Is it not a coincidence that the local fish farm didn't have RES and they suggested HBG? And "by the way" they (we) do just happen to have HBG. Sounds like a 'fishy' way to sell fish. I would be leery of their fish mgmt. advice. If you really want RES, then do what it takes to get them. Take a day or two day drive to whoever has them. Fish farms can provide boxed oxygenated fish that will stay alive 24hrs if the set-up is done properly. For a small pond with SMB one only needs 25-50 RES to get them established. Do your homework.
I have a couple local ponds that have SMB and HBG, one with YP and one without. Fish are fed pellets and fishery does pretty good with some periodic harvest management. One of the ponds has had HBG-SMB for about 23 yrs and the HBG have pretty much reverted to what looks like a primarily green sunfish population. HBG were never restocked after the initial stocking.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 12/16/13 07:09 PM.
