Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose SMB with HSB?

Can SMB coexist with HSB in a 4 acre pond? Would GSH and BG work as a forage base? Just looking for possibilities besides the normal LMB options.

Yes they can coexist. I absolutely love ponds with outside the box fish species!

The combination really intrigues me. My pond is dry now so hopefully next spring it will have enough rain to refill. My plan would be to add FHM and GSH and possibly crayfish initially. Then RES in 2-3 months and wait on the SMB and HSB until fall or even the following spring. Does the timing sound ok? Any chance the HSB would just wipe out the SMB?

I would let the SMB grow out to, say, 10-12" before putting in the HSB, and when you do get HSB, try to get 8" HSB or thereabouts.

Yellow Perch might make a good addition also.

I'd leave the BG out with that combination. It will be difficult for the HSB and SMB to control BG. RES and YP would be suitable panfish though.

I agree, initially leave out the BG and use RES and probably YP. Later in 3-5 yrs if the fishery is struggling then consider adding BG. Try to incorporate crayfish. It will benefit SMB and YP.

Thanks for the advice! Will YP survive in Kansas?

Yes, but YP are not native to Kansas so they 1) may be illegal to stock and 2) if they are legal, will be more difficult to source from a near by hatchery.

At what point do I add the crayfish. With the FHM? Would HBG be ok in this scenario?

Crayfish should go in with first stocking of minnows.

HBG would be a better option than pure BG in this scenario, if you must stock a sunfish species I'd stick with RES.

I love the idea of HBG in addition to RES. I don't think anyone here has tried that yet. Where in KS are you? Lincoln has a great supplier of YP - great genetics couldn't be happier with my YP. Definitely worth the drive!

I'm in the KC area so Lincoln isn't too far. Havent seen any YP much closer. The pond is in southern KS though. How far can they be transported without too much death loss?

rossgoose, there's an outfit in Bedford Iowa that sells YP, name of them is Beemer's. They have a web site, and can be googled.I've never bought from them, they offer too small for what I want. I'm not recommending them, just giving you some options for your locality.Probably not much difference in mileage for you I'm suspecting.

Goose as long as you've got O2, good diffusers and reasonable temps I think you can safely transport fish as long as the O2 holds out. I don't think your drive would prove too far to either IA or NE.