Maybe I have it wrong. I assumed there would need to be some removal/cull of the new recruits going after the first spawn as they are going to hammer the bottom of the food chain. It probably wouldn't happen until later in the year and my guess is we would be targeting 7-10" fish next fall (sub 12") Any thoughts, opinions, experience on this?
Boon, it would be very unusual for recruited YOY to grow at the rates observed of the initial stocking. Much different environment than a new pond. Round here, I commonly see LMB YOY up to 6" in October. Most are larger than 4". In some years, I see a sprinkling less than 4" in October. Usually, they have grown to be around 8" by the end of March the following year. This is normal for new recruits here.
It isn't what we don't know that gives us trouble, it's what we know that ain't so - Will Rogers
