I also think that cover is very important. While my curly-leaf pondweed now seems under control from papershell crayfish, I think its presence earlier allowed just 12 2-3" LCS to grow and reproduce into a substantial population (based on the number washing out the tube during heavy rain events). These were added after YP were already reproducing young large enough to eat them.
Yes - I think an established pond with cover may offer more opportunities for fish to survive. I recently stocked 10lbs of FHM in hopes that some will survive and spawn (in addition to providing temporary forage).
