I've been wondering about this since starting my 1/2 acre pond several years ago. My pond has LB, BG, YP, and GS. I've only been harvesting LB and BG. Every year I have perch fry but never catch any small perch. Same with the shiners. The now 10" shiners spawn all the time but I never see any of the small ones. I'm assuming the predators(LB and Large YP) eat all the fry before growing large enough to catch. Why then do I consistently have Bass and BG fry that make it to maturity every year. I realize this is a small pond and difficult to manage but I was just wondering what makes LB and BG fry so elusive to the predators. I have plenty structure and vegetation for fry hide outs.

LMB abd BG parents guard the nest....This helps a lot in My opnion...

It may well be the survey method. Fishing is just one , and not the best, survey method for small fish. Have you done a seine survey.

How do the small LMB (6-12 inch) and BG look. They will reflect your forage base. If LMB are skinny you may have a problem.

Not wondering if i have a problem, I think I do! lots of skinny 8-10 in bass. Thing is, every year I see plenty of 1-2" bass and BG, but not YP or GS, even though I know they are spawning. Ive seen the baitballs in early spring. I catch 6- 12 inch perch and throw them back. No harvesting. I would, in my uneducated state, wonder why I have skinny bass and a few big bruisers, and still see bass and bg fry and fingerlings. Why do I see any small fish at all, with an overabundance of bass.

Are you pellet feeding? You might want to try FH minnows for bait. Don't be afraid to dump extra minnows in the spring and fall in your pond.

Not pellet fed. Vacation home and not there on a regular bassis.