Hey Bill,
You might try and specifically call Bill Cody's name in the title and ask the question. I read your posts and took from it that you're interested in catfish for the skillet and using the bream for forage. I am not clear on your intent for your bass. Are you trying to grow really big fish? Are you more interested in lots of action with aggressive (hungry) bass in the 1 – 3 lb category, for example?
I would suggest that you buy “Raising Trophy Bass” from the Pond Boss. I did and it is very informative reading. In this book, Bob Lusk gives a table for weight to inches for a healthy bass. Since, you seem to be in the beginning stages of your pond management, I would catch and release as long as the fish are healthy. At some point, the ability to get bigger will be limited by additional generations of bass. This is the point when you may get different length classes performing differently. This is the point were I would have a survey done and you will be told what class of fish to take out. Again, that will depend on your objectives
I know a Doctor from Baton Rouge LA that bought an old plantation house and about 400 acres in Adams County Ms near Natchez. It had a several ponds on it, that had been stocked years back but neglected. The House pond so named because it is adjacent to the old house had a lot of underweight fish across a number of lengths. A survey was done and the owners was told to take out everything under 14inchs because he wants big bass.
Anyway, Ask Bill Cody and see what he says and buy the book from the Pond Boss.
