Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction Newbie from IL

FHM and RES can go in together. RES do not create very many forage fish and generally the RES numbers significantly decrease in later years (4-8) so having or allowing them get a head start is very beneficial to their long term presence in your pond. Do NOT stock HBG before the predators. You want offspring from HBG to be always in low to very low numbers due to their tendency to genetically degrade with each generation that results in mixed sunfish genetics of individuals that often lack fast growth. The LMB and HSB will be aggressive predators.

The forage of YP, RES & HBG will produce limited numbers of small individuals (compared to BG) that will result in reduced growth rates of the LMB-HSB. To help compensate somewhat for this slower growth settle only for pellet trained LMB (larger stockers of 5"-7" are better-best) since this size will more readily keep eating pellets after they are stocked. It is a eating habit thing. These pellet eating bass will always consume some fish. HSB are all ALWAYS pellet trained from the large fry stage.

Be aware that the LMB-HSB will prefer to eat or target the YP compared to the other sunfishes due to body shape of the perch which is slender - fusiform. IMO opinion to initially compensate for this stock higher numbers of YP who will later struggle to maintain an abundant population due to heavy predation of smaller individuals. In post years you may need to add stock large sized perch (7"-9") to maintain their presence in the pond.