Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Size of beds for SMB

I am currently collecting supplies to do a big arts-and-crafts fish-structure building session in the next couple of weeks. In the next couple days, I will be posting a diagram of my pond and asking for suggestions on the placement of various spawning & cover structures.

My immediate question is this...how big should SMB spawning beds be?

I started with Brettski's snow-saucer idea, but tried to simplify a little bit. I ended up running across these plastic tubs used to line the inside of whiskey barrel-style planters. They are 26" in diamter, and I would guess about 12" deep. I am thinking about finding some larger tires or hollowing out part of the middle and setting the liners inside. Then, I would create small ledges into my 3-1 slopes to set these on. I'd fill them with appropriate river rock and perhaps install some sort of structure/cover on one side of them.

Do these sound large enough, or should I look for something else? I did actually see a stack of snow saucers being packed away for the summer at my local Tractor Supply last week.

Derek:

See here for some pretty good info and links on SMB beds.

From my research I get the idea that beds on the order of 30" to 36" are about right for SMB. I plan on using some varied methods (big anchor rock backboard and smaller rock sides, large tires, cutoff ends of plastic 55 gallon drums, all placed near submerged logs and other large rocks) and slightly varied sizes later this year to give the SMB a choice, or at least get some of them right.

See this on a how to build a SMB nest. Be sure to add to this plan a log or wood near by (3 ft).

http://www.helpourfisheries.com/how_to_build_a_nest.htm

Thanks for adding that link, Eric. I keep promising myself to archive all this SMB stuff as it seems to recur frequently.

I have actually read through those links and got some good info there. I'm trying to keep my costs down a bit (and don't have easy access to big rocks), and I ran across these tubs that looked pretty good, but it sounds like they will be a bit too small?

I got the round tubs at Lowes. I think they also carry rectangular plastic tubs for mixing concrete that are more like 36" long. I guess I could look into those instead. What I liked about the round ones is that I figured I could set them inside tires to make it easier to plant them on the steep slopes. The larger recangular shaped beds may require more work for me to get them in on the 3-1 slopes that are still exposed on the pond.

I think the size of your tubs is okay if your SMB are not any larger than 19". I see natural SMB nests in ponds that are around 18"-26" in dia. I would use a few of the tubs you have and a also add a couple of the larger sizes. You will only need around 3-4 successful SMB nests per acre to provide ample young bass each year.

When you say I need 3-4 "successful" nests per acre, how many nests total should I plant in a 1.5 acre pond to get 5-6 successful nests?

I would build 10-12 nests and hope for 25%-50%. Just because a SMB hatches eggs from a spawn does not mean you will see good recruitment of small bass. The hatchlings have to endure predation and have ample food resources to survive to age one. Newly hatched fry are black as tadpoles which makes them obvious targets for predators. Once you are able to get a bass hatch, good cover and nursery areas near the nest will enhance survival of SMB fry.

Perfect. Thanks!

i catch smallies out of the creek near my house and the beds i see are quite small 12-15" in diameter and located behind a log or rock and dug down in the creek bed. i dont like to fish off the beds cuz i think its kinda cheap i mean honestly if someone was trying to mess with your kids wouldnt you fightem

We make ours by simply making a wood frame, with longer legs on one side to accomadate the pond slope. Screen botom,and 1-2" rocks in it. 24" X24".Rocks hold it down.
No structure in pond other than these boxes.
They do just fine.Other than the occasional osprey/heron.

Here is what I wonder:

Could the stone nests be built on the ice in the winter and expect that they would end up being somewhat adquate after the ice melted? Anyone tried this idea? It sure would make the job a whole lot easier.

My guess is the rocks would spread all over the place.

Or you could take a chainsaw and cut the appropriate nest sized sized hole in the ice, pushing the block of ice that you cut under the existing pond ice. That would allow you to drop the rocks in position while standing on the ice. (depending on the ice thickness of course)

I wonder what it might turn out to be if I sut up the entire nest on top of the Ice and then cut the ice out around it with the chain saw? Maybe start the cut at the shallow end (heaviest side), and then both sides starting from the deep end, until the whole thing broke off and went to the bottom?

Did anyone say how far under the surface these nests are supposed to be?

I suggest you get in the pond during summer and then arrange and place the rocks. Haul the rocks into position with a boat or homemade barge. The ice deposition method will IMO be a poor final job even with some luck and the best of conditions.

Most SMB nests in ponds typically range in depth of 24"-3.5ft deep. In a favorite local pond where I learn a lot about SMB habits, all the nests are 24"-30" deep and built at the narrow flattened base (24"-28" wide) of a limestone rock ledge before the bottom continues its downward slope. Some of the nest bottoms have some slight downward angle due to the slope of the pond walls of 3:1. For photos of nests and more info about SMB nests see my article (Part 2of5) in May-Jun 09 PBoss mag. Back issues are available at PBoss office 800-687-6075.

Dr. Perca--Micropterus.

CB1 - thanks for the kind words.
Bill

Your welcome Bill. Next comes Knighthood. I've already contacted the Queen.

Sir Perca-Lepomis-Micropterus Bill Cody!