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

Theo- as NEDOC says SMB can tolerate at least water temps up to 90F. Fenders Fish Hatchery near Baltic OH usually has quality SMB fingerlings in the fall. They can be easily fairly trained in a net pen or cage to accept pellets befor the winter "sets in". A small shoal 10'x10' or larger of coarse gravel is all a couple male SMB need for a couple successful spawns. Remaining males may nest in hard pan pond bottom. You do not need very much nesting success in a 0.3 ac pond. I think with a little management help the SMB could control RES numbers. Add some papershell crayfish for SMB.

HSB in this new pond can be primarily pellet eaters and have little impact on the forage base.

In your forage base stocking plan I would strongly consider using bluntnose minnows and or fatheads. Bluntnose will survive SMB predation much better and longer than fatheads. I have bluntnose broodstock available.

I would be very surprised if you produce and hybrid BGxRES if you have male and female RES present.