Todd,
In that F1 pond, CNBG were stocked the preceeding fall and there also existed a complement of Gambusia which found there way into the pond. By spring, when the LMB and Tilapia went in, the Gambusia were very thick and the BG all ready to spawn (the CNBG I stocked in the previous fall were all 6 inch fish). There never has, nor ever will be artificial feeding in this pond.
I like your thought of stocking the Tilapia at 2 to 3 pounds per acre which in Jake's case would only be 12 to 20 pounds...that's a very small risk for a potentially very large gain, IMO. I'd stock 'em.
edit...actually, after rechecking the experiment write-up, I had stocked FHs also the previous fall and a few small BG in addition to the mature BG...my memory skipped a beat, which is why I have to write it down. :rolleyes:
