To eat that many forage fish in the 7 months since stocking and be in their present body condition is what I am having trouble with. Those fish, IMO, haven't eaten in quite a few months.

Thus, I'm having trouble seeing a couple of bass pulling off a spawn that results in the sizes and numbers I'm seeing. 99% of the offspring would have been eaten immediately. The fish being within 2 inches of each other indicates to me bucket stocking soon after initial forage stocking. However, shocking is only sampling and there may be other sizes.

I agree on the pure Floridas not being a fish truck problem. Even the most casual observer would recognize the difference in bass and FHM. This was, IMO, intentional by some well meaning friend/neighbor. The same thing happened to me on a lesser scale and I know who did it and where the fish came from. I found 12 inch bass within 3 months of stocking fingerling bass. Luckily I had a strong forage base established and only a small # of bass were added.

Every scenario mentioned can be answered with a "Yeah but". Unless somebody comes up and admits it, you'll never know the real answer.

I would rotenone and start over. I see no way that adding new forage will be a viable decision with that many starving bass to eat them.

Last edited by Dave Davidson1; 12/09/14 06:05 AM.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP Grandpa