I have done a lot of lurking and reading the forums. I just purchased a place in east Texas. 3 acre pond was built 16 years ago by previous owner. Owner claimed to have stocked it with over the years with fingerlings from the share lunker program. Said he had a friend involved with the program and would get him some from time to time. Claims to have caught a 12 pounder out of it a few years ago.
After reading this forum I decided to start culling all bass under 14". Problem is of the 40 or so bass I have caught so far, 85 percent have been in the 14 to 16 inch range with just a few under 14 and a couple 18 inches. I understand I need to start getting relative weights,but don't have a good scale yet. Too my eye the fish look good,with just a couple that looked a little thin. It just seems odd too me that so many are in that 14 to 16 inch range. As for forage, I have caught a few palm sized bluegill and redears, but most of what I see around the shore are smaller 4 inch.
Anyhow my ultimate goal is to have a pond that at least gives me a chance to catch an 8 pounder. Should I start culling these 14 to 16 inchers. Yes I know I need to get relative weights, but does anyone have a gut feel on this.

The "average" Texas pond is bass heavy and forage light. C&R and too small to keep apply to public lakes and not to private ponds. Yes, you need to cull and never stop.

I'm more concerned about the size and numbers of the forage. A bass needs forage(bluegills) that are 1/4 to 1/3 it's size. It's a matter of energy consumed vs calories obtained. And, during the summer, they need a lot of those appropriately sized bluegills.

Thank you for the reply. I got a cheap scale today (spring type). It read accurate with a gallon of water. Today I caught 2. One 14" that barely moved the needle and aother 17" that weighed in at 1.9 pounds. According to the charts on this site that is 70% relative weight.
So the culling has begun.
Anyone have a reccomendation for a quality digital scale? Those I found at bass pro and Wal-Mart got iffy reviews.

Bed Bath and Beyond has about five different kitchen scales and the one I got will go to 11 lbs. Cost was 39.00 plus tax. But u can add a bowl and adjust the scales.

Tracy

http://www.rapala.com/rapala/fishing-tools/scales/

Welcome to the bass culling group.

I have been culling for 2 years and we use the digital Rapala scale. Works great in the boat and on shore. We use the $40 model mostly. The $20 model i would stay away from if u can spare 20 more as it flips to kg a lot as u turn it on without even knowing you changed the modes.

good luck on culling and enojoy the fishing!

If you get the $20 model all you need to do during power on is press the button twice and it changes from KG to LB.