Bill - I have 2 separate 1 acre ponds. The older pond has FHM, BG, RES, and LMB. It originally had CC, but they appear to be gone (and I am glad). The newer pond has YP, GSH, papershell crayfish, hopefully some LCS (only put in 12), and will have 10 SMB today. I would also like to add shrimp if I can find a source, and may need GC depending on the weed situation after everything starts to mature (lots of submerged weeds now). This pond will also have the water level raised a total of 12" gradually over the next few years as marginal plants and bald cypress grow. I have received the message "loud and clear" on not expecting SMB to persist with LMB in a small pond. I greatly respect the knowledgeable of folks on this forum, like you, who offer up great advice on pond management. My goals are a bit different than some, in that I want to set up the ponds for low maintenance except for harvesting fish that help push the balance toward big top predators. I also maintain a "natural" edge. I hope to add 2 more ponds as funds allow. One will be an experiment to see if I can get walleye to breed. The other would be a CP pond if I can find any.

Last edited by RAH; 10/23/15 05:46 AM.