crashadp - you will get numerous opinions of what to do for stocking. Decide on your goals then seek advice that will dependably produce those goals. Be very leery of advice from fish hatchery farmers whose business is to grow & SELL primarily small fish and have little experience managing communities of adult fish. Seek second opinions, and when two or three opinions match, the the info is likely sound. We here specialize in managing adult fish as sport fish.
Do not stock BG initially with the SMB as the main predator. YOU can readily grow tremendous reproducing SMB if they are trained to eat fish pellets. First try other combinations. You can always very easily add BG later if needed, but you can't get them out if needed short of pond renovation.
It is hard to keep SMB from reproducing in a pond when LMB are absent. LMB strongly suppress success of Smallies in ponds. Too many predators of the SMB fry including aggressive sunfish will significantly suppress SMB recruitment into juvenile smallies.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 08/22/16 10:23 AM.
