SMB in ponds are a great predator and usually easy to catch very similar to LMB. SMB bite a wide variety of lures and live baits. They do become hook smart with frequent angling pressure similar to LMB and BG. SMB usually do not produce an over abundance of small bass common for LMB. This can be good where better and easier predator control is desired. SMB like LMB both have benefits depending on ones goals and needs of the fishery for good balance. I would look for some hardy hybrid water lilies (garden pond nursery?) and plant a few in your pond so they can become established before the predators are introduced. Hybrid Lilies are noninvasive spread relatively slow and are good open water season cover for minnows. Avoid wild white water lilies, spatterdock, and water shield. With SMB in the pond you will need a significant amount of vegetation cover to provide small minnows enough refuge to protect some breeders for the next spawning year. Predators can easily become too abundant when just smaller sized minnows are the main forage fish.
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=110943#Post110943Good identification by CJ for the brassy minnow.
