Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Show off your catch unbelievable bass

I'm not a Southern fishery expert, nor do I manage for LMB in my ponds, but this would be my approach based on what I've learned from Lusk, Eric, Al and Dave:

Trophy BG fisheries often are LMB imbalanced - dense population of smaller LMB typically exhibiting sub 100 WR and fewer, but large BG. I'd harvest all female BG you catch and resist the temptation to remove skinny LMB. The LMB are hammering your YOY - age 2 BG, fewer BG get through the grinder, and this reduces forage competition for surviving BG and enables them to grow large and fast. The frequency of trophy BG angling will be lower due to fewer fish, but they will be nice. Any male BG caught that exhibit strong signs of health and potential should be released so they can keep growing. I would release all male BG 7-8"+ if they appear over 100 WR and have potential. You will know a healthy fish when you hold one - no need to be taking measurements of every fish you catch - over time you will develop the ability to glance at a fish and know within 5% it's WR. Low performing BG should be culled indiscriminately, along with all female BG you catch. Harvest these BG liberally. Continue supplemental feeding program with a high quality feed like Optimal, feed AM and PM as much as your fish will consume in 10 minutes.

There may be other paths to reach your goal of a trophy BG fishery and LMB and So fishery experts will likely be along soon, but this is how I would advise a client of mine.