Last fall I lost almost all my large CNBG to a fungus infection. Cause unknown, but I strongly suspect they were in shallow spawning when an extreme (for October) cold front hit. Didn't kill them immediately, but the stress made them vulnerable.

Note that smaller CNBG were fine, as were large RES and the LMB. None of these were on the beds, of course.

So now my CNBG top out around 7 inches, whereas last fall I had many in the 8 to 9 inch range. Smaller CNBG are going great, huge numbers and recruitment appears excellent. But unlike last year, 4 and 5 inchers are on the beds.

My question is this: Should I consider stocking big CNBG to make up for the loss? Expensive proposition, $15 lb for a minimum 100 lbs is one quote I've seen. Or would it be smarter to just keep rocking along with moderate feeding and let the CNBG grow larger naturally?

My BOW has good numbers of 2 to 4 lb LMB, mostly aggressive Northern strain. Small LMB are there, but far less than last year when they dominated the predator scene.

If you feed enough, you will likely have some 8-9 inch BG by October, from the 7" BG you have now.

You know I've always thought they would be worth it if one needed spawning size bluegill. In the 7"+ range one could sex them though don't know if they would sell them sexed. I could see females being a benefit for LMB and Males for population structure. If your pond is at carrying capacity I wonder if it would be wise to remove an equal weight of the 4 to 5 inchers?

I believe in high numbers of bg for growing lmb. I think you are already on track for growing good numbers of nice lmb with good growth. You said that most of your lmb are in the 15 to 18" range and we know that a lmb that size will eat 5 to 6" bg and you have a lot of that sized cnbg. that's good, I think. I think I remember you adding 20lbs per acre of Tp and that will or should take some of the pressure off the cnbg, leaving them to grow larger and produce more fry. Feed the cnbg. I think you are already on track for your goals of catching nice sized lmb. It's hard for me to slow down and watch, I've always been aggressive in life. So, it's easier for me to suggest than to do. Like you Frank, I want my fishery to be "Right Now" instead of stay the course lol

Feed the existing CNBG and let the LMB thin the herd.

Thanks for everybody's input! I've decided to just stay the course with feeding, maybe up the amount a bit so long as the fish are willing to eat it.

Also, I'm gonna add BG Jr to the feed mix, along with regular BG and LMB 3/8" pellets. I have so many smaller BG now that they need appropriate size feed.

Right now I am feeding about 3/4 AM MVP with the balance 1/4 being some Optimal starter, BG, BG Junior, Large Mouth and a little Hand Toss mixed in for good measure. Something for everyone.

If no one has tried the Optimal starters I would suggest getting some of the largest size starter to mix in with your regular feed (if you are hand feeding - not sure how the very small feed would stay mixed or be thrown in a feeder so try at your own risk).
Optimal starter feeds I'm sure the Purena starters would work just as good.

It is more expensive but it goes a LONG ways. Just a small amount mixed in with the regular feed because the pellets are so small makes it look like a lot in the feed mixture. My use is about two cups of starter #2 in about 5-6# of feed and it looks like a lot of pellets after mixing. I mix it by putting all the feed in a 2.5 gallon bucket (size of a 5 gal but half the height) and using a wrist flicking motion the feed rolls over and over in the bucket till it is mixed. When I throw it out hand full at a time the larger feed pellets go out far and the tiny starter and smaller pellets stay closer to shore. The small BG around the shore line eat it up. Gets them started eating pellets very early. Try it, I think you will like the results.

An alternative is to hydrate the pellets prior to tossing close to shore

thanks, John. I live an hour away from my BOW so use TH feeders for the most part. (I do love hand tossing the 1 inch Optimal LMB feed, though!)

I've found that the Optimal Starter Feeds 0, 1, and 2 all have a tendency to gum up the feeder works during high humidity periods. Very good stuff for hand feeding YOY BG.

Next time I'm at the pond I'll have to remember to toss out some more #2 feed.

Dave, good idea re hydration. I'll try it & see if smaller BG respond.

Two advantages to the starter Dave is it is a little higher protein usually than regular feed and if a larger BG has the choice between a larger pellet and the tiny starter pellet the bigger fish will pass up the small pellet for the large one. I find this gives the small BG a chance at a meal that they might not get with the larger pellets even if they are softened.

The exception is CC. They like to hoover up anything and they seem to be particularly attracted to the tiny high protein starter. There may be more fish oil or attractant in the starter that really attracts the CC.