Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Stocking an old pond

Brandon,
A bass lake has several fundamental needs. Good habitat, clean environment, food, and selective harvest.
Simple.
The complicated part comes when we try to fix something which is broken. You gotta know what's wrong to be able to do what's right.
You need as much data as you can collect about this lake and its fishery. That's why electrofishing is significant. You get a rapid read on the fish.
Is food the issue? Stock the best food source.
But, are the bass overcrowded? You can stock minnows until your billfold is flat, and the fishery won't improve.
Chances are, you need a combination of things to bring the lake back.
Spend time gathering data. Weigh and measure as many bass as you can catch. Compare them to "average" bass. See how they compare. At the same time, verify the sunfish. Are they bluegill? Redear? Green sunfish? Long ear sunfish? Or, the dreaded hybrid sunfish in a bass lake? Once you answer these questions, the next line of questions become easier to solve.
If your fish are in order, the lake may need a boost in productivity. Feeding, fertilizing...two common practices. But, until you know the fishery, and the lake's short comings, I wouldn't spend a nickle.