So I've been doing a good bit of reading/thinking and I'm looking for advice now....my big pond has zero in the way of 'bottom feeders' as they are typically defined.

I've got:

GSH (maybe, put a ton in there 2 years ago, never seen one since)
BG/HBG/RES/GSF - primary forage
BCP - aggressively managed, working like a charm
LMB
HSB

that's it. Maybe a few FHM's but they'd be few and far between.

I'm 100% positive I don't want CC/FC/BC just from prior experience. But to add some additional forage and also something that focuses on bottom feeding, why wouldn't I add BHs?

I have no idea if the perceived 'gap' I think I have is even there, and I would also at some point be concerned about carrying capacity. I assume this would never be an issue, especially as aggressively as I fish the pond. But listening to the horror stories about the asian carp just makes me cautious that I don't devote a section of my carrying capacity to a fish that provides little benefit.

I'm thinking they'd be one more option for the LMB to eat, and might absorb some nutrients that are otherwise going to waste due to my lack of bottom feeders?

I know turtles are pseudo bottom feeders, as well as crawdads and other 'critters'....I'm just wondering if I have a gap that could use filled?

Or am I barking up the wrong tree?


Dale

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"When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water." - anonymous