after reading some of your other posts, I can't help but at least consider maybe the RBT really did steal some of the LMB growth from the last few months. Of course that may not be enough growth to make up the difference from what you think should be there.
Kind of along the lines of what I'm thinking when I say 'back to the basics.'
Maybe drop all non-native species for some period of time (Tilapia, RBT, PK Shrimp, etc.)
Also, I would think American Pond Weed would not really impede the LMB from eating as much Bluegill as they wanted.
Thanks for the response, fellow pondmeisters. I think you're right about APW, in and of itself. But I've got other stuff growing in it, bushy pondweed & algae, that make it tougher for LMB to get to the panfish. Maybe I'll rake some out & treat with Reward in spots. I like plant cover, but it may be getting out of hand.
Wbuff, you make a good point about the rainbows. Trout were great fun this winter, but like hybrid stripers they are feed hogs. Scandalous at it is to admit, I prefer eating LMB and BG anyway. Easier to fillet, too. So if I add RBT again, there won't be as many this time.
