You may have your answer. As fishman said you could have lost the bass for several reasons. So if this bass was in the pond already he could have consumed smaller bass. However I think it was one you stocked. That much growth is acheived when you have a limited number of bass. IN other words you have few bass (explains whey you can not catch them) and they are top dogs with little competetion with food. If you can catch him and he is really fat with a small mouth it is one you stocked.

Greg Grimes
www.lakework.com