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I've seen others on this site mention having RES in northern ponds, but I just completed reading my copy of "Perfect Pond...Want One?" and it says RES don't do well in northern climates. I live in Iowa and we have pretty harsh winters (2 feet of ice this past winter on most waters).
This fall I'll start my pond and it will be about 1 acre, though it will be pretty deep. I mainly want to manage for bass but I also love catching bluegills during ice fishing season and from what I've read these angry little RES would be fun to have alongside traditional BG. If RES wouldn't be suited to this climate, I also thought about yellow perch as an ice fishing bonus assuming they'd be more food than competition for the bass???
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Bruce Condello has mentioned his RES having some difficulties with Winter in SE Nebraska, so small waters performance of RES in Iowa would probably also be iffy.
YP might have to be restocked periodically in a LMB/BG pond, but they should be a lot more action under the ice than RES.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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hersh, why don't you talk to Steve Waters, the Iowa SE regional fisheries supervisor. He's a former Nebraskan from Lexington. In general, RES seem to do OK south of I-80 and poor north of I-80. Steve could give you detailed information.
Norm Kopecky
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Thanks for the info. I planned to talk to someone from the DNR and a specific name to ask for is great.
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How about putting in some pumpkinseeds!
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Although we have redears in our natural lakes of northeastern Indiana they don't seem to perform well in ponds. We are supposed to be right on the boundary of where they become nonexistant.
I also find them pretty much inactive during icefishing compared to bluegills. And Yellow perch are even more active under the ice than those two species.
If you are serious about big yellow perch in a pond, cage culture until you can sex them at about 8 inches and them planting only females into the pond would be the way to go IMHO. That is what I do.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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At an Angola,(almost on the Michigan line) Indiana bait store, there is a stringer of Redears that all weigh betwee 2 and 3.25 lbs, all caught in 3ft of water in a lake a couple miles away on whole nightcrawlers. I know several other lakes in the area where 1.5lb readear aren't uncommon.
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We have native Redears here in NW PA area, I know of a few lakes that you can catch them by the dozens in March/April after ice out, but I don't kow of any small ponds that have them. I am going to try them in my pond next year.
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For a one acre pond, wouldn't it get too warm in the summer to support yellow perch?
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At an Angola,(almost on the Michigan line) Indiana bait store, there is a stringer of Redears that all weigh betwee 2 and 3.25 lbs, all caught in 3ft of water in a lake a couple miles away on whole nightcrawlers. I know several other lakes in the area where 1.5lb readear aren't uncommon. I know I mounted them for Bob and Karen Bill of Tri-state Bait and Tackle. But they are all fiberglass replicas of southern redears as Bob and Karen ate theirs. They did catch some big ones but not quite as big as some of them on that stringer. Yes, we have lakes in that area that have big ones, but the biggest I've mounted for folks in that area were about 12 inches and a pound a half. And although far southern Michigan has them, as in Coldwater Lake, as you get north of there they become scare. However survival in deep lakes vs. ponds is a whole different matter. I believe that is due to more stable temps in deep lakes in winter vs. a pond that may have temps drop rather quickly in winter.
Last edited by Cecil Baird1; 12/12/08 09:49 AM.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Omaha - hersh: Yellow perch will do just fine in ponds that are at least 8 ft deep in Nebraska and Iowa. Although survial would be consistantly better if the ponds that get 12" of ice were 10-16ft deep.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 12/12/08 10:13 AM.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
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WOW! you mounted those? it's a small web. Nice work on those my friend, but bes believe I'm checkin your facts.
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WOW! you mounted those? it's a small web. Nice work on those my friend, but bes believe I'm checkin your facts. No problem. Just don't tell Bob and Karen Bell the owners that I said they didn't catch any as big as the replicas I did for them. I'll be in deep doo doo. Here they are:
Last edited by Cecil Baird1; 12/13/08 10:33 AM.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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it may have just slipped your mind, over the years, how big the ones they actually caught were!
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Quote:Originally posted by Steve Young: Does anyone know of a source for redears adapted to the north? I've heard that they exist, but have been unable to locate a supply in Michigan. If not, perhaps pumpkinseeds would be the alternative for snail control. Have not seen much positive feedback on pumpkinseeds on this board due to small size. Cecil, I think you talked about large pumpkinseeds on a fishing trip somewhere, are you aware of good genetic broodstock for these critters? Steve, Don't know if redears (shellcrackers) will survive as far north as you as the northern end of their range is southern Michigan as far as I know. And I am under the impression that even though they survive in lakes in southern Michigan and Northern Indiana they may not fare as well in shallower farm ponds. If you are willing to go to the trouble to catch some and attempt to bring them back to your pond Coldwater Lake near Coldwater, Michigan has some dandies. Also just north of me the Lake James and Snow Lake chain has some monsters too. As a taxidermist I've mounted them over 2 lbs from these lakes. If you want to plant something that eats snails and is hardy as far north as you, as you eluded to, Pumpkinseeds would be the ticket. However where I caught them is really far from you and me -- Massachusetts. Mike Robinson of Keystone in northern Illinois is going to get some in the future and he may be able to help you. I have also listed some other farms that are listed in the Aquaculture buyers guide as suppliers of pumpkinseeds. Don't be put off that they seem far away. They may deliver near you or know of haulers that are passing through our area from their area and may be able to set something up. Mike Robinson's contact info is: ph: 815-678-2537 info@keystonehatcheries.com http://www.keystonehatcheries.com Here's the other suppliers for pumpkinseeds listed in my Aquaculture Buyers Guide: Midwest Fish & Crayfish MN 218-765-3030 Northeastern Aquatics NY 845-876-3983 Paradise Fish Farm, OH 330-549-2990 Smith Creek Fish, NY West Central Bait Co. Inc MN 320-354-5533 Be aware that the both redears and pumpkinseeds could hybridize with your bluegills if you have them. If that does not concern you then it is not a problem. I will be catching redears from a couple of neighboring lakes and planting them into my pond after a preventive salt treatment. If you were closer I could possible get you some. I too have too many snails for confort. _________________________
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about mid-way down, starts with "As a taxidermist".
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it may have just slipped your mind, over the years, how big the ones they actually caught were! Naah they are typical anglers. The size gets bigger in memory.
Last edited by Cecil Baird1; 12/13/08 09:00 PM.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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about mid-way down, starts with "As a taxidermist". Over 2lbs.? Hmmm... maybe I did. 1.5, 2 lbs. whatever. I've been doing this for 25 years. My memory may be failing me. So what's your point BigBassMan?
Last edited by Cecil Baird1; 12/13/08 09:18 PM.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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they sum nice-uns round these parts
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they sum nice-uns round these parts Ever watch a big one come through under your ice hole while sitting in the shanty? Typically they are hard to catch and will ignore your bait.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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na, but i'd like to. can i come fish your ponds/lakes?
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Imlay City Fish Farm stocks RES, I find it hard to believe they would sell them if they all die every year.
I want to add some to my 1/2 acre 20 ft deep pond this spring for snail control, someone in MI, MN, or WI must have some in their ponds to report whether this is a good idea or not?
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