If mature sandbass or "White Bass" were stocked in 2003, that means they are class of 2001 or before. If these fish were aged by evaluating annuli on their scales, they would be considered either age-5 or older as of January 1, of this year. Assuming they were stocked after their typical spawning period in 2003, then their progeny would have come into existence in either 2004 or 2005, meaning they would age at age-1 or age-2. A local biologist would not have any difficulty teaching you how to collect some scale samples, and would not have trouble differentiating between fish that are age-5 plus, vs. age-2 or age-1.

Besides the obvious differences in size, this simple test would allow you to determine if you are having successful reproduction. If you have an adequate substrate, believe me, 100 acres is plenty big enough for white bass reproduction. White bass are fond of flowing, moving water, but in the absence of such, will willingly use rocks or brush on wind-blown highly oxygenated shoreline areas. The main prerequisite is a situation where the eggs do not become silt covered and/or poorly oxygenated.

Hope this helps.

Bruce

Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.