Here are some thoughts for this before BD replies.
1. He says the stocked TP were large enough to MAYBE eat some of the stocker 2" LMB. If that did happen then IMO it reduced the density of LMB stockers that in turn resulted in more food available for the surviving LMB that allowed them to grow better at a rate considered near maximum for LMB at this geographical location.
2. If YOY TP are better able to elude predation compared to BG, this escapement factor is IMO compensated for later when the YOY TP are easy captured in cooler water compared to small BG who in cooler water better more agile swimmers than the struggling edible sized TP. We have seen numerous species of predator fish die in fall with oversized TP stuck in their throat.
3. I don't think GSH are very affective or efficient at controlling FA. I have a 0.3ac pond near me that has a strong population of GSH due to the SMB numbers have diminished and the YP are not very effective at eating healthy 3"+ GSH that serve as brood stock. The owner has been increasing his purchase of TP each year to now 7lbs as 23 TP to control the FA. I think the FA that has been reportedly eaten by GSH has been FA in stomachs as mainly filaments consumed incidentally by the GSH as they are wanting to eat mainly the myriad of invertebrate that are living in and among the clumps of FA. IMO TP are firstly primarily vegetarians and detritovores and when those preferred food items are lacking their hunger causes them to resort to eating whatever animal foods they are able to capture.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 10/12/24 10:00 AM.
