I stocked SMB in my pond along with YP and RES. The guys on the forum recommended the HSB to me as well and my initial response was like yours. I wasn't really overly excited about them...But let me tell you they are an absolute hoot! I didn't think there was any fresh water fish alive that could stack up against small mouth bass as far as putting up a fight goes, but they can definitely do it! They are also the fastest growing fish in our pond! stocked them a little over a year ago at 5-6" and we just caught one the other day that weighed in at just slightly under 1 1/2 pounds and was 14" long. That seems crazy to me!! Also Ive had three of them hit a fly in the last week and everyone of them hit so hard they snapped my 4# test tippet line! Guess its time to move up to 6# line...
I stocked some a year ago. I haven't caught one yet. We've caught several SMB, and they have been a blast. I have had two bites/hits though, from fish that I did not see, but really felt bigger than anything else we've caught. Just hammered my jig. I thought maybe somebody threw in a larger fish, that I'm just not aware of.. But your comments make me think maybe I had a hit from a HSB. Now I'm anxious to try and catch one.
What fly did they hit? Imitation minnow..
Thx
Jeff
