Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain PA Pond - SMB/YP stocking schedule & timing

Habitat conditions have a lot to do with predatory capabilities of the SMB and or YP. Both have predatory tendencies depending on the size of each sportfish. Without a good supply of continual optimum sized forage (inverts, small fish and or pellets) the growth rates of a size class will "suffer". Diversity of forage items is also important to the above combination. Keep in mind that SMB tend to exhibit a low tendency for cannibilaism which can lead to high numbers of smallies, if they remain in the pond, they need to be fed. Dr. Willis often sees an overpopulation of SMB in smaller waters that he studies. IMO I predict we will see that the SMB pumpkinseed combination is not an ideal combination for producing a pond with numerous bigger, higher Wr smallies. Lusk's and Chris Steelmans's experimental SMB smaller ponds in TX will add to our knowledge of smallies in ponds esp southern ponds.