I have found gams to be very hardy even under the most overpopulated LMB situations. Gams are somewhat limited by northern winters. They are native to southern NJ in the east and southern IL and IN in the Midwest. So they are able to tolerate somewhat of a winter. I have seen a population in a pond in central PA that is full of stunted 8"-13" bass, with a nicer panfish population of quality sized YP, crappies and BG/PS. Although they are not anywhere near abundant, they do remain in the pond after over 20 years. This pond does have a thick amount of submerged aquatic vegetation. It also have some shallow areas where the gams can take refuge. That really is their survival method. They can live in the shallowest of waters. There down fall is the winter when they must go deep and be open to predation.
