ok so I've been thinking about putting pads in a 5-7 acre pond, gradual sloping banks to about 7-8 feet with a few 12ft spots. mud bottom for the most part. only solid bottom is the now the old pond damn about 4 feet under. no cover in this pond and it needs some help. it was drained and all fish removed about 12 yrs ago. has been full for about 7 years. bream the size of your hand are a regular catch, the bass are lacking in size but not stunted. i want some cover before i add shad and minnows. what ya say people

pic of pond. the fish is about 3lbs and considered huge for this pond...lol. the blue gill base is amazing, average is the size of your hand and bigger

When thinking on different types of structure or habitat prioritize by the main species in the pond. Dense material for the smaller and young fish, then sparse material for the larger predator, and keep them in strategic points for concentration-fishing. Shad are an open water species while your minnows will prefer dense material, rocks, etc.. Minnows will attach their eggs on structure that allows it to be hanging upside down. You can pm for more information.

Very nice looking pond, very fishy looking. In my experience, the very best structure is provided by natural wood....fish prefer it over anything else in my ponds.

I'd suggest you consider taking some relative weight measurements on your bass...and nothing wrong with hand sized bream, in my book.

By the way that old submerged dam provides great terrain for bass.

yea I want more wood in it just without a flat bottom since someone else needed it worse then me. so I have no way as of right now to sink any. I was just thinking pads to enhance my style of fishing. the old dam surprisingly dosent hold any fish anymore not sure why. I do want to get rid of the brush on the bank to allow more access. lots of plans little time. the crawfish forage is excellent and they are also very big. find a few crawling up the banks everytime I go out. just feel like it needs more bait fish and structure for them to hide in

Whachu talkin' 'bout "pads? Lilies or American lotus?

If so, slap yourself silly and back again. Especially don't put no lotus in that pond. Not unless that's all you want, a pond completely covered in lotus pads from now on and forever and ever (the seeds of lotus can last for over 5000 years and still germinate). That and buy some stock in Monsanto, you gonna be buyin' the aquatic equivalent of rounder-all-up an' lots of it, just to see some water. Nooooo don' do that.

Shad hardly need any "cover" in the traditional sense, they are pelagic (open water) most of the time. Sunfish (ream, bluegill, redear, etc.) and minnows, OTOH need lots. If you got a lot of big sunfish it may be 'cause most the little ones done been ate up.

Listen to Meadowlark, I seen his place and he's got some very nice ponds with more'n nice fish in 'em.

At my place (I run a fishin' camp) we use both natural wood (tree limbs and such) and lumber, especially 2 x 4's stuck vertically into the bottom in what we call "stake beds" that attract fish and are easy to fish around without gettin' too hung up.

I done hadda deal with lotus an' lilies, an' it is $$$$$. Stay away.

was thinking of pallets either stacked or layed over, have access to bamboo so planed on adding it. maybe a few pvc trees but really don't feel like spending the cash. I like the idea of a stake bed I have plenty of left over wood. I'm still researching what pad, I don't want them to get to over grown to fast and don't need them to get to deep. thanks for the replies so far

You don't want to add "pads" to your lake, big, big mistake. They will take over any water 6 feet or less. Use cedar trees, large wood laydowns, Rocks, and artificial structures to create habitat.

The pond looks great from that pic.

No expert but I would agree with the guys on here who are. NO PADS.

Go with the wood and stake beds, pallets will work like you said, something for the smaller sunfish to hide in.

You mentioned bamboo? I am thinking thats also not a good idea.

Really good looking pond you have there! Listen to Salex and fishbreeder and meadowlark those guys know their stuff. No pads and god no bamboo!

Good luck! Keep us posted.

If you're set on pads or lotus you might want to look at the tropical varieties sold for ornamental ponds . They'll die off in winter but you can keep some of them alive in the house or barn until the next spring . It's a lot of work but still an option .

I've done that bit, put 'em in a big pot and in water around 2 to 4 feet, depending on water clarity. Even if they get outa the pot, like tilapia, they can't take the cold and will die off entirely in colder winters, die back in warmer ones. Then instead of the whole lily, take the offshoots and grow them in another pot for overwintering in a greenhouse. You can replant the big pot each spring. We put new dirt an' fertilizer in when we replant.

The most very coolest one of all is the "Victoria" lily from S. America. It gets humongous pads, but the underside of them pads is spinier'n a cross 'tween a rose bush an' a white bass. Don't get close or you'll start bleedin' like a stuck pig.