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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 182
Fingerling
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OP
Fingerling
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 182 |
I began stocking my pond mid Spring. I was wanting to put FHM along with my CNBG but could not locate any FHM. May 12th I released 1100 (1-3") CNBG in my 1.25 acre pond (Build thread: http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=216832) I have been noticing a lot of activity along the water's edge the past two months. I can not tell if the BG have spawned or if it is minnows from a near by BOW. We have been receiving a lot of rain lately and I noticed huge schools of small fish where run off is draining into the pond. I snapped a few pictures with my phone, many of the fish had scattered when I walked up but I got a few in the pic. I am thinking about setting out a few minnow traps to see what they are. I will post pictures of what I find. Is there any harm in doing this? I may also set a few in the gully that runs down my property line (where I think the minnows may have come from) since I see many BG and LMB 4-6" fingerlings every time I walk down it.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,051 Likes: 277
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,051 Likes: 277 |
A $5.00 to $10 trap sure answers a lot of questions. Just about any bait seems to work for me.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 182
Fingerling
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OP
Fingerling
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 182 |
A $5.00 to $10 trap sure answers a lot of questions. Just about any bait seems to work for me. I set out a few at noon today baited with purina sports fish chow. I checked at 6 this evening and had a dozen or more in each trap. I took some pictures with the good camera so they would come out good. I will post them in a little while after I get to a computer. I am fairly certain they are Blacktail shiners.
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 182
Fingerling
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OP
Fingerling
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 182 |
After looking through the pictures, it is not a blacktail shiner. Here are a few pictures of what I am seeing all along the banks. When I checked one of the traps before dark, I found two 1-1.5" CNBG and a few large tadpoles.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,508 Likes: 829
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,508 Likes: 829 |
I'm goung out on a limb here and saying Gambusia.
CJ????
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 182
Fingerling
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OP
Fingerling
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 182 |
I'm goung out on a limb here and saying Gambusia.
CJ???? I just did a google images search and I believe you are correct. Are they a good thing? I have huge schools of them from 1/4"-2" long along the entire perimeter of my pond. Should I still stock FHM before the bass (having trouble locating them) or are these a good food source along with the BG?
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 182
Fingerling
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OP
Fingerling
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 182 |
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 46
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 46 |
Looks like Mosquito Fish to me.
Fishing is my stress relief.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2 |
Yup, mosquitofish/gambusia... I would still stock FHM.
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 182
Fingerling
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OP
Fingerling
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 182 |
Yup, mosquitofish/gambusia... I would still stock FHM. Thanks, will do as soon as I can find some.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,141 Likes: 488
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,141 Likes: 488 |
In mid-summer and during hottest weather fish for stocking are hard to locate. Check around and a fall or early spring stocking should still be okay. Gambusia don't get very big and what you are catching are breeding adults. They stay near the surface where they get most of their food items - msotly small hatching insects such as mosquito larvae. Male Gambusia stay smaller than the females. They are good forage for 2"-6" bass. Larger bass waste a lot of energy eating Gambusia and use them mostly when other forage is lacking.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 08/06/12 09:38 AM.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,840
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,840 |
You may be able to find some FHM at the bait shops but you will want to inspect them very close to make sure you do not get any "bonus" fish. This would at least get a few in the pond.
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