I added 13 CC (one pounders) to my 1/4 acre pond a few years ago for something different since my HSB were very hard to get on a hook. I also had a gross abundance of crawdads (I overstocked the new pond when it was refurbished) and the year that I stocked the CC, I only harvested about 1000 craws, compared to the 1500 the year before. The next year, I didn't even put the trap in since the craws no longer came to feeding time. So, CC are very good at balancing out abundant craws. They are still there, just not in crazy numbers. I was concerned that the craws were causing the muddy water problem I was having and figured if the CC added to it...it would be a wash if they cut the craw population down. Turns out my aeration system was causing the turbidity. I did not use it this year and the water has been leaps and bounds better than the previous 6 years...hands down a win. I don't suspect the CC are muddying my waters even at that stocking rate. I will be adding a few more CC next year along with some more HSB.
My CC feed well and more consistent than the HSB, are a pleasure to watch feed, a bit easier to catch on the rare occasion we throw a line, and are surely helping with the BG/HBG populations.
