Those BG must know that the tail won't bite!
BG, don't just give up willingly. LMB are powerful apex predators but there are limits to how frequently they can consume larger consumable sizes. BG that one can fit into an LMB mouth and shove into the gullet are easily consumed when we are force feeding the LMB. But as to the larger sizes of what fits ... those are never a cinch for LMB. They have to work at it, and they are much less frequently successful when they try.
How much difference does a 1/2" in length make? It can be the difference between a meal worth trying to subdue and one that is not even worth the effort (because it won't be successful frequently enough).
As for my questions, mostly I wanted to understand is this:
1. Did you have a skinny bass ... skinny small BG situation when you purchased the property? If so, the hydrilla was probably part of the reason for both.
2. What's a good estimate of the poundage a balanced central GA LMB/BG pond can carry? For example, would it range from 50 to 150 lbs/acre? If so we could work with 100 lbs/acre for the natural fertility and then take into account the increase that feeding would contribute. Coupling this with the population structure you would prefer ... we could recommend a management plan for the LMB population that is consistent with the goaled population structure.
3. What population structure do you want? small LMB/ giant BG ... nice LMB and BG ... or do you want trophy LMB/and mostly small BG. Each of these structures have pros and cons. The keystone to each will be how you manage LMB. How you manage the LMB population will help to build the structure you want. Because the pond is in an unmanaged condition, it will take you some time to move it to a better desired population structure.
4. How much will you feed annually? What brand of feed are going to be feeding.
You are feeding. You are seeing good results from that. The reason the results are good is that you have expanded the carrying capacity. Fish are able to grow when they are not using all available resources to meet the energy needs of their metabolism. But you are now in your second year and by this fall this net effect will be baked in. Thereafter, you can probably expect a similar population structure (if the numbers present each subsequent fall are similar to the numbers you have this fall). If you recruit more than die, the average condition/size will decline in subsequent years. If more die than are recruited, the average condition/size will improve in subsequent years. You will have to shape the future by managing your population through harvest/recruitment. If you don't do this, feed will ultimately give you what you had when you bought the property where the only difference is that there are just more of them than then. Part of your plan may require managing your pond weeds.
