A fish stocking pond can be as basic as a large metal drum filled with water and a few plants, but that would certainly not be aesthetically pleasing. Many ponds in the past were constructed by tamping clay-like soil into a solid base, establishing areas of brush and debris on the bottom, and allowing aquatic vegetation to propagate naturally around the perimeter.
Concrete or clay forms have been used as fishponds in the past, but without some sort of flexible lining material, the invariable cracks in such surfaces usually prove to be increasingly problematic as they age. These cracks allow water to escape and ultimately contribute to pond failure.
Although these traditional “fishing holes” are the basis for modern stock ponds, the last several decades have introduced some significantly better ways to build and maintain functional fish habitats.
Once you have decided on the location, configuration and bottom contours of the fishpond, you are ready to excavate the site. The best ponds will have some slope built into the sides and bottom, so that there are different depths available to the fish that will inhabiting your new pond. Protected spawning areas, in depths from two to four feet, are desirable near the pond perimeter, and they should have some shade and underwater protection. Shoreline trees can be ideal.
Use existing terrain and ground conditions to help determine the shape of the pond and remember that natural ponds normally do not have sharp angles or corners. Although it might be easy to excavate a simple rectangle, some curves and a varied shoreline will ultimately be more pleasing.
Different Types of Ponds
According to the Pond Planning, Design and Construction Handbook produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), more than 2.1 million ponds existed by 1980, built by Americans on privately-owned land. Partially fueled by an increasing need for water to serve a variety of purposes that included livestock, fish production, crop irrigation, fire protection, energy conservation, landscape improvement and erosion control as well as recreational purposes and wildlife habitat, the forecast was that many more ponds would be needed in the future.
The USDA handbook details requirements for two types of ponds; an embankment model and excavated ponds. Although much of the information is technical, the handbook provides basic information for anyone considering a fish stocking pond, including some calculations for minimum depths in various parts of the nation and how to locate a pond property based on ecological considerations. It can be an invaluable resource as you begin to plan your pond installation. Access the full handbook here.
This USDA publication states:
“Many land users are finding that fish production is profitable. A properly built and managed pond can yield from 100 to 300 pounds of fish annually for each acre of water surface. A good fishpond can also provide recreation and can be an added source of income should you wish to open it to people in the community for a fee. Ponds that have a surface area of a quarter acre to several acres can be managed for good fish production. Ponds of less than 2 acres are popular because they are less difficult to manage than larger ones. A minimum depth of 8 feet over an area of approximately 1,000 square feet is needed for best management.”
