I have recently put some good sized (3-4 pound) bass in my pond, mostly through the Great Prairie Bass Migration method (back of a truck in a bucket), with the full cooperation of the original owners. I then told all fishing my pond that the quickest way to no longer be invited was to keep one of these larger bass. I have a multitude of smaller but fillet-able bass that they are more than welcome, even encouraged, to cook up.
Dave, I would argue your point on one small fact. I would guess that your linear demise of bass doesn't accurately show how many fish survive each year. My guess would be that 75%-85% become lunch in their first year or two, but then the survival rate increases over time. The important thing here is that there are only a handful of fish over about 6 years old or so, so even removal of a couple of fish has a dramatic effect over the next 3 or 4 years.
Showing your data: I would argue
Age 1: 1,000 1000
Age 2: 550 250
Age 3: 303 100
Age 4: 166 50
Age 5: 92 25
Age 6: 50 20
Age 7: 28 14
Age 8: 15 9
Age 9: 8 7
Age 10: 5 5
