"Will they leave any FHM or gams to spawn in spring? If so, will they have enough head start to stock BG and LMB in late spring?" It's a harder one to answer. I am not stocking any this fall because I want the fry to flourish a little bit more than they have been. Yes, the RBT will knock back the FHM population. How much and is that ok depends on what you want and do. Feeding the RBT will help the FHM out, as the trout go for an easy meal. But they still will munch on those FHM if its easy. When the RBT get bigger, my guess 12", they will be more of a predator to them and other small fry. Also, how much do you treasure your LMB,BG fishery. If your real goal is that, then maybe you don't stock any RBT and really let the baitfish flourish so when you stock the LMB and BG they will really get a good start.



That is part of my problem...I'm not sure what I want anymore! When I started this project I was just looking to build a swimming hole for the kids. After spending hours and hours of research here on PB I have changed to wanting a fishing pond. The problem is I am not a fisherman, so I don't know what my priorities are as far as which fish I like. Most lakes around me have RBT, but everyone here does BG,LMB. I want the fishing to be great for the kids. My fishing experiences as a kid were quite poor so I never took a liking to it. Simple maintenance is also a priority since I don't live on site. I'm thinking I will stock the trout once before I stock BG,LMB and probably never stock again because once the LMB are there I wont be able to stock RBT without the bass eating them.

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
Winston Churchill