Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose SMB/RES-Plus Pond Concept

Congratulations, Bronzeback devotees, I am on the hook. Now help reel me in.

I have been searching for a couple of years for the optimum use of a 2nd, smaller pond which is somewhere in my future (if we are all very lucky, I may be bugging you with more advanced questions about pond #2 in a year). This will be roughly 1/3 acre in size, have about a 5 acre watershed, and be as deep as I need to (can) make it for the finalized stocking plan. The pond will be in partial shade in the morning and in complete shade in the afternoon, so I think it may run a little bit cooler than my existing 1 acre pond with no shade.

SMB and RES are two neat species which tend to disappear in ponds with LMB and BG, respectively. This is reportedly more of a problem with SMB. Based on research info from ewest and known temperatures in my main pond, I think SMB will be able to live in this 2nd pond through the Summer (given aeration). I will be feeding the HSB, BG, and perhaps a few feed trained RES in this pond.

I have the following goals for pond #2:
1) RES brood pond to obtain Redear stock to add the main pond and maintain a noticeable RES presence there long term.
2) Home for Male-only BG.
3) Place to do an initial, one-time growout of HSB from small fingerlings (3"-4") to a size large enough to place in main pond and have them survive predation from adult LMB.
4) Have nice fishing for small to large RES (not necessarily trophy-sized) and trophy-sized Male BG.

I had been thinking of using HSB as the sole predator in this pond, and figured that I could transfer LMB from the main pond if additional predation was needed. But it occurred to me that it might be possible to stock small (3"-4") SMB in with the startup HSB and have 1) a breeding population of Smallmouths, some of which could be transferred to the main pond for a bonus fish there, and 2) smaller predator mouths (per fish size) than if LMB were used. The latter might make it possible grow out smaller intermediate sized HSB fingerlings to a size large enough to safely transfer them to the main pond than if the small pond had LMB (instead of needing 10"-12" HSB, perhaps the next size down might suffice).

Yes, this is all a lot of predators, but remember I am primarily interested in big BG and RES and like my bass numerous and a little hungry. I don't want to push the limits on biomass and risk a fishkill, but stunted bass is not a problem. Also, any RESxBG hybrids which fate may throw my way will be cherished (even awaited) freaks.

My main questions are:
1) Can a breeding population of SMB be maintained with a RES forage base in just 1/3 acre?
2) Can SMB provide sufficient predation to keep RES from being horribly stunted? (I will fish and remove small RES frequently if needed, and plan to shape the small pond so as to allow the use of seining to help reduce small fish numbers.)

Comments?