For bass from a smaller pond with known algae growth, what is the strict internal guideline for keeping individuals?

Only keep the smallest, under a pound

When harvesting bass from smaller, less pristine bodies of water, such as private ponds where heavy algae growth is known to occur, a very conservative guideline should be adopted regarding size. It is advisable to only keep the smallest individuals, often specified as those weighing less than one pound. The reasoning behind this strict limit is that larger fish inhabiting such environments have spent a significantly longer duration metabolizing the compounds present in the pond's ecosystem, including algae byproducts. This extended exposure results in a much greater concentration of the undesirable flavors within their flesh, making the larger specimens far more likely to be inedible than their smaller, younger counterparts.