Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose smallmouth question

Verdehoy - IMO BG in with SMB are a real dilemma. I personally would not go the route of lots of small BG with SMB. Small BG might be lots of good food for SMB, but lots of small BG will prevent SMB from successfully bringing off a spawn. HOwever if you don't want recruitment of your SMB, then no problem. Overabundant stunted BG are notorious and well documented for preventing successful spawns of LMB in small ponds.

ewest mentioned that you could have only one species (SMB) to fish for. Since you are in IL and In my work with SMB two other predators can be added at reasonable numbers with SMB and not have too too many maagement problems; they are walleye and HSB. In IL acceptable panfish would be yellow perch. Buying pellet raised fish and Feeding the fish pellets will improve the fishery. Whenever I see ponds with LMB added to SMB, after a duration of a life cycle of the SMB, the LMB take over the pond unless larger sized SMB are supplimenally stocked.