Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations keep culling?

Best I have been able to figure out is that bass in small ponds depend almost exclusively on bluegill for forage. In a moderately managed bass/bluegill pond, bluegill populations rise and fall through the year, feast, famine, feast, famine. Bass seem to respond accordingly. In a managed pond, 10 inch bass get that size more quickly than they might in a large lake. I think it's because of young aggressive bass fighting through an expanding foodchain for that size bass. By the time they hit 12 inches, bass in small ponds are spawning, and energy is spent on gonads. Plus, 12 inch bass feed a little differently in the foodchain. They are predatory, but 12 inch bass are eating small bass as well as intermediate size bluegill. And, for most ponds, 12 inch bass seem to be the ones reaching highest density, first. So, at 12 inches, bass growth tends to slow a bit, compared to larger waters, where food supplies may be low, but at least consistent.