...Any male BG caught that exhibit strong signs of health and potential should be released so they can keep growing. I would release all male BG 7-8"+ if they appear over 100 WR and have potential. You will know a healthy fish when you hold one - no need to be taking measurements of every fish you catch - over time you will develop the ability to glance at a fish and know within 5% it's WR. Low performing BG should be culled indiscriminately, along with all female BG you catch. Harvest these BG liberally...
This was exactly the method George1 used.
I've personally had good luck with adding cover to feeder throw lanes when faster CNBG growth was a priority. Doing this seems to help keep my LMB from easily hammering smaller CNBG during feedings. LMB will learn the feeder throw times just like CNBG, so making it more difficult for them to feed on distracted CNBG during those throws makes sense to me.
Adding cover to the outside edges of the throw lane seems to do the opposite. That can create close ambush points for LMB to have a free path to their meal if LMB growth is what I'm after.
Results may vary, but this has worked for me.
