You can absolutely skip the CC AND there is always the in-between route that utilizes the hybrids instead of the standards.
Forage base becomes more important with low reproducing hybrids because the typical BG/LMB pond has a lot of BG/LMB YOY fry that feed the stocked fish. When you use the hybrids, there is less reproduction and the forage base becomes their main source of food (or pellet feeding).
You should read about developing a pond that caters to large BG (or HBG). Ponds that a are stocked with the standard BG/LMB typically end up this way as the LMB overpopulate and stunt all the while eating up all the BG YOY leaving the older BG to grow big. This is given that the original BG stock gets out ahead of the LMB size-wise and that the LMB are taken out as they try to get bigger than 14 inches - thereabouts. If this scenario is not managed well, you can end up with a pond full of runty LMB and BG or very few BG at all. The cold beer still taste the same though!
I think that a low effort BOW is better suited to be a BG fishery rather than a LMB fishery.
Here's a link that will make you or break you with respect to growing large BG/HBG...
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=189988#Post189988Enjoy the read!
