Bill, the key word and question is variables. And that can be an huge unknown to me. The word stochastic comes to mind.

Scott, the crappie stocking question would be the LMB situation at a given time. And, that is always an unknown.

I have fished one local 25 acre pond with abundant, almost healthy, LMB community with crappie that are under control. Neat place to fish with way too much bottom and top weed growth. The owner wishes it weren't so but won't spend the $ to correct it. I found very few BG forage. So, I figure that it in decent shape for a certain, short lived, time.

I figure that crappie can be a great tool, like gizzard shad, for 3 or 4 years. But, to go any further, it will take a great deal of corrective management.

I believe that crappie can be a great tool to grow huge LMB for a short time. Then, it's time to start over.

Last edited by Dave Davidson1; 01/12/16 08:33 PM.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP Grandpa