Just following along. I’ve been very fortunate in that my 60 SMB, stocked five years ago appear to be doing very well. Not a lot of reproduction, but some.
I will agree with one comment above that stated larger SMB will take down larger GSH. My SMB are in the 19” range now, and we can throw out any size GSH, and the SMB will take it. I added crawdads, but not a lot a year after the SMB, I have a few around, but not many. We’ve been catching a few 4” YP, so those appear to be surviving as well.
Very interesting thread.


9 yr old pond, 1 ac, 15' deep.
RES, YP, GS, FHM (no longer), HBG (going away), SMB, and HSB (only one seen in 5 yrs) Restocked HSB (2020) Have seen one of these.
I think that's about all I should put in my little pond.
Otter attack in 2023