I'm new in this management stuff and ponds. I'm looking at providing forage fish in the Bluegill variety or another feeder fish. How much does a 12" to 15" LMB eat? If I stock 75 to 100 BG in a half acre pond with three of the aforementioned LMB, how long will they last? Will the BG, 3.5" to 4.5" in size, get a foothold in the pond before they become lunch? My additional inventory of fish are lots of smaller 4" to 8" LMB plus at least a dozen 12" to 15" catfish. If the LMB are going to eat all of the BG in the first day, week or month, would I be advised to also stock 100 or so feeder gold fish so that the BG might live long enough to produce their own fry? I hate the thought of feeding the LMB $400 in BG when I can feed them $30 in gold fish instead. How does this forage system work and how much do LMB eat. The last time I saw one of the big (in my pond) LMB catch something, it was a three inch goldfish. After gulping it down, the LMB continued to look for another meal. I know what it is like to have a Sushi habit, but even I don't eat $400 a month worth of fish. I certainly do not want to feed my LMB that much in BG a month. What do you recommend?
