GW,
I'll give you my opinion, FWIW...
Artificial feeding is a very key factor in your success or failure w/HSB in the situation you describe. I've done a bunch of stomach autopsies recently on HSB taken from my largest pond...a pond stuffed full of small forage perfectly suited for the mouth of a HSB...and not a single HSB had anything but pellets in the stomach. Nothing but pellets.
In my TGG pond, I have artificially fed very little but every time I have fed the HSB are the first to line up at the trough.
My opinion is that if you stock Gambusia as recommended and maintain a good grass/weed shoreline for them, you will more than adequately meet the feeding needs of your GG's. Throw in a few Tilapia the second year and the GG's will really take off....at least that is what I am expecting in my second year. Artificial feeding will only further detract from the HSB's limitations as a small pond predator.
