Snipe, thanks for the additional info. I thought that was the case - you can't have a "refuge" if small, efficient predators can also occupy the same space.
However, that leads to additional questions for a possible "Plan B".
Basically, is it economically feasible to have a FHM only forage pond at a higher elevation than your main pond and periodically open a 6" pipe to drain in FHM?
Or, is the nutritional value of the commercial fish foods such a better deal to feed a BG/LMB pond, that you should just optimize that option and not waste the effort managing forage?
Rod, let's look at this from the understanding that it takes 10lbs of FHM to convert to 1lb of fish flesh-not including maintenance requirements-might be 15lbs to get 1lb in some cases. OR... if we feed train effectively, we have proof we can convert at 1.5lbs to 1lb with fish feed. My point is it would take very high production in a FHM pond (plus added labor-time-cost) to do what is more efficient by feeding a high quality feed. Some will argue feed adds high nutrients but so does the equivalent in adding FHM to achieve the same growth.
