We often talk about the preferred SIZE of forage and SHAPE of forage for the predators to consume.
Does anybody know if fish "escape speed" or "pond habits" make a significant difference?
FHM are typically referred to as slow-swimming minnows, and we know that they are typically eliminated from a pond once the predator density is high enough.
I have seen many videos of BG slowly cruising around brush piles. If a bass was able to hide in the cover, it appears the BG would be an easy ambush meal.
Shad like to hang out in the open water in the middle of a pond. No cover for them to hide, but if they are fast swimmers, there is also no way for predators to approach unseen.
I assume the "escape speed" of tilapia goes down significantly when they start to get lethargic due to cold water.
Do "sleep" modes vary among or common pond forage species. Even I can catch a greyhound when it is snoozing in its dog bed!
Just throwing out more questions for discussion. I have no idea if it matters in the real world, or it is already basically accounted for in our "rules of thumb" for stocking forage.
