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A couple of things happened that I thought I'd share. Any get your ideas. To recap:
1. My in-laws have a 1/5ac pond (west TN) that is full of BG and LMB. Last August I caught, and released; a 2 and a 3lb LMB.
2. In May we had a roughly 3/4ac pond built next to the existing pond. They're separated by a 3ft land bridge. The goal is to raise large LMB in this new pond.
3. It rained a lot after the larger pond was built, washing some minnows (I added FHM last Spring, plus the BG and LMB offspring) from the small, existing pond to the new pond. Which is fine. I plan on going there in the next 4 to 6 weeks and start adding forage.
4. A couple of weeks ago my wife vacationed with her sis who owns the place. She said she wanted the pond builder to remove the barrier between the two ponds and make one larger pond. Which makes a lot of sense. From a pond perspective. But from my trying to grow big bass in that new pond, the last thing I want in it is some old, big, forage chowing LMB. I was wondering how to handle this intel.
5. Then Mother Nature stepped in, unbidden; and solved the problem. It has been very dry and hot there, Bradford TN. Which just resulted in a fish die off in the small pond. My BIL called me and said he had "bad news". After he told me, I assured him that was pretty good news and why. He's obviously not as obsessed with the details as I am. He found the large bass dead on the bank or floating around. Not sure of the BG survival. But the main thing is, I don't have to worry about infesting the new pond with large LMB. I'm trying to control when the two ponds are merged.
6. My plan is to: a. Put in forage this Fall. b. Ditto next Spring. c. Ditto the Spring of 2028. Then add the LMB that Fall. d. Leave them alone in 2029 and start fishing in 2030.
7. We plan on adding a feeder and aerator to the new pond.
I'd love any input/suggestions.

You may still have LMB. Many fish kills only reduce the populations and don't kill all the fish.