Okay Ewest, you asked for it! - 05/15/09 05:42 PM
Related to your article "Key is Manageable Population Densities and Food Supply" I have the following questions:
First an easy one. In the article you mentioned "bioenergetic models" is this a computer simulation of some sort? Is there ever going to be a Ms. Bioenergetic USA Pagent? (ok you can ignore the second part, I just couldn't resist).
Second, in the article you wrote
"Bioenergetic models estimated the LMB population in these ponds consumed roughly 150 lbs per acre of bluegills in the first 300 days after stocking.
This study plus current recommendations of 2,000 stock size (5 inch average) BG per acre appear to be a remedy for the tendency of southern ponds to quickly (2 to 3 years) become bass crowded.
Ok, here's what I'm trying to come to terms with. Let say the bass are eating BG when they are 6" long and those BG weigh 4 ounces. If the bass are eating 150 pounds in 300 days or 2,400 ounces (150lbs x 16 oz) then they are only eating 600 bluegills (2,400 ounces divided by 4 ounce BG). Obviously the bigger the BG the less in numbers the bass need to eat. So that leaves 1,400 uneaten BG (2,000 stocked minus 600 eaten). How does this not lead to an over abundance of BG? I know there must be some basic thing I'm missing here. I know this is being done (heavy stocking of BG) and I know it is successful - Greg Grimes has posted some sucess stories. What am I missing here?
It seems like a very hands on management plan must be adhered to in order to sufficently feed the bass yet not become BG overcrowded.
You used the term biomass, is this the combined weight of the bass?
I'm thinking that the chance of an "average" pond meister to have a sustainable trophy bass pond would be very slim. It seems to me like a very active hands on management plan would have to be undertaken, one that I don't think the "average" pond meister can or will do. What are your thoughts on this?
It also makes me realize that the same "average" pond meister would have a much easier chance of achieving a trophy bass pond through pellet feeding. That way they wouldn't need to have such a large BG population to manage.
Do LMB eat at the same rate through out their lives (some multiple of their body weight per year)? In other words would the multiple remain relative constant or do they eat more initially and then taper off once they reach a certain size?
First an easy one. In the article you mentioned "bioenergetic models" is this a computer simulation of some sort? Is there ever going to be a Ms. Bioenergetic USA Pagent? (ok you can ignore the second part, I just couldn't resist).
Second, in the article you wrote
"Bioenergetic models estimated the LMB population in these ponds consumed roughly 150 lbs per acre of bluegills in the first 300 days after stocking.
This study plus current recommendations of 2,000 stock size (5 inch average) BG per acre appear to be a remedy for the tendency of southern ponds to quickly (2 to 3 years) become bass crowded.
Ok, here's what I'm trying to come to terms with. Let say the bass are eating BG when they are 6" long and those BG weigh 4 ounces. If the bass are eating 150 pounds in 300 days or 2,400 ounces (150lbs x 16 oz) then they are only eating 600 bluegills (2,400 ounces divided by 4 ounce BG). Obviously the bigger the BG the less in numbers the bass need to eat. So that leaves 1,400 uneaten BG (2,000 stocked minus 600 eaten). How does this not lead to an over abundance of BG? I know there must be some basic thing I'm missing here. I know this is being done (heavy stocking of BG) and I know it is successful - Greg Grimes has posted some sucess stories. What am I missing here?
It seems like a very hands on management plan must be adhered to in order to sufficently feed the bass yet not become BG overcrowded.
You used the term biomass, is this the combined weight of the bass?
I'm thinking that the chance of an "average" pond meister to have a sustainable trophy bass pond would be very slim. It seems to me like a very active hands on management plan would have to be undertaken, one that I don't think the "average" pond meister can or will do. What are your thoughts on this?
It also makes me realize that the same "average" pond meister would have a much easier chance of achieving a trophy bass pond through pellet feeding. That way they wouldn't need to have such a large BG population to manage.
Do LMB eat at the same rate through out their lives (some multiple of their body weight per year)? In other words would the multiple remain relative constant or do they eat more initially and then taper off once they reach a certain size?