It happens especially in ponds with a ton of grass or moss in it. Its probably for the best since you said the bass were stunted and small anyway. Once bass are small for a long time the get stunted and wont grow much even if they are moved. I have put bass from stunted ponds in small ponds that didnt have any fish in them and the stunted ones didn't grow. I know it ***** short term but it was a good thing long term.