TGW1 - I agree with esshup. Realize that when you add LMB in with the SMB, the SMB will disappear after only a few years (see below). I will look for the Dr.Willis PBoss reference for this(now below). If it were my pond, I would "do" the SMB and HSB plan with your mentioned forage, then after 4-8yrs if you don't like the results then add your LMB. Can we assume you have more ponds than this new 3.52 ac pond? If the LMB are already in the pond, IMO you are going to need George1 to help you get some adult smallies out of LK Texoma. Stocking fingerling smallies in with LMB will IMO be a waste of money.
Dr. Willis quote from:
http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/stocking_smallmouth_bass.html"What about smallmouth combined with largemouth bass? Start with "traditional" advice from fishery biologists. Do not try to manage a pond both largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. These two species don't play well together. Once largemouth bass gain entry to a pond or small impoundment with existing smallmouth bass, largemouths quickly out-compete smallmouths. Whether this occurs through competition between the two predators, or the more piscivorous largemouths simply eat most juvenile smallmouths produced, is not known. I suspect both.
While working in Kansas, I observed two such occurrences where largemouths gained entry to a small water body being managed with smallmouths. In both cases, I was astounded how quickly smallmouths disappeared. In a couple of South Dakota scenarios, results have not been quite as dramatic. In both cases, smallmouths actually hung on in low numbers, and did not completely disappear. However, largemouth bass now make up a big majority of black bass in these ponds." From:
What about smallmouth combined with largemouth bass? Start with "traditional" advice from fishery biologists. Do not try to manage a pond both largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. These two species don't play well together. Once largemouth bass gain entry to a pond or small impoundment with existing smallmouth bass, largemouths quickly out-compete smallmouths. Whether this occurs through competition between the two predators, or the more piscivorous largemouths simply eat most juvenile smallmouths produced, is not known. I suspect both.
While working in Kansas, I observed two such occurrences where largemouths gained entry to a small water body being managed with smallmouths. In both cases, I was astounded how quickly smallmouths disappeared. In a couple of South Dakota scenarios, results have not been quite as dramatic. In both cases, smallmouths actually hung on in low numbers, and did not completely disappear. However, largemouth bass now make up a big majority of black bass in these ponds."" end quote.
LARGEMOUTHS & SMALLMOUTHS IN THE SAME POND? Dave Willis explores his experiences and advice about feasibility of co-habitation of SMB & LMB in small ponds. In the article Dr Dave studied a 1.7 ac gravel pit pond with only SMB. A high water event introduced LMB into the pond. After just 2 yrs, largemouths comprised 80% of the bass numbers. After 8 years a few adult smallies remained and after 10 no SMB could be collected. Dr Dave concluded that some SMB can be maintained as bonus fish long term by periodically stocking some subadult to adult smallies (8"-12") to "spice up" the pond. Source: Pond Boss Mar-Apr 2005, Vol 13(5): 24-25.
More SMB info: "Talking Points of SMB" - by Willis & Cody
http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/smallmouth-talking-points.htmlHere is the PBoss article that described the results of Bob Lusk's attempt at stocking SMB into his mini-pond.
http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/smallmouth-pond-lusk.html
