Mark,
You don't live much further south than I do. I live about 10 miles north of the TN line in SouthWest VA.
I have about 10 Smallmouth and 15 Largemouth in my pond (1/3 acre) ranging from 12 to 20 inches. My cousin and I caught them out of local rivers and lakes and stocked them in my pond. They have lived through 2 summers and one winter so far with no problems that I can see. The pond is about 20' deep at the deepest point. The pond is springfed but doesn't constantly overflow in the summer. We are in the 4th year of a drought here in VA and the pond dropped about 5' at one point this summer. Both species spawned this spring and the pond has a lot of small bass in it now. I assume that the big bass will eat most of them, but if they don't I intend to remove all the Largemouth that I catch next year. That's assuming that the Smallmouth continue to prosper.
I also stocked Coppernose bluegill and Redear sunfish from a hatchery and they are doing well also. Coppernose aren't supposed to make it this far north but so far, so good.
I believe that if I were you I would give the Smallmouth a try.
Larry
