Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss I wish I had a smallmouth pond

I finally got my pictures from my trip to Lake Kagawong on Manatoulin Island. I now see why there are so many who want these fierce fighters in their ponds. I had more fun catching these fish than I have ever had catching LM. This had 16' visibility and a rocky bottom like most Ontario lakes. We caught well over 100 of these babies!

WOW.

You could always add them to your pond.

Outside of the clear water of this lake I noticed tons of crawfish. The fish were full of them, coughing them up as I was reeling them in. One would cough one up then another one would come up and eat it again. I have my banks lined with #2 limestone. I wonder if I could establish a population of crawfish? Has anyone had any luck in doing so in a farmpond with an existing population of predators?

Yes, I have. My first SMB stocking was a total of 350 SMB ranging from 3" to 7". This was done in the spring and fall of the same year.

I already had LMB, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bullheads, and Yellow Perch in the pond.

A lot of those fish did make it, and they are doing well.

Then a few years later, I got the broodstock from a hatchery that was getting out of the smallie business. That was crazy and lucky.

Crawdads are not a necessity for SMB, but there are quite a bonus.

I say go for it, and start saving up for your B.I.S.A. initiation/membership dues.

But remember, being an S.O.B.* is free!

* - Smallmouth's Our Bass

Theo, that would be a valid threat to B.I.S.A. if and only if anyone had actually paid their membership dues.

This apathy is killing us over here at B.I.S.A.

Sunil, I intend to join B.I.S.A. when I stock my smallies. As for your apathy problem, I don't care.

I just called my fish guy to see if he's gonna have any smallie fingerlings this fall. What does he mean when he asks "do you have your card"?

It seems as though we're all trying for a "good" bloom in our ponds. Why are lakes like this so productive when the water looks so sterile?

The clear water lakes esp in the north are not as productive as many think just because they are catching lots of fish. Many times those fish are concentrated for numerous reasons in just 10% of the water so it seems the lakes are full of fish. Go there when the fish are not concentrated or they are not biting and you will not think the lake is so productive. Fishery biologist studies or sampling events on the clear lakes show the lake has "normal" fish density for the respective water clarity and total number of acres of water. Example - Studies have shown that in northern lakes (often clearer water) walleyes are present at only 1.5-9 fish per acre. At an average of 4 walleye or probably SMB/ac that is only 2000 WE-SMB in 500 acres of water. But when angling where fish are concentrated and biting, it seems the lake is full of fish - rarely is that true esp if the water is clear (In-Fish Aug-Sep 2002).

Thanks BC, that makes a lot of sense. I think having a lot less angler pressure and the fish being able to see your lure easily has a lot to do with catching so many fish too.

Ryan - Those factors of less angling pressure and seeing the lure from a distance also have a lot to do with what appears as high productivity in the larger clear lakes. As most of you know, lure choice and the way it is fished can also make big differences in how many fish are caught. One has to remember just because you are catching a lot of fish does not always mean the water is productive. It always depends.

Here is one I caught yesterday from our pond, 12-3/4", the SMB averaged 8-1/4" last year when I turned them loose on 5/30/06.