Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose New Pond Recommendation Smallmouth

I have two ponds with SMB recruitment - my main pond and the SMB reproduction pond. In the main pond there are a few areas of limestone cobble and SMB spawn there annually, but I also see 1-2 beds on fanned clay. The YOY stick relatively close to the Male guarding the bed, so I can determine if eggs made it or not, and do witness larval schools on/near the clay beds.

In the repro pond I never had a SMB pair try to bed on clay, only used my designed rock beds - which suggests they prefer rock to clay.

What I suspect is that SMB prefer rock substrate, but are willing to utilize clay if necessary. I strongly suspect hatching success is also improved on rock substrate due to oxygenation and reduced siltation, yet have evidence of successful hatching on clay as well.

Fisheries depending on SMB recruitment should create rocky areas minimally, or create beds based on design I created or similar to increase odds of SMB recruitment.

However, lack of rock does not mean one will never see SMB recruitment. The reason I raise this issue is to help educate those who would otherwise believe the lack of rock means zero SMB recruitment. If they are basing their fishery management strategy on this detail, important to understand SMB recruitment is possible, regardless of presence of rock. Might alter their game plan somewhat.