I think so. There was also some discussion about not wanting too good of a spawn if your primary goal is to raise big BG. The idea being less fry equal less problem with over population and stunting.
I look at that way of thinking a little differently. BG are going to spawn no matter what. Yes, reducing the spawning area might reduce the spawn, but a lot of early growth of BG is dependent on newly hatched fry.
My way of thinking is this:
You are going to have reproduction, so why not try and benefit from the best quality reproduction? My understanding is that the biggest baddest males will stake out the most prime spawning territory. Then the smaller and younger males will fan out around these dominant males.
So to my thinking, put good conditions for spawning for your very best males. Are they not the ones we want to carry their genes on to the next generations? So set out a half dozen gravel beds in a persons best guess (which is only a guess until it is seen where the BG prefer) at the very best spawning sites. Let the biggest males take over these prime spots and reproduce a large number of the desired genetics. Then let the rest of the males use mud.
I'm no expert. Just what would seem a logical way to try and promote the best genetics propagation. According to the studies ewest has posted, the fringe nests get a lot more predation than the nest in the center of the spawning beds. Let the best males have the best conditions to spawn in.
Of course if it is LMB feed a person wants, the more overall spawn the better for forage production.
Edit: I was going to post the tubs in the more recent thread on spawning but could not find it right off hand. Found this one and decided it was good enough to bump back up to the top anyway so posted it here. Getting that time of year again for the southerners and spring will be just around the corner for everyone, so I know this topic will come up again.
Last edited by snrub; 02/22/16 05:20 PM.
