I don't have lots of experience with TP but from my personal experience and observations with my first year stocking them here's what I think and what we did.

We stocked 10 lbs of 6-9" TP this year in the spring along with 50 2" LMB about a month later.

I think it is possible that the TP were large enough to consume the fingerlings on our initial stocking but that window was also very small. The growth rate of the LMB from fingerling stage was approx 1" every 16 days and have maintained that rate as best as I can tell up to now. Next check is Oct 19 to confirm our season growth weight and length.

As to which is easier for the LMB to catch between BG and TP - I'm leaning to BG being more subject to forage of the LMB than TP. I haven't been able to catch much in the way of BG in traps is where I'm leaning to on this. Visually not seeing many YoY in the pond either. Conversely, the TP were roaming in packs of like size fish all spring, summer and early fall. My observations from my inability to trap BG and lack of them visually in the pond. Would have better info if I seined or shocked but I haven't done either to date.

I did make it out to the pond today to feed the fish around noon as well as try to see populations of the small fish and species. It appears as though the small TP numbers have been halved with our cooler overnight temps over the past 7-10 days. Water temps are still in the lower 70's in the afternoon but likely dipping overnight. With the lower numbers of smaller TP I am not seeing more YoY BG however. The areas the TP were really visible just have fewer fish in them.

Interesting sidenote was that I was reaching out to one of the other PB members about his Titan Bass so see how he was doing on growth rates and in the discussion he mentioned that some of his fingerlings escaped and got into the TP grow out pond upstream. I don't know what other forage was in the pond with the TP but it sounds like the growth rates on those LMB were outstanding.

In reference to some of the older threads on TP I remember there was some discussion on what is a good stocking rate for the TP. One owner was concerned that if he stocked to many TP catchability rates would suffer but the responses in the thread were actually the opposite saying that a higher stocking rate of TP at 20lbs vs 5-10lbs per acre could actually improve catch rates.

I do wonder if there is something to the higher stocking rate of TP being validated by the two above conditions. I would assume the TP grow out pond had loads of TP in it and as a result the LMB used them as forage. Further validated by the older post(s) with stocking rates.

Again, my personal observations and conclusions here. I don't have lots of experience but thought I would relay what I suspect is happening at our place as well as some anecdotal info from other sources.

1.5acre LMB, YP, BG, RES, GSH, Seasonal Tilapia
I subscribe to Pond Boss Magazine