I can't wait for Dr. Bob to arrive; I want to add my two cents now. Plus I will be out of town for a week.
Dr. Dave W. and Shawn both basically arrive at the same answer; few true trophy bass per acre in natural populations. Dave has over simplified his example so most can easily understand the concept. Shawn has probably observed the "curvilinear" feature of bass populations found that the true picture is not quite so simple.
Cecil's example is not a natural developing population and population structure is mostly artificial or manipulated but his stockings of larger fish are still subject to mortality (internal & external forces) esp at the crowded densities.
I want to add some more complexity to the topic and mention other variables which affect number of trophy fish in a populaiton such as: different growth rates among individuals, variability in individual longevity, mixture of age classes, and variability of stressors among different habitats. Plus I did not include the mortality impacts from fishermen (harvest or release) which can be significiant. All have an impact on the survival of large fish in natural populations.
Bottom line is, as Bob originally said, trophy bass have beaten astronomical odds and few naturally exist per acre unless special provisions have been made to select for their presence. Even then they deserve a special place in nature and should be held in reverence, awe & respect; not in a frying pan.
Buss T. I think your selective removal of bass should result in a population of bass that is "heavy" toward the middle-weight category of bass, providing you also maintain adequate forage.
