Mark,
From the info I have read on this site, it is not likely that both SM and LM will survive in a small pond like mine. Most experts don't recommend stocking any kind of bass in a pond of less than one acre. My pond is only 20 months old, and its too early to tell if either of the bass species will do well. My plans right now are to remove the LM if the SM fry survive until next summer. If the SM fry don't survive, then I will just leave both species in the pond and see what happens. I intend the pond to be strictly catch and release as far as the bass are concerned, so a high rate of reproduction won't really be necessary.

On the Coppernose, I stocked them on May 1, 2001. They spawned in September and early October last year. The Coppernose that hatched last fall are now about 4 to 5 inches long. At one time last winter the pond was covered with ice for about two weeks and the Coppernose came through fine. The pond is springfed and is about 20' deep in the old stream bed, this may have helped them survive. I really don't know. I also had a good spawn this spring.

I did have about 20 or so of the bigger Coppernose die this summer when the water was so low and hot, as far as I know none of the bass or redears died. I didn't see any dead bass or redears. Don't know why only the bluegills died. The only explanation that I can come up with is that the pond is springfed and during the hot part of the day the bass and redears seemed to stay in the area where the springs were coming in. This area was also shaded and the rest of the pond isn't.

Hope this helps,
Larry