Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Small pond woes...

Some background. I have a > 1/4 acre pond. Built in 1984 and the fill used to build the house foundation. I have owned the property for 2 years.
The pond was "stocked" apparently out of the local canals.
Species included CNBG, RES, Warmouth, LMB, FL gar, Spotted tilapia, Mayan Cichlid, Armored Cats, Plecos and Gambusia and small killis.
Winter 2010 was a bad one and the most dominant species the Spotted Tilapia were wiped out...60-70 pounds or so. They out competed the CNBG and other sunnies so their population and size were depressed. The Tilapia were I believe the primary forage for the larger predators. Another cold(er) winter this year wiped out the rest of the exotics.
Bass are not that plentiful, but are very thin. Sizes run from 6"-18". They did spawn weakly this year I saw 2 nests and fry, which are all gone, I assume into the stomachs of the starving adults. I tried supplemental feeding with golden shiners, but that was a temp fix and a money pit. The upside is my BG are getting bigger, but not seeing much recruitment. Many of them respond well to pellets.
A second related problem is a floating weed similar to duckweed but larger. I am certain that the cause is 2 fold. Excess nutrients from the massive kill, and a lack of a herbivore to eat it (tilapia). I would like suggestions of how to control it preferably w/o chemicals.
My Goals are to manage the pond for the sunfish for size and abundance, but still have a few decent bass to catch once in a while. Not sure if I should remove most of the bass for now, and add later, or let nature find it's own way.
Pond weed removal is breaking my back...especially now that it is warmer.
Thanks all,
Ron

What kind of weeds?

With that kind of biomass, I expect a fish kill was imminent at some point anyway. For a big bluegill pond, the bass are a necessity. I would remover the larger ones.

I would probably restock tilapia.

Can you get a close-up clear picure of the weed in your hand and then post the picture?
For some hints for growing some big bluegill, read and study the information in this link. Ask questions if there are things you don't understand.
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=189988#Post189988

You may have to resort to some chemical treatment of the weeds to get their biomass reduced until you can get some tilapia. You may have to initially manually remove some weeds for a while until the tilapia or similar fish can keep up with weed reproduction - expansion.

Here is a couple of pics...

Cant restock Tilapia. They are illegal to possess alive. All caught must be immediately destroyed. They are a real invasive pest fish here.
Ron