A good point about not catching a lot of stunted bass.

The textbook overpopulation of LMB usually has high catch rates of stunted bass.

What could be some other reasons? Hook-Shy bass?

Are you live bait fishing or lure fishing?

Are there a few huge catfish who have been chomping on the stunted LMB population?

Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."