Greg makes a great point about stocking the predators in spring after previous fall stocking of the forage....I should have mentioned that in my post but forgot to say it (that's why he's a pro and I'm just a wannabe
)
That point reminded me, however, of a great discussion we had some time back in which another couple of Pros, Bob Lusk and Todd Overton, explained to us why you should always avoid the early LMB fingerlings from the fish supplier (March/April) in favor of the later ones in June. The early ones are most likely stunted LMB left over from the previous year and will never grow out like the June fingerlings. I'll never forget that discussion, and as a result will never buy early spring LMB fingerlings again.
Dave,
I don't know about your cows, but mine are on pasture before the grass starts in spring because in over 40 years of ranching I have never seen grass fail to grow in spring. Likewise, I have never seen a pond (of course, there is always a first time) that did not have some form of vegetation growing in it in the absence of measures to prevent any growth. The trick, I believe is to stock GC lightly before you have a problem, not heavy after you have a problem...but to each his own.
