So Im pretty much in charge of nice size pond here in south texas.
The pond is full of LMB of all sizes (lots of babies and juvis) up to about 6 pounds.
Im sure there are bigger fish in there but they have escaped me thus far.
There are plenty of sunfish in there and have only seen one little rut catfish.
Bass rule this pond and man is it nice.
My question is this:

Whats the best way to effectively help those bigguns grow larger?
should I remove the small babies when I catch them? or just let them go.

Im thinking someone stocked this pond (as it used to be someones ranch home) and left it sitting for 30+ years. There are so many baby bass

In order to best answer that question we really need to know what you are starting with. What is the size of the pond, average depth and how much of the pond is less than 3 feet deep, what is the habitat like, what is the food chain like, water quality etc.. However, based on what you provided I would start with an electroshock survey to determine what forage, rough fish (if any) and the health of the bass.

As a general rule unmanaged ponds are overrun with small bass. Generally we recommend removing 40 to 50 lbs of bass per surface acre 14 inches and smaller, until the bass and their relative weights reach 90 to 95%. At that point you can cut back to 15 to 20 lbs per surface acre. If you have a large budget, you do not have to remove as many, but really ramp up additional forage. Tilapia and threadfin shad (on ponds bigger than 5 acres) are a great supplement fish. Way more to the answer to your question. But this is a start.

Ill never stock an invasive species like Tilapia but threadfin would be a good idea.
Id say the pond is 10 acres or more. Overrun with bluegills. Water is exceptionally clear for this far south (I believe its spring fed)
plenty of moss and weedy areas with about 20 to 25 percent of the lake being at 3 feet

If this is in Waller I wish I would of found it 17 yrs ago

With 10 acres of water; threadfin are a good option. Tilapia stocking is a very common practice in private Texas ponds and lakes. In 95% of the state the water temps reach below 52/53 degrees and the tilapia die off; this is the reason the state allows stocking of an invasive species.

Before you add forage; I would wait a year and harvest like crazy until your fish hit 85% to 90% of WR (relative weight). Here is a WR chart. http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1193/ANR-1193.pdf

what would a shad stocking cost me?

Shad generally cost $175/m to $250/m. Most companies will have a minimum. Hard to delivery less than a $1500 or so. Delivery fees are extra and are usually based on how far one has to travel.

too pricey for my tastes. especially for an old farm pond I don't own

Hello salex. I have stocked Tilapia in my ponds the last 2 years and they are really fattening up my bass. The tilapia also have helped control the algae in my ponds. Like you said the tilapia all die when winter arrives.

My question to you concerns shad vs tilapia as far as forage value to a pond owner. From what I understand the shad are also sensitive to cold temps but may survive 2-3 years in a pond vs the tilapia which 100% die every winter.

Great question and one I ask myself often. Of course the answer is not as easy as it sounds. Shad also die in some Texas Winters. In east texas small lakes they last 4 out of 5 winters. They could last a decade and then they could die 2 years in a row with two really cold back to back winters. Where you are located, fertility of your water (shad are filter feeders and need plankton), and how deep your water is will determine my answer. North of I-20, water less than 20 feet deep and clear water I would probably recommend Tilapia. Opposite of that I might recommend shad. As you can see lots and lots of variables.

As a general rule, I would probably say Tilapia, but south of I-20, with some deep water, and fertile water, I would probably recommend Shad. Please not the I-20 is not gospel as there are lots and lots of great lakes North of I-20 with Shad and they make it most winters. Not a cut and dry answer, but too many factors to give a definitive answer. I sell both, but probably sell tilapia 2 to 1 over shad.

Thanks Salex...
as always you offer informative explanations with your advice.
I suppose if my budget could pull it off...I might do both.
Thanks again Steve.

If your pond is 5 acres or less, it isn't a contest....Tilapia win hands down. If the pond is over 10 acres, a case can be made for shad. In between, its arguable and subject to several variables.

Great point. I typically do not recommend nor stock shad in lakes less than 10 acres. Like I said, lots of variables help make the decision.

My pond is 4 acres. I have 3 other smaller ponds.

I will just keep on doing what I have been doing which is Tilapia.

Thanks to both of you.

I used to love the fat bass after putting in tilapia
Also they were fun to catch when they got big!!