FISHING POND BUILD HOLDS WATER!!! -POND UPDATE- 

Aeration! Especially necessary with ducks pooping in the pond. Aeration does lots of good things. Stops the formation of “dead” anoxic water at the bottom of the pond; helps cool the water and add oxygen; etc.

To keep the lake clean, it must be regularly cleaned of silt and algae. This can be done with a dirty water motor pump and a Bagermaster suction nozzle.

Pond veteran here. You're going to need a water source and you're going to need to aerate that pond. Otherwise all of your hard work with the fish will be for nothing. If you get a dry spell you're gonna need to get water into that pan otherwise the pond while overheat and the fish will cook. If you don't aerate, especially with ducks on the pond, you're going to get algae growth which will choke off the oxygen and that will also kill the fish

How lucky I am to have just found your pond videos. I just purchased 4 acres (Louisiana) this past August and in October I had a pond dug. It's about 80'x90' (7200 square feet) so not all that big, but very compatible to the size of yours. Despite two hurricanes passing by in close proximity and a few rainy days the pond is not filled. I'm confident it will hold water, it's natural soil is that red clay. I planted 8 bald cypress trees by it. This weekend I will try to build a dock for my pirogue before it does fill up. We're having a new well tank installed, and once done I'll run a line to the pond and start to fill it. I am excited to see how your pond develops. I'm one or two steps behind you in my development, so I'll be learning from your experience. Thank you for posting your videos. Keep them up... I'll be watching!

That compacter idea is great, I will try in our farm pond. Thanks buddy.

Nice pond. I have two ponds that I ran PVC pipe to from my deep well. I ran them out a good ways with an upright pipe and put a cap with holes in it. It not only keeps the ponds full during extended dry periods, it aerates the water for the fish. It is a pretty cheap fix and has the added benefit of looking very nice when the fountain is running! You can also solar power a small pump between your well and the pond with the batteries stored in a small shed.

It’s always been my dream to have a pond. Beautiful!

Congratulations Steve! This project was kind of a nightmare pond project!! But I think your persistence will reward you in the end! Best of luck with it filling all the way up, and your future success with fish and and such. Thanks, and best wishes!!!

Persistence is the key! Very happy for you that you're diligence paid off! Recently had my kids fly in to fish our pond it was a great time and my daughter caught two personal best. You can't put a price tag on that. Best wishes for your future pond adventures!

I love this ,,I just moved to southwest Missouri too and am doing the same I have a spring just need to dig it out

If you plant the edges with water plants 🌱 the water will clear naturally 🤔

Really wonderfull, natural and very beautiful. Ducks paradise.

Happy to see it is finally working for you.

I told you the compactor would work, looks great. Hopefully you'll get to fish it next year

Looking great. Gypsum may help with the clarity, but having fish and ducks will probably keep the particles fully suspended. Get some aquatic plants established to use up all that excess nutrient. And as a general rule at least 30 to 50% plant coverage will keep the water clearer and oxygen levels higher, meaning bigger healthier fish. Also it'll reduce algae issues.

I think that those 20 bass will eat ALL of the fry that you put in the pond really quick. I think a better idea is to put all ages of bluegill in and then after the bluegill have been in it for about a year or so, then add some 6 inch bass. That way the bass will have ample forage as they get older. But one bass can eat so many minnows daily that you wouldn't believe it. Also, ask a biologist about the type of forage fish and when to add the bass. I am probably all wrong. So ask a biologist to be sure.

Glad you did an update I’ve been watching for a long time

I have not started my project yet but minimum size was a 50x100 pond. I'm in sandy loam material and did not know if to add $2500 in sodium bentonite or $1400 in clay soil. I was going for 9 ft deep max. This is still my favorite video on pond building.

I can’t wait to see how it fills up after the gutter run off starts flowing in!

Great job, and well put togather videos. Keep up the good work. !!!

Looks good congress on you over sized pool

2nd time today I watch the entire video. My backhoe wont be able to make it tomorrow but I have plenty of time to build the pond. I believe I can do this now.

It's good hunter having habits and habitat. The new concept is miyavaki Forest. Good to try for you. Excellent increase in nature. Enjoy hunting 🙂

You could try setting up a radial flow separator. If you have the intake at or near the surface that would prevent it from sucking up larger particles of sediment near the bottom of the pond, and it would also act as a skimmer. If it works and the turbidity drops enough, aquatic plants should be able to get enough light to start growing at the bottom, and that would help to prevent more sediment from being kicked up into the water column. Even if the turbidity doesn't drop much, it's still good to have circulation. You could also try integrating this with a bog filter like another commenter suggested.

The pond is looking great, well worth the wait.

Looks good I have been going back to the start of the channel quite different from today

Put in the like 12 plastic milk crates tied together. Thats the safe haven for the baby fish. And add in the top floating plants or the cranes will eventually come eat your bigger fish.

It looks like I spam this video but I did testing on my property and found clay 17ft below ground level. I wanted to haul clay material but its about $200 for 10-12yards due to 40+ mile round trip. I found a cool guy in town that has a small Deere 120 excavator and was thinking if to dig the clay out for about 1 day and then build a 10ft deep pond on a different part. I did build 2 small clay lined test ponds and the results appeared good for only having 4 inches of clay. I am thinking on getting close to 12" of clay on walls. Cool video and I always enjoy it.

Looks great! You need aeration or it will soon be an algae toilet. Nice fountain too.

That pond has come a long way! Your hard work has paid off!

Finally an update! pond looks awesome!! alot better then before haha, you could throw in some old Christmas trees as cover also, also might wanna get some tadpoles, great food for the bass, they will grow like crazy on tadpoles and frogs.

Yes for sure get some plants on the edge to clean it naturally.

Great to see it finally holding water. How sweet what a view from the front porch!

Good job. How about a windmill for arration? It should help with clarity.

lmao, a friend of mine stocked my pond fishing at places he knew of that where over stocked. my pond after a few years was crazy full of a mix of fish. had 24 plus inch large mouth bass that would follow you around the edge . blue gill over palm size.

That's a REAL pond. Very nice, makes mine look like a small puddle. Great job sir!!

Should probably build an overflow stream with large rocks. If the water rolls over the top of that pond that whole side wall could collapse and the power of all that water is no joke. Just a suggestion but good looking pond.

Although you mentioned collected stock from "local ponds" it's obvious you collected at least in part from your local stream.. I noticed Northern studfish, stone rollers and Longear sunfish in your video. I have a fair amount of experience with the fishes of Missouri. These mentioned species are stream obligates and won't persist long term in your pond.. I do not expect everyone to be familiar with the 200+ species in your state.

**Slow clap.**. Nice job! Way to stay after it!!

The pond looks really good

Man I wish I had half of your property. Maybe some day I'll have something like it.

This is just too wholesome 🥺

I want to build a fish pond as well. As SOON as you said SW MO I subscribed,haha. I was born and raised in SW MO, that landscape seems similar to ours, so I'd imagine I'll run into the hot initially holding water issue myself. Thanks for the video!! Gonna definitely go check out some more. Have an awesome day!!

Sealing pond and lakes is more complicated than you know. Your description indicates you were trying to compact clay that was over optimum moisture. We will do a sealing video to guide people soon.

buddy proud of you. u tryed and tryed over n over . but you finally won the game against mother nature her self . great job. awsome size yard. i would have a blast there . do a camping ground up for mates too that would look hell lit

That's Cool

Good job

Great that you described how you got this to properly hold water by compacting the clay, really helpful as I'm about to dig a pond myself. Many thanks!

Stack those big rocks you dumped in the lake a few high and the bass will hold to them better. The more obvious and stark the structure the better.

Fantastic video. Great ideas.

Looks nice

Now you need to make an airiator. There are good DIY ones on RU-vid. All it is, is a fiberglass float with a pump on it, with screened inlets, under the water and snorkels aimed straight up, and several out to the sides and the power run in a hose, sealed from the water. Without one, and without natural flow-thru, any fish you put in there will die. The water HAS TO BE AIRIATED. Also, you need to invest into GRASS CARP. They will eat all the mill-foil and the various slimes, but watch out, because Herrons and Cranes will stab them all out. Its a war. Your grass carp will keep your pond clean, but the big long legged birds will eat all of them out. That's what a sling shot or wrist-rocket and a bag of marbles is for.

Cool video that is a nice pond u sure have put in the work to make it hold water & create a good habitat in it,nice job bubba

I have a wet weather pond was considering a pond liner. I will try this maybe this summer with my pond.

I only ever watched your pond videos so I'm glad I cought this lol. Awesome job.

Thank you for sharing, Sir! You may want to clip the ducks wings to prevent them from flying away and make them stay in your pond.

Very nice pond

I like how pond sits down from house water has to run down to fill it smart idea put a waterfall or fountain in keep water moving.

Aquascape beneficial bacteria for your pond is the best bacteria, your pond is beautiful

Amazing!

Bass loves ducklings...

Looks great and great idea with the gutter run off.

You should add a fountain for air for the fish

Looks great!

Great job looks really nice

With a pond of that size you might need to consider winter aeration to prevent a fish killoff

Any idea of making a bridge or a pier? It wud make ur pond look more beautiful,

Love from india 🙏

You can make worms a spot next to the pond. The worms keep going in to feed the food chain.

Way to go!! I hope it works great for you and your dad!

The pond is sure looking good

Fantistic job! It looks AMAZING. The only thing it gives me concern is that your house on the other side of the road seams to be in a level lower than the one of the pond and in case of heavy rains if the pond gets floaded you may have a problem..

That's a lot of bass, the ducks will also eat the bait fish. Wrap some oak pallets in chicken wire, place a few around the pond at different depths. put as many minnows in as you can afford. even if its just stopping by bait shop every payday.

We need to watching the progress

how do you handle the mosquitoes?

The Blue dye helps with the sun not reaching the bottom so flora doesn't have temptation plus it can keep the water a little cooler.

I wish I could own a pond, a small house and a pond I will be so happy, that's all I need and want. Semi off the grid.

Looks very nice! I would be careful with the drainage. If it is metal, it can poison the water, depends on the type of metal

Great lookin habit in front of your house. 👍👍

It is so cool ❤👍👍👍👍🇸🇾

Looking good!

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 man thanks!!!! I been waiting indeed!!! This is very inspiring!!! Need this bro

So cool man! I'm a fan ... I would suggest you will plant more tress around your pond bro ...tress also is a source of water and it will makes your pond look natural

I’ve been wondering how the pond was doing! Looking good!

I mixed claymaterial with 20% Portland cement and a little bit of water, just to damen it spread it in about 3" layers then tamp it. Repeat spreading the 3" mix 2 more times for a total of 3 time or layers and It held the water. This mix is used to make walls that have lasted literally thousands of years, but for the life of me forget what it's called. But when you tamp it give a light spray with a hose. The end results will be as hard a concrete. Good luck. God Bless Everyone

Start to finish! Congrats

Wow

Is there a next chapter of this? Love it!

put a few water fountains for some airation of the water good for the fish and will stop dead spots

Have you met any Koi keepers? There are a few simple things you can do to greatly enhance your ability to keep fish. Keeping outdoor fish has some universal principles.

Looks great! Your hard work paid off.

Love the pond! Added a lot of value to the property too.

Its beautiful Man congratulations on your yard.

Beautiful...Gone 🎣

Looking great

I love the pond bud, but what do you plan to do to ensure it stays full? There may be times in the winter where we don't have much rain in the US where it may dry up due to the low humidity and wind blow that takes water off of ponds rapidly. I only ask because we have an 8 acre pond fed by 3 creeks and during the winter it will stay about 1' low and during drought times I have seen it 2' and 3' low.

I like your country so green with pond is healthy place to stay 💪💪. My country Singapore got nothing healthy 😔. Only condominium 😔

Congrats on the pond. How many bluegill and bass can you keep in it? Looks like about a 1/4 acre?

I have different problem. Can’t dig over 5 ft cuz water comes quickly out the ground. Minnesota

I understand it has been a lot of work but as always I see the hard work has paid off! It really looks Awesome enjoying as always all the video you guys make and yes I comment and enter everyday in everyway Love to Win the hunting Contest!!!!! God Bless