Bill, sounds like you have some of the same concerns I do. I also want some nice YP and BG. I only have SMB as a predator and I suspect the answer is to keep the numbers of SMB, YP, BG, and FHM in balance. I'm sure that will require some harvesting and stocking adjustments from time to time. From what I've seen in my pond so far is BG control might be my biggest challenge. A LOT of newly hatched ones were eaten but several survived and are too big for my SMB to eat at this point. I'm looking for a fish trap large enough to trap some of the 3-4 inch BG if the same thing occurs this year but I'm not sure what kind of trap to use. I may also stock a few more SMB this spring to try and get more of the BG hatch eaten. Of course that will put more pressure on my YP hatch and FHM population, so I may just focus on trapping and removing some small BG if I can find the proper traps.
Last edited by poppy65; 12/08/14 02:41 PM.
