Thanks for taking the time for the detailed reply, Bill! Perhaps you're right that a few of the fastest growing Floridas made it, likely by feasting on their brothers & sisters. If so, they should be getting large now. I was surprised to hear that they can live up to 15 years, always thought 8 to 10 was the max.
I do try to cull, with the help of electro-harvest. Normally about 250 per year, though it varies a bit. Unfortunately I don't live on the pond, it's an hour away. No question that it is underfished. Tilapia, threadfin shad, trout when I can find them, and golden shiners stocked most years. I've been scared to stock gizzard shad, which perhaps is a mistake if I want bigguns. Plus, of course, I feed pellets.
As you say, a true trophy lake involves a tradeoff. In my former profession we have a saying, "There are no solutions, only tradeoffs." Guess I want a more balanced pond, with an occasional giant but lots of action.
Thanks again for the references & sound advice. Maybe I should heed Shakespeare: Let not ambition mock thy useful toil.
