Ouch! Where do I begin? Who discounted out of hand everything you said? There's more than one way to skin a cat. I happen to prefer to build my forage first and stock the predators later but both methods will work (I thought I mentioned that.) My main point, which I mentioned several times, is management. I don't care which method you choose it still takes management. Be active.
As far as my "pretty silly idea that fish and game agencies assume pond owners won't take an active role in fish management" I refer you to the State of Ohio pond management guide. They basically tell you to stock bluegill and bass in the typical numbers per acre .......and then don't touch it for at least 4 years so as not to offset the balance. I guess you could call that passive management. They also so you can add CC at rates of 100 per acre as a "bonus" fish since they won't compete with the LMB and bluegill. I guess they eat water. The fish farm I bought my fish from (which is ran buy a degreed fisheries biologist) insisted on stocking hybrid bluegills only so I don't overpopulate. I sincerely thank him and his pet green sunfish. A local DNR guy told me not to worry about Rusty crayfish. It seems they "are just better at being a crawdad than other types". His exact words. Sure the bass eat them as well as they do other types. He forget to mention that they will eat every plant in your pond. If I could train them to eat my lawn I would be OK with it. I guess my point is that bad information comes from many sources, including those with nice peices of paper hanging on their walls, which I have (big deal).
Republican or democrat, Catholic or Protestant, stocking predators initially or stocking after the forage is established, I'm sure both sides have more common ground than disagreements. Isn't discussions like this what this forum is about? No need to get personal. Nobody is questioning your knowledge or experience. If anyone was "dismissing out of hand" what was being said....Que the disclaimer EWEST.....look in the mirror.
