Your main concern with your current plan will be keeping the BG from becoming too abundant which is a very common problem without LMB. You mentioned you have tall weed cover which will enhance the problem of too many small BG.
This is a quote from "Talking Points: Smallmouth Bass" by Willis and Cody in Pond Boss Magazine Jan-Feb 2013. Willis and Cody discuss 19 points and basic concepts for growing smallmouth bass.
"Smallmouth bass simply are not as effective of predators as largemouth bass so do not consider them pond equivalents. If you have a 3 acre pond with a 25% coverage of submergent aquatic plants during midsummer, a smallmouth bass -- bluegill combination will not be a good idea. The smallmouths will not control the bluegills, which will overpopulate and stunt. Similarly, smallmouth bass will not control yellow perch in this type of habitat. Too much protective cover for the perch, and the smallies will not control them."
Last edited by Bill Cody; 08/21/16 09:25 AM.
