2. I do worry about the heavy GSH/FHM populations competing with SMB YOY for zooplankton. With that in mind would you recommend:
A. Regular fertilzing?
B. Regular AP Fry Powder feedings daily with a belt feeder?
TJ - I would not worry about too little zooplankton for the smallie fry in the larger regular pond. I think SMB fry and minnows will be feeding in differen niche areas and enough smallie fry will survive to provide good recruitment. Over winter the YP, SMB, and HSB may thin out the minnows so there won't be as many as this fall.
What are the minnow/shiner populations like in the reproduction pond? Even there the minnows would have to be pretty dense to compete heavily with the SMB fry. 12 Breeder smallies can eat quite a few minnows during the winter, spring, early summer period.
