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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 190
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OP
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 190 |
Here is what we have in the new ~2 acre pond so far.
Stocked last year:
Spring
FHM-5lbs (Had a great year they are everywhere)
GSH- 5lbs (Should spawn this spring)
Fall
20-Albino CC
100-RES
Stocked last week
200 BG 2-3"
6 GC
35 HSB 6-8"
50 CC 4-6"
We plan on feeding regularly. I do not plan on adding LMB unless I have to. Should I just let this ride for a couple of years and start RW checking? Or should I add 20 or so HSB next spring?
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,534 Likes: 841
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent  Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,534 Likes: 841 |
What's your criteria for "having to add LMB"?
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 190
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OP
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 190 |
I just fear too many BG's outgrowing the predation of the HSB. I am hoping the HSB will keep them in check. My thoughts were that I could just monitor the bream and adjust the HSB numbers the following year.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,534 Likes: 841
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,534 Likes: 841 |
You might be O.K. now, and possibly (slim possibility) later if you let the CC get into the 10# range. But, with the fecundity of the BG, you might end up stocking a LOT more HSB.
I'd go that route before I stock LMB. You can always add LMB, but they're hard to get out of a pond!
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Joined: Jan 2009
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If pellet fed, I have found for the most part HSB aren't very effective at controlling anything. I have a pond full of FHM and similar species. My HSB would rather be lazy and eat pellets. I fear the CC will be much the same way...
Why not stock SMB? No need to add spawning structure... Keep them a non or very limited in successfully reproducing species in your pond. Stock a few each year.
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Joined: Sep 2009
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Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
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I like the idea above me..
I believe in catch and release. I catch then release to the grease.. BG. CSBG. LMB. HSB. RES. ![[Linked Image from i90.photobucket.com]](http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k247/jmilczski/Fish/PBSubscribe.gif)
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 190
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OP
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 190 |
What type of structure do small mouth need to spawn? I have not added any structure to the pond, but there is quite a bit of natural, bull-dozer created structure already in there. There are a couple brush piles, several stumps, flooded rocky creek beds, and about 3/4 acre of flooded timber with trees and all sorts of sticker bushes and things.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,318 Likes: 6
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,318 Likes: 6 |
If pellet fed, I have found for the most part HSB aren't very effective at controlling anything. I have a pond full of FHM and similar species. My HSB would rather be lazy and eat pellets. I fear the CC will be much the same way...
Why not stock SMB? No need to add spawning structure... Keep them a non or very limited in successfully reproducing species in your pond. Stock a few each year.
I have to agree with this. I put 25 HSB in my pond and I don't think there putting any kind of a dent in my BG. But I can add 2 LMB and all of a sudden I don't have BG swimming around my boat like I used to. BG feed your Bass, Bass control the BG. HSB will not control your BG like you think they will. I have 18 inch HSB and there mouth is no bigger than a large crappie so no way they are going to eat any BG over 3 inches unless your HSB is 5 or 6 pounds. That's just my thoughts. RC
The only difference between a rut and a Grave is the depth. So get up get out of that rut and get moving!! Time to work!!
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,315
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,315 |
What type of structure do small mouth need to spawn? I have not added any structure to the pond, but there is quite a bit of natural, bull-dozer created structure already in there. There are a couple brush piles, several stumps, flooded rocky creek beds, and about 3/4 acre of flooded timber with trees and all sorts of sticker bushes and things.
from within the archives: http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92626#Post92626
Last edited by fish n chips; 05/21/14 08:47 AM. Reason: fixing links
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 190
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OP
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 190 |
I have not found any local suppliers of SMB yet. It might be a tall order to find some of them within a hundred miles or so. They do seem like a good option if I could source some.
Should I be trying to stock these this fall or should I wait until next spring?
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,318 Likes: 6
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Jul 2009
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I wish I could have smb I love them and the bad part is 2 miles from me on the white river I can catch them every now and then but I don't think my pond could handle them. My pond just gets to warm I think and they would die.... The white river stays quite cool even in summer.
Anyone else every try SMB from Arkansas south and it worked? Please let me know how it went.
RC
The only difference between a rut and a Grave is the depth. So get up get out of that rut and get moving!! Time to work!!
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 190
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OP
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 190 |
Well I found a hatchery in Curryville Mo that traditionally has SMB. He didn't act to confident that they were going to have much of a fish crop this year. He said last years weather was bad, and that this year was worse.
Last edited by Jakeroo; 05/21/14 01:33 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Ambassador
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I wish I could have smb I love them and the bad part is 2 miles from me on the white river I can catch them every now and then but I don't think my pond could handle them. My pond just gets to warm I think and they would die.... The white river stays quite cool even in summer.
Anyone else every try SMB from Arkansas south and it worked? Please let me know how it went.
RC RC, SMB can easily handle water temps into the 95 degree range if DO is kept reasonable. They may not thrive at that temp, but they won't croak. Depending on legality, disease concerns etc, you could catch and transfer fish from the river to your pond. Adding 8"-10"+ SMB to your pond should enable them to avoid being easy LMB snacks and allow you to maintain a low number of bonus SMB in your pond. Aaron, a member on here who hasn't posted in some time has a pond in the AZ desert with SMB in it. Water temp is less of the concern, water quality is... Well I found a hatchery in Curryville Mo that traditionally has SMB. He didn't act to confident that they were going to have much of a fish crop this year. He said last years weather was bad, and that this year was worse. If that doesn't pan out, try contact Nate Herman with Herman Bros out of IL, he could probably point you in the right direction for some SMB in the IL area.
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 88
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 88 |
Jakeroo, I sent you a PM about Harrison Fisheries, south of Hurdland, Mo. It usually has smallmouth available in the fall.
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,358 Likes: 4
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,358 Likes: 4 |
I wish I could have smb I love them and the bad part is 2 miles from me on the white river I can catch them every now and then but I don't think my pond could handle them. My pond just gets to warm I think and they would die.... The white river stays quite cool even in summer.
Anyone else every try SMB from Arkansas south and it worked? Please let me know how it went.
RC RC, SMB can easily handle water temps into the 95 degree range if DO is kept reasonable. They may not thrive at that temp, but they won't croak. Depending on legality, disease concerns etc, you could catch and transfer fish from the river to your pond. Adding 8"-10"+ SMB to your pond should enable them to avoid being easy LMB snacks and allow you to maintain a low number of bonus SMB in your pond. Aaron, a member on here who hasn't posted in some time has a pond in the AZ desert with SMB in it. Water temp is less of the concern, water quality is... Well I found a hatchery in Curryville Mo that traditionally has SMB. He didn't act to confident that they were going to have much of a fish crop this year. He said last years weather was bad, and that this year was worse. If that doesn't pan out, try contact Nate Herman with Herman Bros out of IL, he could probably point you in the right direction for some SMB in the IL area. RC, John Wann ( http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showprofile&User=9066) has SMB in his little pond and I think they've done okay even through the summer. He's not that far from you. I know he bucket stocked his from a local stream.
Last edited by Bocomo; 05/28/14 11:33 AM.
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,318 Likes: 6
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,318 Likes: 6 |
WOW I didn't know that? I thought the water temps would be to high for them! Cool I will try a few of them and see how it goes.
Thanks for the input guys,
RC
The only difference between a rut and a Grave is the depth. So get up get out of that rut and get moving!! Time to work!!
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,358 Likes: 4
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,358 Likes: 4 |
Even if they don't have any spawning/recruitment (you have LMB, right?), they will still be a fun bonus fish.
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