We should have more threads like this one. Huge numbers of small ponds exist across the Land and many/most are mis-managed because of the "hype" associated with trophy LMB. It isn't impossible to raise trophy LMB in a small pond, but it is very unlikely, given the management requirements.
After 7 months on an ongoing experiment with GG's, HSB and Gambusia, I'm of the opinion that this stocking strategy needs to be considered for small ponds. 3-4 inch Dec. HSB are now 9 inches and 4-5 inch GG's are consistently over 8 inches. Very little management (and feeding) required thus far.
However, I still have several unanswered questions which preclude presenting this option to anyone as a recommendation. Most questions deal with the suitability of the HSB predator and not the target fish, the GG's.
First question and main concern I have and it is a nice concern, will the HSB outgrow their role in this small pond? At a stocking ratio of 5 to 1, the HSB seem to be very capable of controlling the GG offspring....but what will happen as the 9 inch fish become 18 inch fish, as it appears they surely will? How then do we maintain pond balance, which has been self-maintained to this point? My thought is to try to keep the weights of the predator and target fish roughly in that 5 to 1 balance. For example when the HSB reach 1 pound and the TGG are say 8 ounces, in order to maintain that 5 to 1 weight ratio would require the removal of about 15 HSB assuming no (or very little) Fx survival of the target fish. It could also work out that removal of some GG's may be needed, although that seems very unlikely...in fact, my only regret thus far is that I didn't stock more GG's to start with.
Its a strategy that's as far as I know untried and it very well may fail. It requires a reasonably accurate measurement(counting) of the GG offspring.
Another question regards the survivability of HSB in a small pond in Texas. What is the max size limit in terms of survivability, if any, for HSB in a small pond? HSB are high temp sensitive and in the small pond there is no deep water refuge with cooler temps.
Of course, the question of what the GG's will eventually become(a pond full of stunted green sunfish?) remains an open issue, in some folks minds. Although, I don't have enough data yet, this question seems to be as overhyped as the trophy LMB for small ponds...it may happen, but it isn't likely.
It would be great if there were more folks trying out multiple options for small ponds. One reason there aren't, I believe is the fear of failure and perhaps overstated consequences of failure. My small experimental pond can be pumped out and cleaned in one weekend. With a well water sorce, it can be ready for stocking the following weekend. It just isn't a big deal to fail in this situation, unless egos are considered and that's an entirely different topic.
One last subtopic...Tilapia. In a small pond in which one is using a strategy of predator control of target fish offspring, Tilapia may very well be a wild card. They may completely undermine the strategy by providing so much forage that the predator fish does not perform or adequately perform its intended function to control the target fish's offspring. I would really like to see some results from someone on this. I didn't stock Tilapia in the small pond for the very reason that they could affect the experiments results to the point where no conclusions could be reached....but after this initial experiment, then the question of Tilapia needs to be addressed in conjunction with this small pond strategy. Whatever forage is used, it has to be such that the overall strategy can be maintained. It isn't clear that Tilapia would enable that in a predator/target fish strategy.
Looking downstream (no pun intended), it is easy to see where even a 1/4 acre pond could be a marvelous source of fun and excitement...and even could be more of such a source of fun than much larger "trophy" LMB ponds. Far too many small ponds are under-appreciated and not effectively used, IMO.
