Pond Boss
Posted By: SetterGuy Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/24/19 01:51 PM
Quick question. I stocked 60 SMB in our 1 ac pond October 10 of 2015. Last one caught a week or so ago was at 17”. Consensus was to keep it, and eat it. I overruled the group as I’m the pond manager and returned it. It’s got me thinking though. How old do SMB get, in a pond? Water stays pretty cool during the summer. No spring feeding it though. No aeration. I do have a feeder going off twice a day, but not dumping a lot of food. I think the HBG are getting most of the food. (Even though I’m feeding 50% Optima LMB feed.)
I believe I’ve had at least one successful spawn. Son in law caught a small 6” SMB last summer.
Will they get really hookshy and become uncatchable? Just wondering when we should start keeping some. (We have kept two of the 60 in the last couple of years).
Thanks,
Jeff
Posted By: Mike Whatley Re: Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/24/19 02:03 PM
If you've caught 6" subordinate sized SMB, then you've definitely had at least one partially successful spawn. I "THINK" the avg lifespan of SMB is about 7 years.

If you have crawfish in your pond, you could set a trap for them to make them gather in that area, then fish around the trap to see what you catch. The bass will congregate around the trap trying to get at the crawfish.
Posted By: SetterGuy Re: Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/24/19 03:03 PM
Very few crayfish in the pond. I stocked some three years ago. Just saw the first two this year. Lots of big rock piles. I haven’t really tried to trap any. Just use a fish trap?
Seven years is what I was hoping for. How big do they get? Have you heard of them getting hook shy?
Thank you!
Posted By: Mike Whatley Re: Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/24/19 04:17 PM
You dont really want to trap them, just provide an attraction for them to congregate. A milk crate with a weighted solid bottom, a sock filled with cheap dog food, dropped near one of those rock piles. The cranws can crawl in and feed, but the bass wont be able to get to them except for those outside the box. They'll pile up around the area looking for an easy meal. A small jig, tube jig or curl tail grub should get you bit pretty quick.
Posted By: Snipe Re: Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/24/19 06:22 PM
Here's what I'm using as my "Bible" on this..
Scroll down and look at the charts..

https://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/growing-smallmouth-bass.html
Posted By: SetterGuy Re: Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/24/19 07:30 PM
Originally Posted By: Snipe
Here's what I'm using as my "Bible" on this..
Scroll down and look at the charts..

https://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/growing-smallmouth-bass.html


Wow! Fantastic. Thank you so much! Great info. Saw a familiar name in there too. wink
Posted By: Augie Re: Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/24/19 07:56 PM
Originally Posted By: SetterGuy
Originally Posted By: Snipe
Here's what I'm using as my "Bible" on this..
Scroll down and look at the charts..

https://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/growing-smallmouth-bass.html


Wow! Fantastic. Thank you so much! Great info. Saw a familiar name in there too. wink


Yes, that is a super nice link. Added it to my favorites list for future digestion.
Posted By: Snipe Re: Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/24/19 08:31 PM
Guys, if you'll note at the bottom of the page I linked, you can go back to part 1 thru 4 as well.
This article is the reason I chose the route I did, and yes, Bill Cody wrote it. There are references to ewest as well.. It IS my go-to when I need encouragement.
Posted By: 4CornersPuddle Re: Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/25/19 04:59 AM
Thanks, Snipe, for posting this smallmouth link. Fantastic stuff.
I'm mentally ready to eliminate the last few LMB in my pond and switch to smallies.
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/25/19 02:34 PM
I do not know how few of LMB per acre will allow for a thriving population of SMB. This is yet to be learned. I think as long as the LMB are reproducing the SMB will not reach their potential for that body of water. Smallies might do well with a group of single sex male or female LMB in a pond?
Posted By: SetterGuy Re: Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/25/19 11:17 PM
Originally Posted By: Snipe
Guys, if you'll note at the bottom of the page I linked, you can go back to part 1 thru 4 as well.
This article is the reason I chose the route I did, and yes, Bill Cody wrote it. There are references to ewest as well.. It IS my go-to when I need encouragement.


I’ve been back thru part one. This whole article should be stickied for anyone looking into SMB. Not sure where. Maybe “Types of Fish to Choose”.
Posted By: Snipe Re: Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/26/19 02:09 AM
I agree 150% !!!
I read through (re-read) some part of it almost every day.
Posted By: snrub Re: Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/26/19 03:28 AM
SetterGuy I have had spawns both years since I introduced SMB to my one acre RES/SMB pond.

They have reproduced so much I have caught and transferred more than 50 recruits to other ponds. The 4-6" in my pond are crazy easy to catch when the water is warm. Near shore with a 1/64 oz jig tipped with a Gulp waxy or bit of worm. Water was clear enough last year I would watch them follow it up and strike. Lotta fun.

I transferred numerous 6-8 inch fish later in the year last year also.
Posted By: SetterGuy Re: Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/26/19 01:39 PM
John,
I hope I’ve had more recruitment than just the one year, but haven’t seen any others.
If I start seeing a few more recruits, I may let the kids keep another of the original stockers. Looks like they “may” live a bit longer than I originally thought.
Posted By: Augie Re: Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/26/19 01:45 PM
11-13 years is documented for SMB. Those stockers still have plenty of time to get bigger.
Posted By: SetterGuy Re: Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/26/19 10:55 PM
Yep, even on the low end of the scale presented in the paper it’s 7 years. I don’t run aeration, but I do have an abundance of small HBG fry swimming around and GSH.
I’m running a feeder, but can’t really tell if the SMB are hitting the feed. Really getting the water flushed out this spring. Water has been running out the overflow pipe for over a month. Maybe all of the above mentioned will help extend the life to 10-12 years.
They will be monsters by then!
Posted By: Bill Cody Re: Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/27/19 02:29 AM
To many HBG as aggressive fish and fry predators in a pond with smallies can have a big influence on smallie recruitment.
Posted By: SetterGuy Re: Length, weight, and age of SMB - 06/27/19 11:43 AM
I’m getting rid of every HBG I can. Even using traps. I consider introducing them to my BOW a bit of a mistake. They reproduce quite a bit. Worst part is they harass swimmers (floaters) without mercy. I’m sure they help the GS keep my YP recruitment down too.. Not happy about that either. Oh well.
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