Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations exisiting pond - new owner

I purchased a house three years ago with a .25 acre pond on it that was stocked with hybrid white bass, LMB, BG, big sunfish, catfish. This year I had a battle with watershield and water lilies. I started catching crappies and smaller bass (10 to 14") but nothing of decent size. The water is only about 6 feet deep with a mud bottom and very dark water. The fish were fed pellet food for several years and respond like piranahs. I want to make it better fishing for the kids but I need advice on what to do. The kids catch lots a big sunfish with worms but the bass are few and far in between. although I can catch them regularly using rubber worms or buzzbaits. This year I started catching crappie with jigs. Is this a problem and what can I do to improve the pond for fishing. The pond is also loaded with crayfish, leapard frogs, japanese snails and bullfrogs. I dont know where to start. I would like to have at least bass in the several pound range but dont know what is possible with a small pond. Thanks

Ken, did you see that you're already being answered on a different thread?

Get rid of all the crappie and sunfish. They compete with your smaller bass for food. I would probably get rid of the Hybrid bass, too. That's an smaller pond, so the less predation on the bluegill, the better. Bass+food-competition=Growth.