Neighbor caught 6 SMB from 4-12" which indicates they are spawning! He did not catch any of the YP although I know there were plenty last year based on the number of 4-6" fish that washed out the drain tube during flooding. He did not catch any of the stocker SMB because they were bigger than that 2 years ago based on a single catch (16"). Spawning structures suggested on this forum are working as advertised! Another thanks to the Pond Boss family! Also have RES, GSH, and LCS in pond. What fun!

Congrats on the recruitment!

Thanks Snipe - Really pumped about this and appreciative for all the help from members here! Most folks, including me, would not have considered SMB in a warm-water pond.

What is the likely age of 4-12" SMB if well fed?

SMB are my favorite freshwater fish. Congratulations on your success!

I will get corrected if wrong here but 4" to possibly 7~8" this time of year is (likely) this years hatch.
I am guessing the 10-12" fish are 1.5 yr old.
It IS possible that it could take 2.5 yr to grow a 12" SMB depending on available forage.

Do you have pictures of your spawning structures?
What depth are they and are they in a special area or on a special slope?

Pic of SMB spawning structure:

Congrats RAH. What kind of forage are they eating? Pellets, natural?

I'd love to try some small mouth down here. TJ, if you read this, could you post some of your spawning habitat photos too? It's time for me to start thinking.

Pic above is a SMB spawning structure I built based on help I got on this site. Just Big rocks on the down side and softball size rocks above. No pellets have been fed but I let the FHM get a good start, followed by RES, YP, and LCS. Once those got going, I added 10 SMB in two consecutive years. Based on the one catch of the SMB the following fall, the growth was unbelievable to me. Pond is just shy of 1 acre, so they should have had plenty to eat.

I've also had SMB reproduction this year although I am not seeing as many YOY as last year. That could be because the established larger fish are controlling the recruitment or it also could be I am simply not seeing them as I have a terrible infestation of bushy pond weed that has taken over about half my one acre RES/SMB pond.

I have taken out a good number of fish and transferred to other ponds to "thin the herd". I catch SMB somewhat regularly now in my main pond from the ones I transferred to it.

Glad to see you are also having success with the SMB recruitment.