i was gonna call this thread "A Bluegill Pond" but someone has already used that.....thanks for the congrats russ:)
FT, my ultimate goal is going to be large bream, but i figure some REALLY FAT and happy bass along the way wont hurt a thing.
jeff, here's my thinking,
a) the spots seem to do really well in this climate and water type, and i like to be different
b) they dont get as large as LMB, and perhaps spots (relative to LMB) might allow a slight expansion in the population of upper range BG size classes. after which,
c) if the larger BG size classes begin to dominate (which is good good good), then it is time to introduce a limited number of LMB to help keep balance in the upper BG sizes, forcing only the largest BG to get even larger.
it should follow that the GSF will track similarly to the downstream ranchpond. GSF overpopulation will be controlled by the fact that GSF do not spawn as much as BG, and the effects of spots may be much faster on the GSF. Smaller and mid-range GSF should have ample forage on Gams and smaller BG. Combined GSF and spots should place ample pressure on BG populations.
it seems to me this formula provides a long term growth in relative balance, at least 5 years (maybe more?) before the pond realizes bass overcrowding, stunting, missing bream year classes, and humungous BG and GSF (i.e. like the downstream ranch pond).
is that a bunch of crap, or does it make sense to anybody?
jeff, i will only submit to cecil a lunker GSF out of my pond, not the rancher's pond, so yer safe for a while my friend
