Larry, I will be stocking the HBG and HSB (along with RES) in a small pond this year and IF my pond develops like yours, I would consider being the predator myself using traps to reduce the HBG populations. I could easily trap fish and transplant them to the creek nearby so that I am not merely tossing them over the dam for the coons and possums.
My novice thoughts are that reducing the smaller sized HBG biomass would leave more food for the larger HBG (if we could choose, remove the females as a bias if larger fish are trapped). This would help keep the larger HBG out ahead of the HSB as far as size was concerned. Adding single sex LMB has also been advised if a source is available. If you could only de-feed train your HSB.
Of course, adding catfish would help if they were added at a size that would eat your medium to small HBG shortly after stocking. My concern would be using up available space and food that the HBG would need in the future. My goals are for larger HBG, not catfish or HSB.
Last edited by Quarter Acre; 04/10/18 11:37 AM.
