There is a lot of stresses the fish endure. It freezes hard every winter and is only fed by groundwater during the later summer months (I think), because the creek feeding it dries up.
By critters I mean leeches, frogs, snakes, and a disgusting amount of free swimming shrimp, (about an inch long when mature) and all kinds of other tasty morsels for a bass. The bottom of the pond is almost entirely covered with vegetation too.
The pond had no fish whatsoever when I started. And now it only has SMB. The mass kills involve fish about 6-8 inches in length, I havn't seen anything bigger. The other thing that boggles me is there always seems to be an abundance of forage. And even the small ones are little porkers.
One side of the pond is covered with a giant pile of cobblestones, I've been thinking of introducing some crayfish.
Im with you, I think there is just too much competition, is there a way to slow spawning?
