Thank you for the info. The pond is 1 acre. My main goal is trophy SMB and based on the one I caught last summer, at least one is growing faster than I thought possible. For this goal, it seems like adding 10 5-7" SMB per year could work and that removing all the small YP caught could help encourage some to grow larger. I'll let my neighbor know that he can use these small YP for raccoon and mink bait as he is a trapper. I'll try minnow trapping again when the ice gets out and see what I catch. I'll also pass on the fishing tips. I understand that I stocked light and was trying to use reproduction to increase numbers. At least my main goal of large SMB might happen. If the YP stay small, but too big for SMB, maybe adding HSB later will be required to eat up some of the stunted fish? I could add 5 of these next spring too if they will help the SMB grow better? I am not in a hurry. Can well-fed full-grown SMB eat stunted 6" YP? FYI - My neighbor thought the 6" YP were fat?
Last edited by RAH; 01/15/18 06:35 AM.
