthfinder and managed a few casts into the pond. To my suprise the average reading was 10-12 feet and once I was able to get a 20 ft reading. I have no idea about the vegetation, forage, etc.

My question is this...how big will a musky get? (just kidding jon)

Has anyone researched creating a farm pond in MN? where does one begin? I checked the DNR HSOforum, and was able to get info regarding permits, etc. But I'm looking at creating a panfish/bass pond and want info about stocking, winterkill, etc. Also looking for information about creating a neighborhood association to establish rules etc.

Am I nuts?

[fiskyknut]

Check the MN Seagrant HSOforum.

fiskyknut

[hovermn]

I don't think you're nuts at all! I have a friend down in

Missouri that has a pond on his land stocked to the gills with pannies and LMB. Like yours, there's a small stream that runs out of it through a small vertical pipe at one end. The lake has lilly pads and grasses for weeds.

I'm tellin' ya, every cast brings up either the largest Sunnies I've seen or a nice size Bass. He chooses barbless not just to protect the fish, but because most of the time it takes longer to take the fish off then to catch another one! Since moving onto the property, he's chosen to C&R only.

Anyway, I don't have much help for you, other then to say that having a stocked pond could be more fun then should be legal!