Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations My pond's one year old...

Hey guys! Sorry I haven't been around for awhile but I have still enjoyed reading the great information on this board. Through the winter I haven't really had alot to post about my pond but I think it is coming along nicely. Still have a few questions, though.

To refresh your memory, my pond construction was finished in January of 2003. Filled up to the spill pipe within 3 weeks due to several natural springs. One shallow end that runs into the woods and has lots of laydown cover. Banks drop off relatively quickly except for the shallow end mentioned above and one bank that has developed a beveled shelf due to some runoff from the erotion from a steep hill.

*Estimated surface area= 2 acres
*Max depth= 16 feet
*Stocked Feb. 13th, 2003 with 2000 bream (80/20 ratio of coppernose to redears), and 2000 fatheads.
*Stocked in May 2003 with 175 Northern largemouth and 2 weeks later with 25 more.

I have recently been doing some "test catches" with barbless hooks and weighing the fish:

Bass=4-6 ounces
Coppernose=5-7 ounces
Redear=4-6 ounces

***QUESTION***-Does this seem to be about right for the amount of time these fish have had to grow?

I fed up until the cool weather began but stopped for the winter. The bream are extremely healthy with guts that look like they've just eaten a whole crawfish. However, the bass don't seem to be all that fat.

***QUESTION***-With me not feeding over the winter, and with all of those fatheads in there for the bass, why would the bream be so fat and the bass not be?

Water clarity has stayed acceptable throughout the winter. Ferilized 4-5 times until the water temp dropped. The water has kept a slimy algae and good vegetation throughout the winter.

***QUESTION***-I don't intend to harvest any bass this season. When and at what size should I begin to? At that time what rate should I harvest?

***QUESTION***-Should I begin to harvest any bream this year and if so what rate in order to get ahead of any overpopulation?

Thanks ahead of time for any information you guys could share. Your suggestion so far have always been helpful and right on the money!

Here's my thoughts...
Bluegill and redear growth is what you should expect. Bass growth is what you should expect, having stocked 100 per acre. Had you stocked fewer, average size would be larger. 4-6 ounce bass should be 8 inches long.
Bluegill are opportunistic feeders, eating anything they can...they're not too picky. Bass only eat live food...other smaller fish. There's more sunfish food than bass food.
Keep collecting data on your bass. If they aren't growing at a satisfactory pace by mid-summer, start removing some of the smallest ones. Release the larger ones. At the same time, focus your efforts on raising more bluegill. Proper feeding, and timely fertilization will help raise more bluegill.
Regarding your "harvest bluegill" question, don't take any, yet. Wait until the pond is in its third year. Then, if you choose, take up to 50 pounds of sunfish. But, NEVER take the largest sunfish. Take the next size down.

Thanks for the info, Bob. When you say "4-6 oz. bass should be 8 inches" what kind of scale do you base that on? I would like to know the recommended ratios for my bass, coppernose and redears if you don't mind.