Why do I like having my own private pond? I can get up in the morning and just drop down for some quiet time and this...

3 pounds of brownie at 8 o'clock in the morning...

And... yes... it went back alive and well.

You have a private pond with smallies.....i am envious!

jeff

I just moved down to FL and I have a lake in my back yard and so far I have put 12 hogs in there, minimum of 2lbs. Starting my own fishing spot so I can wake up drop my line in and catch a big one.

That's a pleasure for sure.

You have a private pond with smallies.....i am envious!

jeff

Oh... it has Smallies, Largemouth, Spotted, Hybrid Bluegill, regular Bluegill, crappie, and catfish.

Oh... it has Smallies, Largemouth, Spotted, Hybrid Bluegill, regular Bluegill, crappie, and catfish.

Wow.....now I am really jealous!

Jeff

You stock your pond from SML ?

No. It was already like this to an extent. Several people I know have brought fish over the years and dumped without asking but I did not due to the threat of gill maggot. I never knew, until a few years ago, that we had them anyway. Not really bad but still have them.

cool deal smallies in a pond!! only smallies around here are in the river. How big is that pond? does it have good flow? Looks like a healthy fish!

It is about 250'x250'. Spring fed and excellent flow. Due to the bottom... it is almost black in color but the water is clear. Runs about 15 feet deep.

I just wondered your photos from a couple months ago appeared to be at a pond or farm. All the photos had the same house in back round and a farm gate in one of them. It appeared like they were in the live well at your house or something. Anyway just wondered.

What kind of bottom is it, if you don't mind me asking? Also, how's the aquatic vegetation situation? Pond management interests me immensely...other than sending my daughter to college someday, my goal in life is to build my own pond. smallies are my favorite freshwater fish. Your post has me drooling!

I just wondered your photos from a couple months ago appeared to be at a pond or farm. All the photos had the same house in back round and a farm gate in one of them. It appeared like they were in the live well at your house or something. Anyway just wondered.

Good notice. Those from that pic were brought to the house as we were going to have a fry but decided they should go back. My buddy, who was with me and lives near SML took them back in a portable live well i use in my jonboat. They did live but we decided it could have stressed them very much so will not do that again. Strictly catch and release unless they are slated for the dinner table.

What kind of bottom is it, if you don't mind me asking? Also, how's the aquatic vegetation situation? Pond management interests me immensely...other than sending my daughter to college someday, my goal in life is to build my own pond. smallies are my favorite freshwater fish. Your post has me drooling!

The bottom is mostly decomposing leaves near the end of the pond. Several patched of lilly pads and grass in the shallow end. This pond is about 150 years old. Our farm is an old tobacco farm that was part of a larger farm since the 1700's. This pond was built in the late 1800's and it is very well established. We stocked catfish and the hybrid bluegill. The bass and crappie were there when we bought it about 20 years ago. More than likely... someone put the smallies there from someplace else. We very seldom take fish out except for the bluegill and crappie. Occasionally... when we catch a big cat it comes out. There are not many big fish in there. Most average under 3 pounds. There is one 7lb and a 14lb Large in there that get caught every so often. Most of the smallies end up around the 1 pound size. I have seen smallies on beds so I know they are breeding which I know is unusual in a pond so I know they have been there a while or came from another still water environment. BTW... frogs seem to be the food of choice with the bass as i have had them barf up parts and topwater works almost all spring and summer.

nice fish!