I just can't buy Kens ideas. To do so flies in the face of every aquatic Biologist I have talked to or read from. Also my own personal experience.
Biologists in most Southeastern States recommend 500 BG per acre at initial stocking time. Others recommend 1,000. The difference is in the waiting time to stock predators. I'm not a Pro but have certainly lost a lot of fish from fertilization and thus overstocking with a resulting DO crash. Of course, I'm in an area of low rainfall where one acre can become 2/3 acre in a hurry. That's reality in my part of the world and overstocking can be unintentionable but still fatal. I've initially stocked several new ponds with a seine. I've also killed my share of fish by either neglect or "experimenting" with over stocking.
We also try to keep our predator load at about 100 lbs. per acre. That seems to work; sometimes too well. If I wanted to catch a bunch of bass and catfish, I would overstock. Those starving fish would be easy to catch.
Starting off with pond dye sounds questionable. There is a cycle of life in the "normal" body of water. It begins with plankton that is started by light entering the water and ends with whatever is the top of the food chain. We have all seen the pictures. Assuming that all fry would feed in the top of the water means some fish would have to adapt differently (RES). Actually it seems to say that all fish would have to become topwater feeders. Maybe I'm wrong here. As stated, I'm not a Pro; just a pond junkie.
Nothing wrong with a bug zapper. Others have reported getting favorable results with them but they won't feed the masses.
I'll take Bill Duggans word about the growth rates of the GG. Evidently, Ken has developed a faster growing fish and deserves a lot of credit. I believe I would only use them to supplement BG so I would have a continued forage base.
I understand how some of the stuff works that Ken recommends. It's a different balancing act that I think very few hobbyists could make work on an ongoing basis. Count me in the "Oh Ye, of little faith crowd".
