I think I mentioned this above -- but, whatever. This is a really interesting thread.
My newest pond, which is only a quarter acre, is planned as put-and-take. Primarily hybrid bluegill and channel cats. I added RES to keep down potential parasites. It also has a reproducing population of fatheads/rosy-reds.
I'm still at a loss for a top line predator for the HBG. I was planning on using HSB, but if, as Todd says, a 1 lb. HSB can gobble a 3 inch BG, then I'm not sure how I would keep a HBG population, since that is about the maximum size HBG I can buy locally. I was hoping to add small HBG and small CC each spring to supplement what has been taken out, but I still need something too keep the RES, HBG and CC recruitment from going out of control.
Do I just put in one small hungry LMB each springtime, and hopefully pull it out when after totally gorging itself on newly hatched fish?
Thanks,
Ken