I have two small, random data points. My in-laws in West TN have two 1/5ac ponds. One surrounded by trees, the other not. Ten years ago or so (date not clear) my BIL stocked both with BG and LMB from a local fish hatchery. He didn't do ANYTHING else; no further stocking, care, fishing, nada. Till I fished them this April and August. I never got a bite in the "tree" pond. I have since stocked that with 100 BG minnows and 2lbs of FHM. The other pond was crazy full of BG and LMB! I caught all sorts of small BG as well as plenty of breeding size. And the LMB? I caught everything from 8inchers to plenty in the 3/4lb to 1.5lb size. In August I tried for any big ones. I caught a 2lb and 3lber! I was shocked. I assume those two big boys are eating most of the forage generated in that small pond. So here we pretty much had dumb luck create about as good a LMB pond as you could make given it's size. So good sized LMB are possible in small ponds. Can't help with the dumb luck. Though my wife says I'm an expert at it. Lol...
