Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Stocking a new pond with RES, YP and SMB

I don't think you will be able to grow trophy SMB (4-6 lbs) in a pond with out feeding them pellets unless the number of SMB are low per acre, thus providing more or lots of forage for only a few predators. A strict slot harvest of bass would be IMO required to keep younger, smaller SMB at low density. Aquamax LMB pellets will help increase the chances of growing trophy SMB faster.

With SMB, I think FHM will be eliminated shortly after or prior to the first SMB spawn. As with LMB, the FHM are primarily to just get the bass to the 10"-11" size, then FHM are gone. The main concern for growing big SMB is to have numerous larger forage items for them after the smallies get to 15"-16" and to keep them fat and growing well. The LCS should provide that food source providing the smallies can adequately catch the LCS. LCS are noted in the literature as good behavior features for avoiding predation. The 4"-6" YP&GSH would also contribute to the larger forage items. No one here nor in the literature has used LCS-YP-RES-GSH-SMB-crayfish so you are traveling a new fishery path. Keep us informed of your progress.

Smallies in a 'balanced' population will usually keep the YP from being too abundant and damaging the smaller forage items. Diverse forage may change the balance and fishery structure.