Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Questions about RW in different sized LMB

In a 1/4 acre pond there are around maybe 8 LMB in the 18" class. They appear to be in good condition and we frequently catch them. There are probably a similar number of smaller LMB in the 9" to 11" class. These look poor. I see smaller LMB and occasionally catch them but few LMB YOY are surviving. The piece that confuses me is why do the smaller LMB look so much poorer? My first hunch would be that small LMB would be the best fed fish in the pond. But they do not look to be fed well. Is this just the difference between males and females where males are relatively lower RW?