Wigwam- A different opinion. Since you have FHM, bluntnose, GS, and spotfin shiner your minnow population will hold up for sure to WE numbers and only maybe to limited reproduction of SMB. It is the constant recruitment of bass and lack of good cover that together is the killer for normal FHM or minnow populations. Recruitment of all sizes of LMB and SMB put tremendous predatory pressure on minnows- shiners. Maintaining your minnow species diversity with some crayfish will be a lot more successful depending on how many weed beds and the type of weeds you have. FHM, as CJ indicated, will be the very first species to disappear. They always go first due to their size, habits and behavior. Very few, if any members (maybe one) here know the habits and interactions of all your 4 minnow species. Take my word to the bank, reasonable numbers of WE & YP by themselves will not eliminate all your minnows. Add SMB then it becomes questionable about minnow/shiner survival depending on type of habitat. Artificial stuff does not provide the best habitat as refuge areas for minnow species. I have several ponds near me with SMB (moderated) and just GS who maintain themselves year after year. A couple other ponds with SMB, YP, RES, and GS where all survive. There is one weedy pond near me where even LMB, PS, w/ GS, and all survive well for the last 15 yrs. Almost no one would toleate the amount of weeds in this pond - mostly milfoil and dense in summer.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 06/29/11 10:14 PM.
