1/2 Acre 5th year in south Texas. LMB, CNB, TP, 1 GC. The TP and GC have eliminated my FA and any other plant in the pond (So far) At first I was mad at the GBH etc that indiscriminately "culled" my fish (although I do still strongly discourage Water Turkeys) . I came to realize that I don't cull, I take my Grand-kids fishing and It's easier to just throw them back and enjoy the kids catching more. My TP typically over winter. I have decided that since my Christmas tree cover is deteriorating that I'm not going to replace it. My theory is if I keep my cover to 5-10% The predators will be able to keep the numbers down therefore less feed and less fish less chance overpopulating?

Seeing as the LMB might be your apex predator, how large are they, and what kind of year class sizes are you seeing for the LMB?

With no Tilapia die off, are the LMB controlling the Tilapia numbers?

I always have fry in the pond year round. I have 6"- 17" LMB ( all around 80-90% relative weight) I do have TP up to 3lbs and they are being caught on small jigs, Stubby Steves, and worms (I do remove all that are caught . The TP and GC are eating my Optimal. Probably more adult TP than I should have

Thanks!

Your LMB don't seem to be as large as they should be for some being (5) years old. Even without pellet feeding, a natural LMB should be over 17" at (5) years old, IMO (someone can check me on that) assuming it's not malnourished.

Depending on your goals, some adjusted could be beneficial.

When you replace the cedars, don’t use oak. Oak has tanins that kill fish. Been there done that. Had to pump the pond dry. Let the summer dry everything as practice my rain dances.

May be bigger but I believe the GBH Etc are keeping my sizes down. They may not eat them but several that i catch have healed stab wounds. I have 200 oak trees i mow around and because of this forum I have never added them for cover but there leaves are falling in. I always have a good olive color to my water

Would oak stumps be bad for a pond? Or just the leaves?

Some of us believe that the Great Blue Herons are trying to 'kill' larger fish as those larger fish compete with the herons for eating smaller fish in the pond.

However, I don't think the herons would limit the size of your LMB.

You might have some stunting of LMB, and perhaps a lack of a good forage base for them also.

All of that is just guessing based on the limited info available right now.

Also working, hunting, offshore fishing, pruning trees, etc too much and not sampling (fishing) enough

If the pond doesn't have cover it it, then the LMB have a harder time ambushing their prey. The prey see the fish coming. Think of sneaking up on an antelope out in a flat prairie vs. sneaking up on one in rolling hills with tall brush and trees. Adding cover will help the bass catch more fish.

That's the angle I didn't consider. The information in this forum always amazes me. Thanks

You answered the original question. Pretty typical when I think I know things and someone that does know things politely shows me my ignorance. You would think when you reach 60 years you would pay attention to the real experts. Thanks again

I think a part of true wisdom that comes with age is the rate at which you realize that you don't know something.

I had to read that a couple different times before I got your point. In the past I've seen GBH take fish I'm pretty sure were too big for them to eat (although recently I believe our local Osprey is harvesting that size).

I was trying to talk about why some of his bass have those puncture wounds from Great Blue Herons.

Do you think GBH hit LMB? They usually don’t walk in water deep enough…. Maybe cormorants are poking holes in them