Originally Posted By: CWJ
Theo,
Thanks for the advise. My prefered emphasis species would be the SMB for the sport, but on the other hand I really like to eat YP. I have an assortment of structure that I have not added yet. I have some pine, cedar, and locust trees cut. I also have some larger limestone rock to border the smallmouth beds. I still need to get the gravel. I help build this pond and I put a shelf along on side that is about 280 feet long that ranges in depth from 4 to 7 feet deep. I was planning on placing the structure and beds along this shelf.
What would be the risk of stocking at the lower rate this year and then follow by stocking more the following year? Say 200 RES now, 200 YP this fall, then 200 more RES, 100 YP, and 75 SMB the following fall?


The only thing I don't like about your SMB bedding shelf palns is that the pond is already full (I spent 2-3 months working in the dry last year on mine and it's hard enough then). But that's just a given condition.

The only risk I can think of (other than losing your patience) is that this year's YP might be big enough to endanger next year's stockers. Dr. Perca (Bill Cody), our YP expert, wanted me to use that same exact delay between YP stocking and SMB stocking. Bill felt this risk was minimal, and he should know best.

"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever."
-S. M. Stirling
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