I stocked 2# of FHM last fall and 6# this spring in a new 1 acre pond. The last week or so I have noticed 1-2 dead adult FHM around the pond. When I use the minnow trap I catch what seem to be very healthy FHMs, but I seldom see any around the banks swimming. When the pond was built I put quite a lot of structure in the 3-6' depths (huge stumps, pallets, etc) so I am wondering if they stay in these areas. My question is if the morts are possibly due to spawning stress, old age (I read that they live 12-16 months) or should I be looking further?

IMO I wouldn't worry about seeing a dead one now and then. As you pointed out, they don't live that long and, with no predators to eat the dead and dying, you will see some.

When I first stocked my pond with FHM they also disappeared. In the absence of predators, they spread out everywhere. Once you introduce predators they will pretty much move to the shallow water.

I did also stock some perch 4-6" and 6-8" this spring so I am a bit surprised that I don't see more in the shallows. If it weren't for successfully trapping the FHMs it would be hard to know that they are even there.

Maybe there aren't enough perch to put pressure on them to drive them into the shallows. My small pond only had BG, YP, and FHM in it right now and I don't see any in the shallows either. However, they come up in droves to nibble AM 400.

My experience with BG and FHM is that the FHM will use the whole pond till the BG get large enough and aggressive, then you will only find them around the shore line or where they have good cover.

In my sediment pond (that only has RES and BG up to maybe 6" mostly, no LMB), if I walk around the edge some half grown FHM will scare out a foot or two from the bank. The BG will hammer them. The BG is not necessarily successful, but I'm sure they will be as they get bigger.

I have found if you want to have a FHM pond to raise minnows, you don't want BG in there also unless you want only modest FHM production. I had them so thick looked like you could walk on them till the BG started getting some size. They are definitely hugging the edge of the pond now.

With out cover in our pond the perch have cleaned out all the FHM. It is rare to catch one in the minnow trap at all any more.

Once the perch and BG get big enough to prey on them its would be best to have some good cover for them.

Cheers Don.