Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Show off your catch hybrid striped bass

Could white bass be mixed in somehow?

oh sorry I read it had been two months. Yes if nto grown any 1.5 yrs that woudl be stragne. Still believe some not growing or growing slow vs. successful repro and recuirtment. James when stocked, what size, and how many now catching this size, what size?

James, here are my thoughts for what they are worth:

I have seen hsb stocked into ponds with heavy feeding programs and not grow even a couple inches after several years. Not common, but I have seen it.

I havent seen hsb reproduce yet naturally, but have read that it is possible.

Your pond is an uncharacteristic catfish baby making factory..........

I would have put that HSB your dad caught on the wall, no questions about it. That fish most likely will not survive coming out of the water after being caught. We eat big hybrid striped bass we catch during the summer because mortality is extremely high. They swim off but we find em dead in clear water days later. To release them in the summer we leave them in the water and unhook them.

My take on aeration in ponds and lakes is that it is an absolutely must for someone wanting to push the envelope on growing trophy fish. Watching how fish relate to aeration systems first hand underwater is pretty cool stuff. Angling by aeration systems (just ask Bruce about angling by some of my aerators) is a pretty good indicator of what they can do as well. Purely from a fish's perspective and throw all of the other benefits of moving water out the window, but purely for fish reasons alone you want to start saving for the system. Shad and bluegill stack up in the current by the thousands and the HSB and LMB utilize them big time.

I started putting structures by aerators and you can't even fathom in your wildest dreams what kind of fishing spot that creates.

What would be the easiest way to check their age?

James when was the last time you stocked them and at what size?

I will be shocked if there was reproduction except that you do have that creek which could be the link.

You can take a couple scales from the fish and send them to somebody to look at. It is not that hard to do. You could send them to me if you want to.

YB will only charge you $1,000.00. Sure it sounds high, but I'm working with YB on 'value' pricing, and we know you have money.

James I think an otolith is much better for aging. Matt has aged thousands of fish so frozen fish head would work if interested.

What size should be stocked in a pond full of GSF (some being large)?

I would like to have some of these in each of my ponds as a bonus fish so just trying to find out the best size to stock and when.

Thanks

James, how long has it been since you switched over to high protein feed from the catfish diet you were feeding?

I looked it up, the last time I stocked HSBs for James was 10/08, 125 10-12inch fish.

I have been feeding a 90% diet of aquapro 600 this year. i am feeding 200 pounds a week of feed using five feeders. I have bought over three thousand pounds of aquamax 600 alone not to mention catfish food and largemouth bass food. There are large schools of shad, shiners and bluegill.If these fish are not growing it is not due to me not feeding them. Should I be culling these fish like the catfish?

I see every reason to believe that your lake is pushing the limits of biomass for an unaerated pond.

I mean that in a good way though. You've put a lot of fish in there over the years. Now you've got plenty of forage plus the pellet feed.

How much bigger could some of the predators get if there were less of them.

James, someone pulled your classic trophy HSB photo, but fortunately I saved it for my collection, along with Nates, Cheyennes, and more recently Eric’s photo. The accurate representation photos allow me to compare progress of my fish.

I strongly agree with Todd and Gregg about you living dangerously without aeration.
My water looked very similar to yours right before my fish kill some three years ago.
I learned my lesson the hard way – talk about sick!!!!!

Where did that big HSB pic go?

George is right that dark filamentous algae precluded his fish kill. A sign of hypernutrification?

I sure hope James' photobucket account is working.

Please guys if you post a pic leave it up and don't delete it. That damages the entire thread and the value of the site.

Others don't post things that would make someone want or need to take down a pic or cause a thread to be deleted. No personal insults , negative comments toward someone , or other rules violations.

Thank you.

I just got a quote from Sue cruz to install an air4 XL5 dual moter 220v system. It will have four stations each with five discs. Total cost is just over six thousand dollars and I still need to run the electrical. Does anyone have any comments before I buy the system?

I know you have a world class fishery and preserving it is very important - after reading these posts makes me cringe as they suggest you could be in for a crash...and that's more than scary. All I know about aeration is that when I install my system [Airmax 7] I will be using Sue Cruz/Vertex.

You should see if Sue will come out and install it.

I would like to bid on this system for you, installed, if you aren't opposed to it. I'll PM.

Sue is much better looking I have to admit. If she'll give you the right price, then BY ALL MEANS, hire her.......

"Sue is much better looking I have to admit."

Probably was no need to clarify.

Sue correct me if I'm wrong but Vertex does not sell direct and it will go thru a "dealer". If you want it installed James I strongly suggest Todd. I also can get you a price since we have consulted via email on many issues. Either way glad to see your looking into it.

James might be cheaper to run airline from current electiricial source than running electricity unles of course you have other plans for the eltricial as well.

Speaking as James' agent (without consulting him yet) He wants electricity down by the pond, because there are tons of future uses for it down there...

I have some comments for you to consider as well before you pull the trigger: definitely go with a local dealer for purchase of the system. Having a local professional to take care of you and your system forever is invaluable.

If you can post the design online I can offer a handful of other suggestions that may or may not help. Sue and Conrad are the best aeration designers in the nation, but sometimes there is more than one way to skin a cat (place diffusers) Especially if you are a fish guy....