Dan,

It should only take 30 to 45 days to grow BG from hatch to >1". If they grow slower than that ... the survival will be low.

Lot's of things can interfere with spawning success but very important on the list:

1. Parental condition. (If not in good condition males will eat the eggs)

2. Food availability at swim up. (For fry this requires bloom and zooplankton to consume)

3. BG standing weights. (Standings weights in the range of 40 to 60 lbs will have greatest fry survival).

The presence of so much pond weed means that lot of the nutrients that could support phytoplankton and zooplankton is being intercepted by the weeds. Not saying you won't see BG spawning success but these factors could reduce the number of fry produced to 1" and longer lengths. If you have a lot of small bass, they could consume most of them such that those that are produced are consumed when young. BG also eat BG fry. Additionally BG hamper reproduction by raiding nests for eggs and sac fry (particularly juvenile BG in the 3" to 5" lengths).

It isn't what we don't know that gives us trouble, it's what we know that ain't so - Will Rogers