Ponds are very dynamic. You can't make an accurate conclusion on population cause and effect based on short term observations. Many observations are just a "point in time" fact. For example RW just after the spawn do not reflect population condition but are just a point in time number to add to series of RW over time (several cycles). Also RW for a year are only a reflection of that period and not necessarily what you will see going forward. This is because forage populations and predator populations change and shift in size and numbers due to changing conditions like year class size , food availability and mortalities (natural and harvest). The most important aspect of mgt. is to understand the basic concepts and how they are effecting your pond and be able to apply them forward so as to head off future unwanted problems.
As applied to this discussion at certain times and sizes BG compete with Tilapia for food but at others they do not. Depending on size structure tilapia often reduce the pressure of predation on BG and allow them to live longer thus reach larger size. This helps larger LMB but lets the BG get to big for small LMB. If you are feeding and food is not an issue for tilapia or BG then all will get bigger quicker and avoid small LMB predation. Thus you will have more and larger better conditioned BG going into winter. This will change over time as the larger and better condition BG have lots more babies the next spring.
I encourage everyone to learn about trophic cascades where changes effect a cause and effect on multiple factors going forward and include whole system rises and falls.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophic_cascade
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