FWIW, general rule of thumb. a single LMB needs to eat 10# of BG to add 1# in weight. In a balanced pond, removing around 20# of LMB per surface acre will keep it that way, but the only way to know for sure is to monitor the RW of the LMB you are catching and keep a log.
In ponds, BG are about the only fish that has enough fecundity that can keep up with LMB predation, and that's only if the LMB are managed (i.e. some are removed annually). LMB do the best when eating BG shaped fish that are 1/4 to 1/3 their body length. So, if the larger LMB are lower RW than the smaller ones, food that they grow the best on is lacking. Why? That's up to the pond manager to figure out.
Because LMB eat so much, it's recommended that LMB are removed from a LMB stunted pond rather than adding BG, unless the pond owner has deep enough pockets to afford the correct amount and sized BG. Then you have the issue of carrying capacity to watch if their pockets are deep enough.
Before you lime and fertilize, get the water tested to make sure you need it. Test for alkalinity, and hardness, not just pH. You might have enough nutrients in the pond, and by removing the weeds you will free up those nutrients for a plankton bloom. Having to add more fertilize is much better than adding too much.......
