Dear Northern Virginia:

Merry Christmas, all. Forget the chain pickerel. They dress like a fancy-Dan, but that's about the only nice thing I can say about a toothy member of the pike family in a small system.

It sounds as though your pond is fine shape with a good balance among the fish populations. Still want to introduce another predator species? Go with the hybrid striper.

Here's why:
* It's inexpensive and readily available to stock.
* It grows to 10 pounds.
* It takes commercial fish pellets.
* It occupies open water, away from your largemouth.
* Hybrids do not reproduce, so you have firm grip on their numbers.

Mark McDonald
Editor, Pond Boss