Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Advice on Smallmouth as 1st predator.

Interesting reading guys - one can see where YP might be a benefit when mature, at keeping BG populations in check, especially from Fall-Spring in a northern pond, according to that study. I guess in a SMB/BG/YP population, they would have to be or BG would eventually become overabundant, especially if SMB do target YP young over BG.

Where SMB are concerned - I would expect them to feed on YP over BG as long as abundant - or at least as much. That being the case, the older classes YP might have to be counted on to thin the YOY BG in the winter months.

Personally, I think "put and take" trout might accomplish the same goal. I'd suspect that 8-12"+ trout would be particularly effective on BG less then 2", especially in the winter. In my situation, while I don't have any YP yet - I have a dozen trout that were put in just for the kids to catch. I'd suspect that with no other minnow population - they are targeting the YOY BG currently. That is one of the reasons I'm not too worried if I don't get SMB in before spring. I did however talk with the Hickling's - and they have 3" SMB that I hope to put in around Oct 20th. I just need to decide between 25 and 50. I'm considering compromising, and putting in around 35 or so ($2.50/ea). Next spring, depending on their growth I will maybe add some more SMB and Yellow perch.

Thanks for the help and interest.

FH

F-H - When you get your SMB from Hickling be sure to check with them if they will have or plan to have SMB in the Spring. Usually in spring SMB are very, very hard to find because almost all hatcheries sell out of SMB in the fall. The hatcheries that have SMB in the spring intentionally do not sell all their bass in fall to save some for spring sales. Although this is rare to do this because of the risk of losing the bass fingerlings during bad winter weather.

The option of using put and take trout in fall-winter-spring to help comsume small BG should be a good idea. One easy way to determine if the trout are eating small BG is to examine the stomach contents of several trout that are caught just befor freeze up, through the ice, or in early spring after ice thaw. I would be very interested to hear if the trout (pellet trained) will consume BG during winter ice cover.