I was wondering if it would be a good idea to tag some of my fish to monitor growth better, Suggestions? Thank you all.

Good idea to search old threads we just spoke about this subject last week. We are getting some very useful information from tagging clients bass. Here is my suggestion and you will not find a better price.
http://lakework.com/cart/index.php?p=product&id=29&parent=7

Thank you must have missed that still getting used to the site. I love this place so much great advice.

I'm a satisfied customer of Greg's using the numbered floy tags.

Yeah i bought Gregs kit a couple of months ago and it's a good product and the price is as good as I could find for everything you get.

can someone go into that tagging system for me in lamens terms

Try this thread for Fish Tagging info:
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=24354

Also, here are a couple of pics of a RES which I recaught twice after tagging. IIRC the tag placement was not ideal.

Will be investing in a kit here before spring.

I think a good Youtube video would be perfect for the fish tagging 101 link. Anyone up for it!

Ok good idea we have yout tube vids in the works for many applicaitons and not thought of it for tagging. Get on my case if I do not have one up by mid Feb.

Here it is. Let me know if helpful or what we did not cover or if there are still how to tagging questions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVhpPSJgSYQ

Greg,

EXCELLENT Video!!!! This needs to go in the Q&A archives for sure.

One question, it appears that you are angling the needle forward at about a 45 degree angle or more correct. The fish doesn't look very wide im just wondering how close the needle gets to sticking through to the opposite side of the fish? I guess what im asking is you want the needle to stick all the way through the center of the the back to the opposite side to insure the tag catches correctly?

Finally, also, upon pulling the trigger on the gun it appears that the needle jumps backwards out of the fish about a 1/4 inch. Is this correct?

I have not noticed the kickback until I watched the video. It normally does nto really do that. It did not appear that way when we used our older scissor style.

You do not want to go thru the fish and you do not even do that on a thin bluegill. We used are dink bass are test pilots for this video, they are about to hit the frying pan.

You are correct you angle the needle forward so as as to not go through the fish. The tags are caught on the rays that extend down into the fish tissue.

So let me ask this quick. From everything I have read my one acre pond give or take on an average should be able to handle around 50lbs of bass. And lets say I would like to have 7 or 8 of those bass 2 to 3 lbs. Could I then tag about 20 to 22 bass and keep record of them and anything else I catch that's a bass I should get rid of? Does my theory make any since or am I way off?

Thanks,

assuming the bass does not lose the tag yes I think that is correct. You can do this cheaply if you did not want to track individual growth (although I woudl suggest doign that as well) by using the colored tags. I actually want to take a client with many ponds and do a smaller one just like you mentioned, stock with female bass with tags and if something happens easy policy-remove any without tags.

Greg, take a look at this link to view a skeleton.
http://www.infovisual.info/02/034_en.html

Your are basically trying to insert the tag through the "radial cartilage" or are you angling both forward and downward towards the "neural spines?"

Regardless of which one in both cases it seems its important to insert the needed past the "center" of the fish towards the opposite side to insure it catches correctly?

Chad great diagram. I may have to copy that link. Just through the radial cartilage. We are amking it seem complicated, with a few tries you will catch on. WHen you pull the tag it will pop out if not between the cartilage and I have had that happen before when going to fast doing lots of fish at once.

Hey Greg thanks for the reply. I believe that is what I am going to do this year. Or at least try. I am not looking for monster bass just some nice ones with some smaller ones that's all. I am excited to get going and give this a try.

Thanks again,

Chad asked this so others might have similiar question so answered it here. "I see on your website its basically $60 for the gun and $70 for the tags.

Is the $70 for 100 numbered tags or not? What do just 100 non-numbered tags cost? I haven't decided which route i want to go?

Also what are all the tag options as far as what colors are avaliable with either numbered or not?"

If you click on the numbered tags in the desciption it mentions tags numbered 1-100. Yes 100 numbered tags. We also have tags starting at hihger numbers for repeat orders. We have a decent selection of colors we like orange and yellow the most seems they show up. The unnumbered tags are not on the website because not a money maker but 100 colored tags are $6. We buy in bulk to get the better pricing so we are limited on color choices but right now have green red yellow and orange. The colored tags come in many clolors and if willing to pay a little more on shipping can get any colors numbered or not shipped in with some notice. thanks

thanks greg i just found my fish tagging system and now know how to use it

What is the recommended location for tagging Channel Catfish with Floy-tags? I've seen some pictures of a tag being inserted all the way through the dorsel fin so that the T-Bar is visable from the other side. Seems like these would be easily lost. Hate to punture their tough skin. Anyone have any experience tagging channel cats? Detailed photos of the tags would be helpful!

BTW - I have an application on my Iphone called Fishing Calendar or "FISHCAL". ($3.99 itunes) It has mixed reviews, but for tagging and recording fish it is PERFECT. I catch a fish and tag it. Then I take a picture of that fish next to measuring tape, weigh it, and toss it back. You can then put in the extra details of the catch, such as weight, length, location (can be found automatically by GPS), weather, bait and more. All of my fish are stored by Tag number and are sorted by dates caught and I can see them all with a flick of the finger. When I recatch a tagged fish I log it in again as the same tag number and RECATCH. Then I can go back see the history. It really makes it fun to have all of this information and photo's at your fingertips. And since it's my phone, I always have it with me. Love technology!

That's a good question. The last time I stocked CC, I just removed the adiopse fin as I wanted to track year class.

That's a good feature for the phone. That's another reason to get a better phone when this one dies.

FWIW, the yellow floy tags from Greg are still visible on swimming fish a year after tagging.

I looked but can't find the picture but I have tagged and recaptured catfish tag at the base of the tail fin. Scott we just sold tag guns to Alaska fish and game. It is so stragne to me how overall we have few website sales but some folks find us from far away places.

I started tagging back in September of 09. Tagged just about 25 LMB. Of the four we have recaught with tags so far this year, the Floytags were almost invisable due to the green algae on them. It was not a simple task to just pull or wipe the algae off. I had to use my fingernail and scrape all the algae off the yellow floy-tag to be able to read the tag number. I am surprised with this growth after only 8 months.

CW I agree about algae growth but point is you can still read them after many years with a fingernail scrap. I have seen many other tags over the years and none of them perfrom as well. The floy tag had a film over the numbers to protect the printed numbers.

Did they want you to come up there and show them how to use it?

Alaska is on the "must do" list.

Agreed! But MAN are those little guys $PRICEY$ for what they are. I am assuming FLOY-TAG must have a patent since there is nothing else on the market close and they can get that kind of price for those little tags.

Ah heck unless you tag tons it is well worth it. I drop price $5 for PB folks so $65/100. http://lakework.com/cart/index.php?p=product&id=28&parent=7

I think they are pricey due to the process of numbering and then sleeving with polyefin? to protect them.

Yes Scott wife and I went there for belated honeymoon in 2001. Alaska is must do I would have helped them tag fish for free if they bought my plane ticket.

Well I am in my 3rd batch now (Numbers 151-175) and I have up to 200. I'll take you up on your offer. I see the link, but how do I get that $65 pricing? And I didn't see at a glance how much shipping was. What color floy-tags do you have available numbered 201-300? I have yellow now which I think is best, but thinking of mixing it up a bit.

Also regarding my Original Post. Is it ok to puncture that Channel Cat's skin to put a tag in it's back dorsal? I invision a nasty red sore there later. I'm scared to tag at the bottom dorsal for fear of puncturing an organ, but I have seen some done that way.

I can order in the numbers you need, let us know we got plenty of guns but low on number again. I get in lots at time to get the better prices. You will need to call to get a different price than web states. I have seen a few sores around entry points but I think the fish should recover just fine- your not going to hit an organ if just below fin.

I may have missed something here during my reading but many other sites suggest removing a scale prior to inserting the needle. Is this required with the gun ? I suspect it was more for the str8 needle and push method but clarification would be great..

TIA

I've done it both ways, and although I may be doing it incorrectly, not removing a scale seems to be quicker and the fish is handled a slightly less. (especially on a CC )

You are correct. On some fish it is neccessary to remove scale. If you ever wanted to tag a carp (why?) better pop the scale. yes on CC pretty tough task to remove scale esshup. ON the bass I will quickly flick a sclae out of the way with the needle but it seems to not be an issue. On a few occasions out of hundreds of fish we have tagged we will have an issue.

BTW thanks for the order.

Recieved our kit in the mail yesterday.

Sounds like a late afternoon fishing day .. now I just need a few test subjects.

Reminds me of one summer working as a biologist aid 18 hours a day gillnetting fish, electroshocking, and taking scale sample and data. My partner was so tired he went to almost take a scale sample of a channel catfish. He never heard the last of that from the biologist.

I can't believe how much I over thought the fish tagging.. what a breeze.

We have tagged 12 fish so far and it was a proud moment tagging the first 16 inch WE from the pond, we watched him swim away for about 10' before disappearing into the abyss.

AF thanks for the update. I agree it is a breeze but for some reason folks have a fear of needles I think. Did you get a pic of the WE tagged, like to use that picture. Not had a chance to tag one.

I'll grab a pic of the next one we tag, I lost one a bit larger at the dock tonight. They seem to be getting more active with the cooler temps that rolled in this week.

Fun stuff.

Greg,
Are the Floytags still available for $65/100. I never followed through last year and I only have about 5 left and need to order some. Yellow beginning with 201.

Looking at $70 with the PB $5 discount. WIth all the color and number combinatiosn hard to get exactly what you need.....but it is your lucky day. I just looked we have two sets of yellow 201-300. Thanks greg@lakework.com or 770-735-3523