Frank,
In a pond that size and with your desire to grow larger BG, I would seriously consider the Georgia Giant in concert with HSB as the predator. I can't comment on the relative merits/demerits of other HBG, but the experiment I have been running now for 6 months with the GG shows growth much higher than the standard growth for Texas BG. Most all of the GG's are already 8 inches following a Dec. stocking and the real growing season is ahead.
I don't know yet, if the HSB will survive the Texas summers in this small, very shallow pond (1/4 acre 6 feet deep). Also yet to be determined is how well the HSB will control the Fx offspring, but growth rate of the GG, as far as I'm concerned, is established as exceptional.
