The fishing ponds of rural landowners’ dreams become realities when they combine thorough planning with careful construction. All it requires is a suitable plot of land, the time and energy to plan effectively, and the financial resources to pay for professional services.
Planning for Fishing Pond Construction
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website, Ohio Pond Management: Pond Construction page, some properties are more suited to pond construction than others. Consulting a topographical map of the area will reveal vital information about the watershed. Where does water flow on the property? Dams should not be constructed to obstruct the flow of existing streams, since such a barrier would have severe negative effects on areas currently dependent upon that waterway’s flow, and such streams may carry too much silt and undesirable organisms into the pond.
Water that fills the pond will come from the surrounding drainage areas. Elements to consider are the amount of rainfall the area receives, and uses of surrounding land. Fertilizers and animal waste may be in runoff from agricultural land, and contaminates from industry may also have released undesirable chemicals into the watershed. Watersheds that are too small will not produce enough water to keep a pond of suitable fishing habitat size filled. When watersheds are too large for the size of the pond, managing large influxes of water will be a problem.
The ODNR website advises, “Pond size and depth may be dictated by the intended uses of the pond. Ponds designed for sportfishing should not be smaller than one surface acre because smaller ponds tend to be more difficult to manage. Large ponds are generally more cost effective to build and offer better and more sustainable fishing. A minimum depth of eight feet or more should be maintained in at least 25 percent of the pond basin.” In cold climates, 25% of the pond should have a depth of 10 to 12 feet to allow for overwintering of fish.
Landowners will achieve best results by consulting professionals, including the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service and the county Soil and Water Conservation District during the pond planning stages.
Constructing a Fishing Pond
There are two types of ponds, embankment and excavated. Sites with a relatively steep slope and a more or less level basin are well suited to embankment ponds, while excavated ponds are an appropriate choice for flat or slightly sloping terrains. Excavated ponds may not require costly dam construction.
All soils are porous, some more than others. According to Bob Lusk, in his article, "Thoughtfully Building a Fishing Pond", (The Ultimate Bass Fishing Resource Guide), “All soils leak. Clay soils leak less. Read soil maps, and then dig test holes to look for clay soils. To build a dam, you need compactable soils, at least 30% clay.” Clay can be hauled in and added if only a small amount of additional clay soil is needed to prepare the site.
The pond will require spillways to manage water flow. According to the ODNR website, a drain pipe should also be installed when possible, to allow for draining or drawing down the pond. A drain pipe can also facilitate using the pond for a water source. As Lusk explains, “A dam is a water management structure.”
Nick Scaglione recently built a fishing pond on family property in southern Ohio. Scaglione cautions, “Hire a good contractor.” The contractor will not only excavate a basin to hold water, but he will sculpt the terrain to create a pond that has the right structural features to provide optimal fish habitat. Too shallow areas along the banks are an invitation for invasive vegetation. Stumps, lumps, and underwater drop-offs provide cover for fish.
Stocking a Fishing Pond
According to the ODNR website, Ohio Pond Management: Stocking the Pond, “Some of the finest fishing in Ohio for largemouth bass, bluegills, and channel catfish can be found in farm ponds that have been properly stocked and managed.” Scaglione stocked his 1.5-acre pond with largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, minnows, redear sunfish, and hybrid sunfish. The ODNR website advises that, while a properly managed pond can support self-sustaining populations of bass and bluegills, channel catfish will require periodic restocking. Grass carp may also be introduced, to control vegetation.
A landowner who builds a fishing pond transforms the landscape, creating a body of water that provides habitat for sport fish, but also for birds, amphibians, and insects that gather around the pond. Deer and other wildlife may visit the pond to drink. In a season or two, after the scars of construction have healed and grown over with natural vegetation, the pond will seem as though it has always been a feature of the land.
Brenda Layman - I grew up in eastern Kentucky in a family that hunted, fished, hiked, and camped regularly. Although I moved to Ohio to become a teacher ...
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