Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations How to restore big bass to my lake

Just to add to what Bill and Sprkplug said, yes, you can turn the lake around, but I don't know if you can do it via angling only.

Via angling, what I'd do is this:

Get a log book, a good digital scale and a ruler/tape measure. EVERY fish you catch, record it's length, weight and species. There are relative weight charts that show whether a fish is underweight or overweight (overweight is a good thing).

If the bass are running out of food (bass food has to be plentiful AND the correct size) the best way to turn things around is by removing mouths i.e. removing bass. Depending on how stunted the LMB are, that could be 30 pounds per surface acre, which is a LOT of fish via angling.

The quickest way to get it turned around is to have a boat electroshock the lake when water temps are in the upper 60's and the majority of fish are shallower. If during the beginning of the survey, the LMB are stunted, have them change from just observing weights and lengths to keeping the underweight LMB out of the lake.

That's just the tip of the iceberg, but that's enough to give you and idea of what needs to happen.