Ok - now SMB are in the stocking combination? If you have SMB there could often be or usually is a pre or previous year class of fingerling SMB (2.5"-4") to prey on the current YOY crop of BG, although the fingerling SMB numbers could be or are often too few to get good predation of the high number of new YOY BG hatchlings. As I see it, the main or primary problem with this current stocking plan of CNBG-HSB-SMB is adequate control of BG numbers. Thus the goal as noted above by Ewest is to strongly reduce the survival of hatching BG each year which will dependably occur in greatness. Or manually remove significant numbers of BG per acre when they reach 0.7"-2"-3". The task could be only partial, daunting and unsuccessful. Until one has to do it, I think most even experienced people do not realize how productive BG can be and how many small BG "fry" (0.5-1") per acre are consumed annually by each or every 100 fingerling largemouth bass who have evolved into very efficient predators of BG compared to other fish predators.

An option would be to annually stock fingerling SMB pre-BG spawn. Sounds easy, but it is not,,, because locating fingerling SMB in spring is very difficult and it is often moderately difficult to locate them in fall when they are most abundant; and availability depends of location of nearest good SMB farm. Fall stocking of fingerling SMB often has poor survival rates - depending on numerous variables, and I would not suggest the fall SMB fingerling stocking approach in this fishery; very risky and too undependable.

An easier option instead of fingerling SMB would be to stock small HSB (2"-4")in the spring which are readily available compared to SMB fingerlings. Opinions ?.?

As I mentioned earlier, these unproven stocking combinations are not well known, and should be considered 'experiments' in fish stocking. Be prepared with time and money for complications and challenges. I suggest that you do plenty of homework and contemplation before using this stocking combination.

As another option for this 'Snakebite plan' is, is it feasable to use hybrid BG instead of regular BG when predators of SMB-HSB are used? All fish could be pellet trained. Regularly buying HBG would be less expensive and easier in time, management, and money than regularly buying HSB or SMB to keep BG numbers at goal. I have used locally the HBG-SMB-HSB combination with limited pellet feeding in a few small ponds and it worked well in my opinion. Success in terms of fish growth rates would have been better if daily pellet feeding was used. HBG will provide basically everything the CNBG will provide for stated intended goals, except providing lots of offspring as forage. Extra effort would be in keeping feeders full and feed costs. I would strongly consider and try this option before stocking the CNBG. If you don't like the results of HBG, you could then add CNBG and deal with those challenges. Consensus here is when BG are added when HBG are established, eventually the BG outnumber & dominate the HBG population especially if restocking of HBG is stopped. If fish in this HBG-HSB-SMB are not fed pellets then do not expect rapid growth. If no feeding is used, stocking numbers should be fewer so fewer mouths need to be fed, more natural food is present, and growth rates are improved.

If you don't know much about how HBG perform first rate in well managed ponds see this impressive thread from the Common Q&A Archives with special emphasis on the work or results with HBG of 'Sprkplug'
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=256325#Post256325

Last edited by Bill Cody; 12/09/13 11:03 AM. Reason: clean ups, add ons

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