Smaller ones will spawn if they are aged enough and stunted in growth. Well fed ones will be at three to five pounds by the end of their second summer. Mine had eggs in them by then, but no fry were seen, even though I provided habitat. I suspect, in a pond, adult bluegill and small LMB will eat any CC fry fairly quickly.
I think to have a successful pond spawn, that the CC would have to be the only fish, except maybe fathead minnows could be in with them.
