All the literature I've read or heard. Say's to take out a percentage of fish per acre to keep the population healthy. I don't know the exact numbers but they all say it will keep the health of the fish and prey in balance. Definately pro catch and release on bigger fish to keep the balance under control as well. Bigger fish can eat the larger prey. I don't think removing small bass will hurt the overall quality of fish coming out of a lake but improve the fishery as a whole........BassMan