Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking Can I turn this pond Around?

You can turn it around, certainly.

500 4"-6" CNBG should be a good basis for a BG food chain IMHO. I would get them in before next year's first spawn if at all possible.

I am afraid any affordable amount of FHM will merely make your hungry bass happy for a day or so.

WRT the number of stunted bass to remove, rather than try to predict how many must go you need to let the fish tell you. Remove bass from the skinniest sizes until improvement in their condition provides evidence that they have enough to eat.

Be sure and mark (fin clippling would work just fine) your new Floridas so you don't remeove them by accident. I can't remember for sure if "introducing new LMB genetics" should come after "reducing numbers of overpopulated bass", but Lusk's "Raising Trophy Bass" book would give the best info. I would definteily wait until your new CNBG have both spawned AND grown big enough not to fall victim to the Floridas.