Spark and Esshup know a h*ll of a lot more about fish and ponds than I ever will. So I would definitely take their wisdom to heart!!!
FWIW- Here has been my experience with BCP in a 1 acre pond. They have been in there for, I think 9-10 years. For my goals, if I could go back in time, I would stock them again. In my BOW, we harvest to eat 100-200 BCP EVERY year(6"-10"). 6" get pickled and the rest filleted. We NEVER throw one back under 10". We also trap and feed the raccoons as many as I can catch 2" and smaller, EVRY year.
IMHO- BCP are a lot of EVERY year work.
