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#555553 02/12/23 10:38 AM
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This is still a work in progress, but this is what I am thinking for my ~0.8 acre pond that is filling up.

Smallmouth spawning beds. I will have three of these - one each on the north, east, and south shorelines, ranging from 2'-5' deep. In the wild, SMB like to spawn predominately on the north and east shorelines that warm up faster. Probably doesn't matter in a small pond, though. I copied the idea found in the forum to use a pallet and wire mesh to support the rocks and cobble and prevent them from sinking/silting too quickly. These look similar to the beds in my favorite SMB lakes in the Northwoods. I may add an overhanging log.

Pallet A-frames: These are weighted down in about 6' of water with concrete pilings from the old dock. I may shove some sticks or brush inside.

Christmas trees: Two groups of 6 trees anchored in 8' of water with cinder blocks. I can keep adding to this every year in various ways.

Still to come: Horizontal pallets in shallow water for FHM spawning and a cinder block/rock reef of some kind.

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

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Knobber #555554 02/12/23 10:46 AM
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Looks great!


NTHA - North Texas Half Acre
Cattle Ranch Ponds
Knobber #555556 02/12/23 11:33 AM
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Thanks for showing us your interesting new MI pond. Your habitat is a very good start. Be sure to mark the underwater structures so you can easily locate them 3-5+ yrs later. After 3-5 yrs the Xmas trees will be relics of only the trunk and largest now bare branches. Wood decomposes surprisingly fast under water. It would be a good idea to put some tree-brushy area close to each SMB spawning bed if you are interested in promoting recruitment of the smallies. Keep in mind that 15%-25% of the pond shoreline is considered optimum habitat area as the best amount of production habitat for a quality sport fishery. As an example 186 ft length of one entire shoreline of a square 0.8 acre pond is 25% of the total shoreline length. Be sure to keep us updated about your northern pond with the success of the smallies and supporting fishes.

Last edited by Bill Cody; 02/12/23 07:55 PM.

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Bill Cody #555560 02/12/23 04:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Bill Cody
Thanks for showing us your interesting new MI pond. Your habitat is a very good start. Be sure to mark the underwater structures so you can easily locate them 3-5+ yrs later. After 3-5 yrs the Xmas trees will be relics of only the trunk and largest bare branches. Wood decomposes surprisingly fast under water.
Got any hedgeapple/osage orange wood? It should last longer than just about any other. My SMB fry have been hanging out by it for going on 15 years.

Last edited by Theo Gallus; 03/11/23 02:42 PM. Reason: Sorry, Dr. Perca - hedgeapple is one word

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Knobber #555564 02/13/23 08:42 AM
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Be careful what you use. Green Oak has tanins that are lethal to fish. I found that out the hard/expensive way.


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Knobber #555575 02/14/23 11:16 AM
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Nice work on the structure. There is a very good SMB beds thread in the archives (Common Questions) forum section. Add some wood cover near the SMB beds for better results.

Last edited by ewest; 02/14/23 11:30 AM.















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Knobber #555576 02/14/23 01:20 PM
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Love it! Especially the plastic pallets for the smallie beds.

Knobber #555581 02/14/23 04:52 PM
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My thoughts regarding cover.....do more than less.


Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."

ewest #556289 03/11/23 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by ewest
Nice work on the structure. There is a very good SMB beds thread in the archives (Common Questions) forum section. Add some wood cover near the SMB beds for better results.

Thanks!

What is considered "near" the spawning beds for wood cover? A brush pile touching the spawning bed directly or one that is 50 feet away? I have read mixed recommendations on this. In the wild, the SMB beds seem to be in open water, perhaps under a fallen log, not so much in a tangle of brush.

Last edited by Knobber; 03/11/23 01:14 PM.
Knobber #556347 03/13/23 01:12 PM
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For SMB close - as in a few feet. And yes wood like a log or substantial limb, not a xmas tree. In this actual SMB bed pic I am standing on a wood pier about 3 ft away from the bed.





[Linked Image from i74.photobucket.com]

Last edited by ewest; 03/13/23 01:23 PM.















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