ewest, I'm just kidding ML about the "tried and true" phrase.
I think that most pond owners are aware that trout are more of a put and take type of fish that will most likely not reproduce in a pond unless there are optimal conditions such as cold water.
I think when some people talk about forage fish, they tend to "look down" on fish that will not reproduce in a pond setting, and thereby will not be a recurring source of food.
A good example is stocking shiners or fatheads in a pond that has an existing LMB population. Many say that it's just an expensive snack for the LMB.
I don't disagree with that. If you have the money and are comfortable with it, it certainly does not hurt anything (although we know that some shiners are nest robbers).
If most could afford to stock trout as forage for LMB, it would be great.
