just have to post an update. after 12 months of careful management by my son and i, we are seeing real growth in our lmb. caught 5 bass in the last two weeks. here is there length's and rw's: 13.25 in. @ 105%, 12in. @ 100%, 13.25in. @ 94%, 12.25in. @ 96%, 12.75in. @ 92%, and 11in. @ 125%. no mis-prints here. this is after just 12 months of managing our 8 acres. 20 year old water had never been managed before. we culled heavily (bass and crappie), areated (vertex), fed, limed (24 tons), fertilized, removed weeds with grass carp, improved our forage base (added coppernose), built spwaning beds, added structure and kept meticulous records of what we did and what we caught. 125% rw! this is more fun than disneyland. i've read several times that good lmb growth results can take several years. don't know if scott and i just got lucky, or if these results are normal and expected for all the hard work (fun). if this isn't encouragement for all you out in pondboss-land with a pond full of stunted, skinney bass, i don't know what is. -jb
p.s. now i just can't wait until these fat young bass get a few more years on them!
