I had a fish management company in Kansas that told me they actually put them in ponds if they don't have them to help with LMB growth. I'd just prefer to feed and catch fish I want to eat.
Very interesting concept! (I have no idea whether it is true or not?)
YBH are certainly going to grow on different small forage than BG. Therefore, in theory, you would be providing even more forage to your growing bass.
I like the concept,
IF YBH are a good "starter" forage for bass, but will eventually be eliminated from the mature fishery like Fathead Minnows. (Like you said, you want to feed and catch the fish you want. You do NOT want a significant proportion of your pond carrying capacity taken up by a large mass of bullheads.)
I don't think your current bass are eating many of the 8"+ bullheads. However, the bass may be slurping down the smaller bullheads. By next year, your bass should be able to eat all but the largest YBH.
IMO, you should keep tracking your YBH population. I think your pond could provide a valuable data point regarding the "stocking YBH" concept you were told by the fish management company.
P.S. Have you ever flown your drone at dawn or dusk when you have just enough light to see into the pond. I would think you might observe bass hitting the bullhead balls. I don't know if bullheads would jump like shad, or if they scatter and go deep, or even if they just remain in a swirling ball to confuse the attacking predators. Would be a very cool video to me if you actually captured that event.
