Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose when do you remove bass

Let me put you at ease.
Your bluegill, redear and fathead minnow stocking were right on the money. You did good.
Bass numbers were a bit high, one year later. But, that's not necessarily bad, either.
At this point, bass still have plenty to eat. They are not hungry for your offerings at the business end of a rod and reel.
The status of your lake is absolutely normal for a lake 3 1/2 years old.
Here's where you need to pay attention...bass average size is fairly small because you stocked almost twice the recommended rate. But, as these bass grow, they will become easier to catch...after the first age class reproduces, and their babies grow to 8-12 inches. At that point, bass likely will be overeating their food chain. Look for this...bass catch rates will rise, but growth rates of intermediate size bass will level off. Your "football" shaped bass today won't look so fat tomorrow. Pay attention to this...it is the first sign to harvest intermediate size bass. If, after another year, your bass catch rates don't rise, you may need to stock a year class of bass, if bluegill still dominate. (If bluegill stop growing, and bass are hard to catch in another year..this means bluegill have impacted reproduction of bass) So, keep learning, and watch your fish. They will tell you a story.