[IXmarksthespot]

Would Smallies stocked in a pond with a maximum depth of 5' survive? Thinking it's too shallow and warms up too quick for the Smallies but just wanted some input.

 

[junglejim]

If there was food available and a bubbler going to keep the pond from freezing they may have a chance.

 

[fishkid]

they might might survive, but they wont reproduce.

 

[IXmarksthespot]

the pond already holds roughly 30 to 40 channel cats averaging around 2 ft. each, God knows how many Largies from dinks to 15", and a few gills, the ice gets roughly 1.5 ft thick. Was just curious as I would like to establish a Smallie population but wouldn't want to waste healthy fish

 

[toothdoc]

In my opinion, stick to the LMB. That is far from an ideal place for smallies. They like deep water for much of the year because it is cooler. Catfish can live just about anywhere.

 

[Andrew_R]

Well, what's the water quality like, how big is the pond, and what is the bottom substrate?

If water is clean and if bottom is very hard and rocky, and if any brown bass populations take hold in this pond, then they could reproduce.

If it's just 5ft deep and if you say it gets that much ice, I would expect to have a few winterkills.

 

[IXmarksthespot]

Water is crystal clean. This is a 1 acre sized pond that was dug at my parents cabin in the UP about 8 or 9 years back with a natural spring feeding it water. My dad's original plans were to get it about 15' deep but within 6 ft. there was limestone. Few miles down from there, someone was getting a water well done and they had some company drill 33 ft. of limestone and still didn't get through. The limestone pretty much broke my dad's dream but we're trying to make the best of it. Thanks for the replies.

 

[fishkid]

good luck to whatever you decide doing!

 

[Philosopher in Meditation]

good luck to whatever you decide doing!

Good luck, it sucks to hear it didn't work out how you planned it. :wink: