Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain Y perch, B gill and SM Bass

TyW -- I'm with Bill Cody 100%. Do not put bluegills with smallmouth bass. You'll end up with a stunted bluegill population.

The smallmouth bass are so fun to catch that they are being used in more and more ponds around here. Almost always, the smallies themselves will overpopulate and stunt. I have most of my pondowners on a pretty extensive removal program (selective harvest, in In-Fisherman terms). After a few years post-introduction, I have them harvest 12-inch and smaller fish. Anything larger is released. We can consistently produce 15-18 inch smallies under such a management program.

Dave