Fishhead :

The Iowa Cooperative Extension Service and the IDNR web site have info on how to manage a pond.They are a great source of info. One of the ones I reviewed infered that bass in Iowa will spawn at the begining of year 3 , that is as best I can tell around their second birthday. They gave no size data. I bet other states in your area have similar publications .In the south 1 year old bass will spawn . From this info I think Dave and Theo are right . I think that length is only one factor or clue that bass are mature enough to spawn . A better guage is age . I hope this helps. ewest