John, I agree with you when you speak of how close our ponds have been alike. Both are @ 3acres +- so makes me wonder how many other ponds that are 3 acres that are similar to ours's has been and we are in different locations with different weather patterns. You are soon to be adding the HSB and i think that is a plus. But I am not so sure 80 stocked, which is what I did, over 4 yrs is a good number unless you are going to feed regularly and provide lots of forage other than bg. I am guessing I had 50 survive the 80 stocked and catch rates and size were good. But I think you will have to feed them. I will feed at least a bag of the Purina LMB per month, all of it through hand feeding. Also provided TFS and Golden shiners. The bg are good but i did find a few Hsb over the years that chocked and died eating bg.
