Catching nice female bass from another lake does not give you any insight to their genetic history. All you know is it is a nice fish, but you don't know if the fish is 4 yrs old and fast / good grower or 9yrs old and a slow grower. For background, a 2 yr old very well fed fat bass in an excellent forage habitat with good genetics can weigh 5+ lbs. Some on this forum have documented it (Greg Grimes for one; see post below next).
It is pretty evident that your problem is too may 'hogs' feeding at the trough - over predation due to too many predators eating too much forage for the production capacity of your pond. It is a common problem. Initial growth of the bass was really good due to the correct number of bass relative to the amount of forage available. Also brand new ponds tend to be slightly more productive fish wise compared to a middle age or old age pond. This is often due I think to primarily a proper balance of predator and prey which often gets "out of wack" as the pond ages without proper mangement. Plus the productivity in an older pond often tends to shift to more a higher plant community compared to a plankton based community. Plankton based communities tend to be most productive 'fish wise'. First stocked fish in new ponds always seem to grow best compared to later generations and I think this is primarily due to changes in balance, community structure, and fish density.
In addition the advice from your DNR guy for adding new genetics is IMO primarily for ponds/lakes that have old fish that have interbred for many years (30-50). Your lake is too new to have bass genetics problems which was proven by the early growth traits of the first bass stocking which turned out very good and was not that long ago. The DNR guy should have realized this if he had a good fishery - genetics - zoology and population ecology background. IMO be careful of what you believe from so called "experts". Always get a second opinion which is what this forum is very good for - good second opinions and diverse ideas. Then you be the judge for what best fits your situation.
PS You may have made some things that were not practical in the past, but building an improper shock boat without proper instruction of how to operate it can easily be deadly. Your wife or your son's wife could easily be a widow due to a bad electro fish shock boat.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 11/06/14 08:54 PM. Reason: add ons and edits
