Consider contacting your local union hall. They might use your project as a training exercise for their program.

The first quote that you got sounds like it was a "we really don't want that job, so give them an insane price" quote , hopefully your next two bids are more realistic

Our pond is 2 years old now and we are loving it, but it didn't come without headaches and money. My 1st pond I dug was in Louisiana. Near the Mississippi river. Good clay swamp land. 1/2 acre pond. They dug it and sold the dirt in about 2 weeks. They had to run a pump as they dug because the elevation was at about 1ft above sea level. That pond filled in a week and held water. Easy! Then I moved to Alabama, just north of Birmingham. Totally different ground. I have slight rolling hills. Decided I would dam up between 2 hills for my 1/2 acre. Not so easy! Everything had about 2ft of sandy soil on top. The hill tops was good clay under the sand but the valley between the hills had rock underneath and less clay. 1st crew wasn't pond diggers. They were slow and I was the pond expert of the crew. That's not saying much. They ended up hitting solid rock that they couldn't break through with the excavator. So I had to avoid that area and change the pond layout some. More wasted time/money. We dug most of the sand out and spread some clay from the hill area over the rest of the pond. The dam was about the only thing that was done right. I had to shut the project down because we were fixing to start building the house next to it and money was sparest. During the house building, I watched the unfinished pond collect water and drain quickly. I was heart broken. So close, so much money and yet so far away. So after we got a good way through house building and knew where our money lied, I contacted some guys from the Oneota area that has dug a lot of ponds and knew what had to be done. They had a plan and didn't waste any time. They gave me a price of 12,000 to finish the pond. They expanded the pond deeper into the hill sides to get more good clay.They worked a lot quicker and efficiently than the last crew. Layered and packed the clay throughout the pond forming a bowl of clay for the entire pond. Then they tilled in bentonite to add to the clay. I think I read it swells up 30 times more than clay. They added 2 pallets of bentonite which I think is 100 50# bags if I remember correctly. At this point my pond was perfect and I thought I was done spending money on pond building but mother nature threw a curve at me. We had a drought that year. The few spring showers would rush into my empty pond eroding ditches toward the deep end of the pond. It washed these ditches all the way through my good clay liner. Water was holding at my dam but rain was sparse all spring and summer so evaporation would never let my pond water really build up until the following fall. My pond finally filled but I was losing water at 2in per day through seepage. I knew it was in those eroded ditches. So on to Plan B of the money pit. Yep, we no longer called it the pond. It's the MONEY PIT! The pond would hold water well as long as the water table was up during the wet season. During the summer, it would start sucking my water out the bottom of my pond. I contacted TJ on the pond boss forums. He gave me some studies to do and we determined I had a pretty good feel for where the leaks were, on the valley side of the pond. So he suggested I buy 3 units of Soil Flock, about $700 per unit delivered, to treat 1/4 acre of my pond. My pond was probably 2ft low from full pool. I treated the area I suspected was leaking and in a couple days I went from losing 2in per day to 1/4in per day. I can live with that. Then I discovered that since I didn't treat the top 2ft of my pond with the soil flock, when the water is above that 2ft level it leaks faster. I tried sprinkling more bentonite on the area where the water washes in with heavy rains but it keeps washing it out. I can't seem to seal that area because of the water flow. But my pond is livable now regardless. So that was my battle building a money pit. Taking core samples like you did is a great idea and may have saved me money. Be sure to build you a pond syphon system to pipe your overflow out of your pond. You can google it. I have 2 6in pipe syphons on my pond. They suck dead water from the bottom of your pond where not as many fish are instead of the healthy oxygenated water at the top of the water column where more young fish may get sucked out. It also aids in pond circulation because of the low water pickup. And the money doesn't stop there. LOL But even with the headaches it took to get where I am now, it was worth it. I have 3 boys and they really enjoy the pond. A larger pond is more to build but easier to maintain. A small 1/2ac pond, like I have, needs more attention. It's like an aquarium. I probably have $40,000 in my pond and I didn't have to bring dirt in. I would have less in it, if the second crew would have been on the job from the start. Live and learn. Hope I helped you out with somethings. I love talking about this stuff if you ever want to talk and throw around ideas. I'm helping a friend get his 1ac pond going now. He had some different obstacles to face and spent a lot more money than he imagined it would be. Every pond will have different challenges. No 2 are the same.

FIVE ACRE POND!!!??? Yeesh! Gonna have to watch this.

I would of been out there with the front end loader digging after receiving a $1m quote. 😄 Heck with that contractor.

I love it that LetsDig18 helped out with this.....some of my favorite channels!!

Would’ve been cool to see Chris out there digging but I’m glad he was able to give some advice

So exciting to see you build your dream pond. I did that eighteen years ago to my 7 arce pond. The engineering for my dam, overflow/spill pipe and emergency spillway were calculated and sized to handle the water via runoff, feeder creek, and springs that fed the pond at the time at for approximate maximum flow rates. What I didn't anticipated was the major increase in future water shed from development upstream from formally wooded areas, farms, globe warming and the increase in hurricanes and major rain events. So I would highly suggest that you consider a control valve to lower water levels when needed, oversizing your overflow/spill pipe to handle 4 times as much water through the dam at maximum output. Then please, please add a second emergency spillway so you have one on both sides of your dam that activate at different heights. Lastly, add a deep water pickup over your spill pipe that acts as a trash rack but extends down 4-5 feet or more that pulls water from much lower in the water column and not just from surface. You are building your pond round farms the nutrient loads from fertilizers, farm animals draining from the water shed to your pond will be heavy, that can affect water quality by causes major algae blooms that you will have to manage around. The deep water pickup helps moves nutrients from closer to the pond bottom slowing down mulk buildup adding to the life of your pond. A aeration system with bottom defusers sized for pond would be idea to accomplish this. It would have been cool to see one of my favorite guys Chris from Let'sDig18 building your pond the man is an Artist with a excavator and great eye for detail. I was fortunate to initially stock Tiger Bass from American Sport Fish Hatchery in Alabama and forage fish from Owen Williams in my state of Georgia also supplemental feeding via fish feeds around the pond. The growth rates during first two years was incredible we were catching 3-4lbers two and a half years later. The biggest Bass shocked up during electric survey was 13.8 five years ago and I never fish without catching a 5-6lber. I had so much fun designing and creating structure on the bottom making protected spawning areas for forage fish. I also once year for 4 years stocked trout in the winter to catch and eat during winter months but once the water temps warm the big Bass gorge on them adding pounds to your fish along Treading and Gizzard Shad. Hopefully, you will be able to find compactable clay on your property that you can borrow from so you won't have to truck it in that would save big dollars for you. You and your wife were born for this your pond will be amazing 👏 Can't wait to see you close the valve. 👀

You have to build this farm pond. I am living my dreams through you. God bless you. Boer from South Africa

I'm so glad you're honest about your project and what they cost! 🙌🏼🙌🏼

Those features are pretty cool on the tractor, your daughter is growing like a weed and cute as a button! Have you considered starting a gofundme for the pond, I’m sure everyone that watches this channel would love to help out and pitch in, maybe have different tiers of payment with different perks added to it that could work through your tackle shop and the usage of the new pond. #JustSpitBallinIdeasOfHope 🤷🏻‍♂️

That kid has the best life ever! All those big city kids with all their cultural activities have no idea what they're missing!

I really appreciate how open and honest you are with everything. Your living my dream my friend!

This man is living my dream, at least I can watch and dream one day I can do the same

that quote was ridiculous. hope you get a better quote cause i cant wait to see this pond

YOU GUYS ARE SO CLOSE TO 500K, I remember when you had 150 or a little more... you also inspired me to start my KZfaq channel. but still, you guys have everything I love on your channel! I hope you hit 1 million soon.

Your girl is a living doll

It looks like you've built a nice life for yourself man. Family, farm & fishing. I've been in road construction all my life & that excavation price was highly inflated. I've never built a pond on purpose, not knowing the specifics of the proposal such as how much over excavation, how thick the clay needs to be etc. I'm certain you could find a small dirt moving company that would love to do it for a good ol boy price. You should probably mention the KZfaq exposure they would get, use it as a bargaining tool. Good exposure goes a long ways. Every company I've ever worked for would hang thier hat on a job like that. Moby is mental, crazy aggressive. I love it.

A luxury Hotel for Bass and Bluegill how cool.

Seeing how you are with your family brings warmth and happiness to my heart. You are a lucky man

Super happy for y’all, watched y’all for the longest and to see the family grow makes me hspoy

Dang that quote is about 8 times higher than our 3 1/4 acre pond cost in Texas... im glad your shopping around.

Im old school in a new school world but Im still finding it hard to believe that that dirt onsite wont hold water. Ive built a many of sand dams in my career and they have held fine and dandy. 60K yard is a large amount of dirt to be moved though. I wish I was closer I feel like our 2-3 man crew could knock that out in a couple months! keep me posted

Almost 500k! Great job to you guys and best of luck with the ponds and cant wait to see all the bass in there! Catfish would be pretty awesome too

Good luck to you and your family buddy. I’d love to see the finished pond.

Seems very high and I'm a retired landscaping contractor 35 years in the industry

I’m am so confused on how you don’t have 1 mil subs. Your videos are so interesting, how could you not like them

Love the tractor. My uncle is a farmer and when I was younger I always went with him to cut the grass, or anything on the tractor really, and I always sat on the buddy seat. Still remember how not comfortable it was when riding on bumpy terrain:) Nowadays I am allowed to drive the tractor myself, even though I am 16 and don’t have a license yet, but that’s not an issue as long as you are on your own property. Good luck with the pond/lake!

Amazing content as usual! Wonderful Family as well!

Cool project, can't wait to see how it turns out!

This video made me smile, great tanks, great pond, exemplary tractor.

Congratulations on your new Farm . I sure hope one day I could go out fishing with you. Big fan from Massachusetts

What a beautiful family. You are so lucky.

So hyped to see how this turns out!

Sarah is getting so big,😁😁

If you havent got the new mower yet.. look at a Woods Bat Wing... AWESOME warranty!!!! Its what we use on our farm. Along with 2 6ft Woods, and 2 more Woods finish mowers... But we are on 600 acres with 3 ponds and 8 miles of roadside... lol

Love the channel, can't wait to see the finished pond. Keep up the good content.

It’s so crazy to see how big the mobester has grown! I remember when you first caught him and how small he is. Or when he ate so much he literally had a shiner half way out of his mouth. Love this channel and love seeing you subs grow. Next stop 1 mil

Good luck with the new pond.. greetz from Belgium!!

"He should be eating good tonight" *finishes shiners in 10 seconds*

I am also a controls engineer and I put in a compactlogx PLC for my brothers pigpen. It controls the misters based on temp and I programmed a radio to come on at night to keep away the coyotes at night. I do a lot of big projects and this was just satisfying for some reason. So make those ducks spoiled with your knowledge and skills.

Gosh this is great. You guys look happy.

Looking forward to this project can’t wait to see what it will look like

I hope you guys are able to get your pond built, I wish I could help you guys out, but I'm a little to far north. Fresh picked spinach is the best. Also, good to see the turtles are doing so well.

Can you please do a every single pet timeline/update video??? That would be amazing!!!

That’s absolutely nuts. Now that you have the tractor you can definitely cut down on some time by doing some digging yourself. But, I still can’t see this being less than a house cost for all the materials and labor involved. I’d probably guess the range would be about 100k/acre on the LOW end. Keep us flooded with updates Stephen and Liz. Thanks for the video as always.

Moby and all your pets and pond projects are so cool

Can't wait to see the progress on the pond. I live on a 3+ acre pond and love it. I need to get some under water camera gear for it. Any suggestions?

I do estimates for a living and $1million to install a five acre lake sounds about right to be. This isn’t digging a hole snd filling it with water, it’s a highly engineered and technical build. Also that contractor is going to be married to this project for probably over a year if not more. How much is your time worth? And also, let’s be frank. No one needs a 5 acre bass pond, this is a luxury item. Good luck shopping it, be weary of the low bid. And If you go with the low bid don’t expect perfection

Check out the price of cut grass bales with the farmers in the region. With 80 acres of grass, you could make a couple of hundred thousand in a year and a half and pay off the work as it goes. The guy suggesting contacting the local union hall is a great one.

Been looking forward to this for a long time!!!

been watching alot of chris/letsdig lately, awesome to hear someone else recommended that just as I was thinking about it haha. Great video as always :)

Just amazing I wish I could have that

It will be worth the wait for sure

Can’t wait for the pond build!

Check out Concrete impregnated canvas. It's easy to install and really solidifies your dam.

What a great project ! 👍🏼

She will have a lot of fond memories growing up around the farm. To guard that garden try posting up some blood packets, we used to buy them at the farm bureau, the smell spooks the deer maybe not hogs though, we never had those, just deer and elk.

Hopefully your channel blows up after that pond build mannn thats a dream come true to have so much land

If you weren't in Alabama I'd happily come dig your pond, but like letsdig its along way from Missouri for me to come dig it. I hope you get someone reasonable.

It would be really cool in the future if you built cabins out there and rent them out to fans. Little catch and release fishing and relaxation by the water. I would definitely come out!

His kid is adorable

SO CLOSE TO 500K SUBSCRIBERS

Good times right there, hope ya get a cheaper quote!

This channel is so underrated. Always produces great content.

I love these fish!

Wow I haven't watched your videos in so long Sarah grew so much that makes me sad how much I mist

It's cool that you get your shiners from a company in the county I live in.

Check with the guys that build the catfish ponds up around Greensboro union town demopolis area

Bama bless the family and all ur accomplishment

I have 4 deer that come into my small yard every night and I got sick of them eating from my garden so I decided to plant a small food plot for them and ever since they won't touch my garden!

hi im in uk love this channel it the 2 best on you tube may come to be 1 best channel....LOVE IT

If you're really looking to do a decent produce garden I'd highly recommend building a green house and doing a hydroponic garden. Very high output and they'll grow quicker and bigger! As for the pond I'm really sorry to hear about there not being any dense clay. A possible alternative for Clay you could probably try liner sealed together. Cover in sand after the sealant cures. Only down side is having to do it partly by hand.

Here before 500k subs! (499k) Congrats BamaBass

Keep up the good work

You try any of the Cortes? Dexter built all of their lakes.

These are the best vids on youtube

cant wait to watch the build :) stay safe pce

Literally building your dream pond from the ground up.. or down I should say :-) Your kids are going to be absolute bass slayers!

Almost at 500k subs hope you get there

Congrats on half a million subs, crazy number

Praying for you! Hope you can find someone cheaper, Moby deserves it lol

Great videos. What is the final cost of the pond after it has now been dug and mostly finished? Any reason you did not put in a flowing well and skip the pressure tank and power needed to run a standard well? I see you installed 2 wood duck houses but put them onshore. If you are looking to attract wood ducks, place them so the ducklings can drop straight into the water upon fledging. Although in a bass pond, the bass will consume the baby ducks. If the homes were installed for other species of ducks, you may want to install a different style duck nest. Most ducks will not enter that style house, they seem to prefer a round straw style home.

Letsdig is awesome

Wow, so cool !!!!!!!!!!!!!, what no $1M pond

Building your own lake cant wait to see you get that done

Best of luck to you buddy

Nice family,nice farm. Ready for some more froggin' videos !

I had a 1/4 acre pond enlarged into a 5 acre lake here in Missouri. It was one guy on a bulldozer. Final cost $15,000. My wife thought that was highway robbery until my next door neighbor put in a swimming pool for $20,000. I told her a 5 acre hole in the ground is way bigger than the pool hole in the ground and it was less. So we built.

Nice. Need to have a waterfall for the pond and maybe a slide so you can go swimming in it too

That pond gonna have some million dollar fish by the end of the year.

Wow i will def donate to the new monster pond build

Almost to 500k!

thats a nice tractor ,

So close to 500k

hell yeah. Moby's a beast now look at um! 🤠 I'd say keep those two in back move him out to the big one. But I dunno he might blow a gasket. once he sees he's back in open water might be best to stick him in the pond and put the other two out in the big lake. That's a a tough one cuz I like seeing both bonnie and clyde still in there with them being the first but might be time to change it up! 😎

Worth it

I’m ready for some Turkey videos can’t wait

I am the founder/CEO of a non profit for autistic and ADHD children in NH. I will be building a castle for them and a trout filled moat will be 15' deep and 90' across...just like your dam. You are a motivation to me my friend! I would incorporate the beautiful land as well as than awesome pond and call it "Moby pond acres". Probably not cool enough of a name to get me there to see it all however that would be awesome. We are in the early stages of getting 184 acres with a 7 acre pond already on it. We will have a horse farm for equine therapy for these wonderful children and build a 150'x150' 4 story castle with 4 towers on each corner. I will enjoy your adventure with enthusiasm for ideas. Good luck and have fun in your project.

The little girls huge now. She can actually walk