Ken, I'm concerned about whether or not the CC will control your HBG numbers. In my opinion, there are two "Golden rules" where HBG are concerned:
Provide supplemental feed, and take measures to limit their numbers. This strategy is no different than growing trophy native BG, although perhaps the way I go about it might be regarded as unusual?....be that as it may, nearly everything I do from a management perspective revolves around those two points. I believe that the HBG's severe male bias is regarded as a safety net by some pond managers and hatchery personnel alike, and is probably relied on too heavily.
There's certainly not as many females as there are in a native BG population, but then again it doesn't take many......they must be stocked together with a predator. Otherwise, you end up with what poppy65 describes in his post. I'm on year 4 with my HBG, and I don't see what he describes.
I'm not about to suggest that the way I do things somehow accounts for my large HBG....I just don't know enough to say one way or the other. But I would be happy to detail my ideas and thoughts on the matter if it might help someone.
