In the subject pond for this thread, I was surprised at how quickly the fatheads got thinned out, but what really surprised me more was that I'm not sure I saw the reciprocal growth in the predator fish.
Lee and his wife do feed probably 3-4 times a week, but I would not say that I saw any fish over 100RW except for perhaps some bluegill that were already feed hogs transferred from my neighborhood pond.
Was there ever a time period in the pond where the predator fish had a low available food supply? Perhaps, the window where they had eliminated the FHMs but before the other parts of the food chain were established or the owners started substantial feedings?
There are many threads on Pond Boss (typically from our more expert fishery people) that if you ever significantly stunt a population in a pond, then those fish never get on the right growth path.
(Just speculating, mostly because I know you track that pond fairly closely and wanted to hear your thoughts.)
