Here is the PBoss Forum's Excellent information library about growing LMBass
https://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=255372#Post255372The next link from the library has very good discussions about Tiger Bass. Note tiger bass are a hybrid and they will reproduce and over time subsequent generations will get diluted mixed genetics between northern and Florida bass toward the dominant LM gene pool whatever that is. Too keep strong superior Tiger genetics past the original stockers new Tigers should probably be periodically stocked into the pond.
https://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=274132#Post274132Jakes Oklahoma attempt to grow a few big 10 lb LMB in a new pond about 5 ac. Includes a good picture series.
https://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=405499&page=1Hopefully the pond will get completely full by spring. Do your best to get the watershed seeded with grass to minimize siltation and muddy water in the pond. Muddy water suppresses the pond productivity by reducing light penetration and ability of phytoplankton and zooplankton to grow its best.
In the LMbass PBoss archive library, pay attention to the best stocking density ratios and ways to improve fish growth. Learn about hook smart bass. For growing bigger bass you should be learning how to sample, know about bass relative weights (RW), when to remove bass and what sizes to remove. LMB are a prolific fish species that always want to overpopulate the pond and over eat forage fish. Thus there will usually be WAY TOO MANY hogs feeding at the trough.
esshup has the basic info correct. It is difficult to grow really big BG and numerous big LM in the same pond. IMO you should be well satisfied to grow numerous CATCHABLE 5lb-7lb bass compared to only a few 9-10 lbs that are rarely caught. You need lots and lots of smaller 3"-6"BG to feed those big bass eating machines. Example - For EACH two pound bass to maintain good body weight it needs to eat 12 lbs of the RIGHT size of forge fish and then to grow one MORE pound it needs around 8-10 lbs more fish as food for a total for that one bass is 28-30lbs of forage fish of the correct nutrition and growth building food.
Now each 5 lb bass needs 30 lbs of fish to
maintain weight and 8-10 lbs more fish to grow to 6lbs. LOTS OF FORAGE FISH ARE NEEDED FOR KEEPING THOSE BASS FAT AND GROWING. If you don't feed the pond fish pellets as good quality pellets,,,, you won't grow nearly as many fish in the pond. It is okay to not feed pellets but JUST remember you will not be able to grow as many bass nor BG per acre. A 4 ac pond without feeding pellets can still grow plenty of fish for a family - the Balance of the fish numbers JUST has to be watched, monitored and fish harvested PROPERLY to keep them from becoming too crowded with not not enough foods for them to be growing optimally. You don't want TOO MANY hogs feeding at the trough. Fish balance and numbers are important for a high quality fishery balance. It is all about a BALANCE of numbers of fish present.
My only commentary so far for your pond is IMO you have not created enough large cluster groupings of structure & habitat. IMO you have them spaced TOO far apart. Think of imitating big weed bed areas to protect and nurture abundant forage fish that grow bass and bigger BG. Panfish use the
habitat cluster/groupings or structure like FISH CITIES as feeding buffets and refuge loafing areas. These structure cities have been tested and scientifically proven to allow for more of the bigger sizes of bass.
