A female (Big Bertha) acquired as two pounder and feed trained after acquisition was pushing 10 lbs seven years later. She was put on forage every fall, overwintered in pond, and kept in large tank during summers after breeding for 4 of those years. Last three she was in a reservoir where she held court near an inlet that served as a feeding station. Most of her intake when given a choice was feed.
Last summer of life she suffered what looked like a broken back where weight was shed and she disappeared around time of fall turnover.
She was not pushed in terms of the amount of feed provided.
BG pushed do not do well long-term even though growth rapid and quality size easily reached. Death of those not always nutrition related; investment in repro chews them up.
What about Richmond Mill Lake? Seems they push BG pretty hard and have had enormous (literally & figuratively) success.
I implied nothing about a lack of success for me or anyone else. Concern I have is in respect to longevity of the fast growing fish as I keep them. They do not live as long as those reaching similar large size on natural forages.
We need to clarify points, otherwise this diversion from original discussion is folly.
Your observation about shortened lifespans of artificially fed BG is important, in my view. There's been quite a bit of discussion here about the topic, including what types of feed are most likely to cause issues such as fatty liver. And, of course, many folks here feed their fish, LMB and BG, including me.
