Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations "Gotta love them HSB"

Just a short update on our HSB project. We began in early June with 300 (1 1/2 - 2 inch) HSB. Just out of curiosity my wife and I ventured down to the grow-out pond to see how the 'hybrids" were doing. We used fathead minnows for bait and caught 5.5 - 6 inch fish every cast. The wife loved how easy it was to catch these fish. Kind of reminded her of our old trout pond days. I can't believe the growth we have achieved on these fish in only 2 months!
The fish have been primarily on their own for feed except for the past 2 weeks. We started supplemental feeding with aqua max and have had some activity on the feedings. I am really impressed with these fish! Pictures are of Tamara's fish and fishing. Also included a pic of our handy ranch "Club Car".

We will be transferring these fish to our y. perch pond sometime in Sept or Oct.

I can't wait to get ahold of some of Bruce's "SUPER hybrids!

Ed

http://www.redsplash.com/ims/pic.php?u=2728E8VpV&i=25325

http://www.redsplash.com/ims/pic.php?u=2728E8VpV&i=25324

http://www.redsplash.com/ims/pic.php?u=2728E8VpV&i=25323

Everything sounds completely normal right now including growth rates, agressiveness, etc. Keep in mind, Edward, that for every six incher, you've got 4 or 5, 3-3.5 inchers that you're not seeing that aren't agressive to the offering. Eventually you will probably want to cull those. You'll figure out ways of catching them by next year.

So far, so good on my fish. One of the keys to separating super-growers from normal hybrids is to slightly under feed the fish. I'm maybe only feeding 75% of what I could for now. The bigger, more agressive hybrids are 5.5-7 inches and the little guys are all about 3.5 right now for me. Assuming no dieoffs, I'll have some really good fish available in 4-8 weeks. Also, when people come to pick up fish I take them off feed for 48 hours before hand so they are not actively producing waste during transport.

I wish I had a demand for them among other taxidermists. They're just too available in southern impoundments.

Great fish though!

Ed,
Good news on your “one year class” grow-out HSB.
You mentioned that you caught 5 – 6 inch fish on fathead minnows and had just begun feeding AQMX pellets.
Did you raise the fish on fathead minnows?

Our “two year class” 4-6 inch grow-out HSB (stunted re-seller fish) stocked in grow-out pond in Jan/Feb. are nearing 8 inches, and transfer to main pond will soon begin.

If you will report sizes next spring at end of one-year period, it will be interesting to compare sizes.

In November we plan to stock “one year class” HSB in main pond, obtained from Overton Fisheries, so we will have two comparisons.

Betcha both “one year class” fish will be as large or larger than my “two year class” fish?


George Glazener
N.E. Texas ¼ acre and 2 acre ponds.

George is right on the money!

Bruce - I guess I didn't think there could be 3 inchers, but your probably correct. We were most likely catching the better fish due to the size of the bait (fatheads). Belted Kingfishers may have already weeded some of the smaller fish for us anyway? We will be ready for transport when you call. Do you suppose two 55 gal. barrels w/ oxygen will make the 7 or 8 hr. trip with 200 fish?

George - We put these fish in a pond that has no other fish in it. Therefore I am guessing the little hybrids were feeding on local invertabrates, tadpoles etc. This pond is not reliable as a permanent fishery due to the drainage area and seasonable stream that feeds it. Therefore we use it for a temporary grow-out, crawdads and livestock water. We will remove the fish when the pond begins to draw down and place the HSB in a well stocked yellow perch pond. It will be interesting to see how they do on this type of forage??

Ed

Will you be bringing a full size pickup?? Or maybe a trailer?

If so, I've got bigger containers that you can borrow/use. Otherwise what you've got will probably be OK, but the more water, the better.

Invariably you will have some smaller fish that swim "under the radar". You might be surprised how many of the little ones you have.

I will have data to add to this experiment. I bought 3-6" HBS from Overton, April 16. (assuming they are 2nd year) Introduced them into my pond with 2 strains of M. Tilapia, Overtons supply, and hybrid orange I raised in an aquarium. No fish feeder running, they are on their own. Conditions : Muddy water in April 05 from heavy rain...took until mid July to completely settle out. Heavy rain in August (8") messed things all up again. I will forward catch results this Fall when I sample them. What a cool measuring board this will be