I suspect SMB will perform in your fishery based on recent science from a thriving SMB fishery in the deserts of AZ. I think you could experiment with them and can always adjust and stock LMB later if your results don't meet your goals. You cannot perform the inverse, however - LMB will typically out compete SMB in fisheries where both species exist.

YP require water temps below 49 to develop eggs - so a self sustainable fishery without supplemental stocking might be a question you can address for us - are you monitoring your Winter pond temps? Bill Cody can address this in greater detail regarding spawning criteria of YP and whether your pond provides an opportunity for YP recruitment.

Worst case scenario, supplementally stocking YP on an annual basis isn't the end of the world, I do this with GSH, HSB, WE annually in order to achieve my goals. You'd just need a reliable and affordable YP source - not sure of availability down your way.

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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