Any more updates?

Yessir-
Day 1 with only 1 dozer, they will run 2 tomorrow-

Cool project for sure. Get your grandkids involved and they will really love and appreciated it more than just fishing

Yessir I’ve had three out here this evening and they are very excited-

He is another for scale-

That’s awesome. Try to make it a point they are there for every fish stocking . Also start building your dock now or as soon as they are finished

My two sons were there this evening also and they are already planning the dock,
We have 6 kayaks between us and a kayak “boat house” is in the plan also-
From the dam to the shallow end should be close to 3/4 of a football field.
I know there are many bigger ponds out there but this one is mine, it’s what I have and we are all excited to enjoy it.
I appreciate the interest and the tips, this is a first for me.

I know y’all are going to enjoy it. The process is as rewarding as the catch. Doesn’t matter if it’s 3/4 of and acre or 50 acres. Watching it grow is like Christmas every morning.

Lol-
I have been referring to this pond using the Christmas analogy several times now.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been this giddy about something.

When mom and dad bought the Ribbit and I had a new 15 acre lake to work with it was a dream come true. I wasn’t part of the build and initial bait stocking, but the rest I’ve been right there. I tell people Ribbit lake is my second child and the management is as fun as the reward. Watching friends come out and have the opportunity to catch a DD gets me fired up. Seeing them catch their PB gives me almost more joy than me catching a DD. The only one who can top my excitement will be when Riley catches her first DD

So we had the first good rain since the dig, it at least made a puddle, then after the storms Wednesday night, just over 3 inches filled it up about halfway, it still needs to finish filling the main pond, and then fill the shallow end.

Did you survey to understand where the shoreline will be when filled? No flat area with washed gravel for spawning?

As far as the shoreline yes he had lasers for that-
No on the gravel, plenty of flat area when it fills.

You should think about getting just one load of washed rock, it can be spread a bit as dumped, making hand work limited. Now is the one opportunity to make a big improvement that will last for a very long time. The fish will fan silt off of it for years to come.

One inexpensive idea I heard of guys doing for spawning areas was taking kiddie pools, placing those in a likely spawning areas and filling them with gravel. Seen them put say half a dozen along a bank. Story is bass will use them later sunfish will use them.

When the sunfish move in to spawn on them... thats where you fish for the bass with your bluegill swimbaits

I like that Dan, I’ll check into doing this, I’ll let you know.
We got some more water last rain, it’s at about 60% now.
We’ve already put in over 120 various bluegill/sunfish from the pond next door and the creek, also a bunch of crawdads, my fish farm stock comes in may 1st.
My 10 yo grandson caught this nice one yesterday and I met him put it in there, but I’m wanting to hold off on more bass until I get a better forage base-