animal asks - " In order to control population, is a YP/SMB/WE fishery required, or will just the YP/SMB work?"
IMO survival of YP and RBS in presence of SMB will depend on amount of weed growth that would provide refuge areas for the smaller fish. Lack of weeds and SMB can easily over eat a YP population and possible YP-RBS population depending on how many bass per acre are allowed to be present. Too few panfish, reduce number of bass and too many panfish, increase number of bass both scenarios assuming amount of weed cover stays relatively constant.
I would not add a second top end predator (WE) with the SMB until you know how the YP or YP-RBS perform (after 5-6yrs) in your pond conditions - type of habitat.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 12/21/13 03:00 PM.
