I have passed the torch to highflyer (Brian) - it has been a fun ride through the years!
I'll be focusing more on the fly fishing topic to encourage more folks to increase their opportunity for additional fishing diversity.

Bring on the pond fishing stories with many pictures to share the fruits of your ponds!

HAVE FUN!
George

Few from today. Love pulling a big RES through the ice.

Nice RES!

Great reel to use for ice fishing and an even better way to attach the reel to the pole - ingenious - truly cleaver on both counts.

Well done T! Glad you have ice at long last. 10 day for us looks warm next week and weekend, better get out as much as you can while it lasts!

Great fish as always Tony. Congrats!

EDIT: Another random thought.
When ice fishing, do you change your lures (read downsize), or do you just slow down?

Today

Al, I do both as the conditions dictate. Reading the mood of the fish is where the sonar really shines.

Nice trout Todd!

Dang, Todd!! Did you mano-a-mano with that fish?? Had to put the snow cap on him?

My youngest with his 1st fish through the ice...

Awesome!! Nice job young man!

Excellent! Please ask him if he has any tips for us old timers!

Mano-a-Fisho!....

Couple of buddies and I had a darn good day on the ice Saturday...caught 44.

We ate fresh cold water crappie (and a few BG and LMB), morel mushrooms (flash frozen last May) and taters until we foundered.

"Hey....how come the sled smells like fish?"

There's an empty Corona on one end, coffee thermos on the other, 44 fish, cleaned and eaten along with Morel's and taters.

Good day is an understatment!

Nice!

*Edit* Oops, missed the beer can beside the thermos!

Guided a buddy at Hudland on 1-2-15 - two 8 year pond records shattered 20 minutes apart! Amazing.

Estimate this SMB 19" and approaching 4#



14" YP beat the record by .25"

Great looking fish TJ. That smallie is ridiculous.

Man, that smally is nice. Bet it gave a good battle

Hit it yesterday - ice was 10-12" and bite heated up towards dusk. 4 SMB up to 15", 5 YP up to 14"+", 5 WE up to 16", and several HBCP up to 13.5". I think I beat the pond record by a thin margin...she went 14.25" - at least that's what the tape suggests - and I'm sticking with it.

I wouldn't know...too busy getting camera ready! LOL, but hey, I think I beat the YP pond record yesterday, so I'm pretty pumped.

Awesome fish TJ! Love that sunset picture!

141/4 inches is a big perch anywhere. Probably at max egg development over 2 lbs. or close to it!

Thanks Cecil - you and Bill have been good mentors - hope I can attain something close to your level someday.

TJ
Beautiful fish and sunset! How are you controlling the black crappie population in your pond?

Pat W

Thanks PW - Hybrid Black Crappie. They are F1 offspring of White Crappie and Black Crappie [note black stripe down back]. Few of us have stocked them based on initial reports the recruitment of F2 generation is limited in qty and size - theoretically equating into easier population management. Jury is still out - so far, seeing limited recruitment and solid growth from original fish. I may start liberal harvest and stock another couple year classes over the coming seasons...if I can get Rex up to NE.

TJ
Most of the BCP that I stocked have the black stripe on back also. Was curious that they look very similar to mine

Pat W

I don't know nothin'. Bill's the expert.

Where is Bill anyway? I sure hope he didn't fall in. All these nice perch pictures we're posting and I haven't heard a peep out of him.

Pure Black Crappie can have the black stripe, HBCP can also have the black stripe or lack them. Presence of black stripe does not indicate hybrid - I believe it's a recessive trait that some BCP share, pure or hybrid.

Great pics guys, looks like everybody's having fun.

Good day. My first CNBG of the year, and my first ever trout here. The water hit 44 degrees, and the deer were everywhere around noon. It was time to fish.

Excellent... The fish look great Al! Was the copper sluggish at all?

I know.. compared to the behemoths posted by TJ, Cecil, and Bill Cody, this pitiful 8" thing doesn't even appear to be the same species. But I'm still a little pleased to have caught it. My very first YP through the ice.



And one for Yolk Sac, lest he think I have forsaken the path.

I have to go out and fill an order for two large bluegills at $75 each. I should just quit taxidermy. This is more fun and faster money.

Only problem is the dog won't go in or stay in my shanty. She's terrified of it especially when I pull the top down.

Still nice fish Tony. What's really nice about the perch is they are very cooperative under the ice. The cold water doesn't seem to phase them at all.

Tony, congrats. Firsts are great aren't they? It's the Moon. It was perfect today.

The CNBG was at least 10' deep, and bit very lightly. I'm gonna try deeper and slower for a few days and see what happens.

Slow and low this time of year, Al...slow and low.

44 degress seems cold for TX ponds, I didnt think you guys got "that" cold of water. is that surface temp? might it be warmer on the bottom?

Maybe you're on to something there, Cecil?

Bobby that pond was at 34 degrees last week. It had completely iced over the day before, but that's something that happens once or twice a year.

dang sprkplug in that one picture it almost
looks as if there is a dead white dog under the ice!

I'm such a dork Tony. Couldn't even get a bite and moved five times! Serves me right for getting cocky. On top of that I peek out one of the peep holes of the shanty to see what the dog is barking at, and notice I put the flag up this morning upside down! If my dad was here he'd kill me! LOL

Looks like I'll have to break out the FL-8 when the new battery comes from Ebay.

Are you sight fishing in the shanty? Wasn't sure if you used a flasher or not.

Are you under any sort of time constraint or deadline to provide those bluegills?

I was fishing "naked." That is, drop the bait down the hole with a clip on weight to set the sliding knot and slide-on sponge float to fish the bait close to the bottom. Normally catch the fish within 6 to 12 inches of the bottom. With the Vex FL-8 I can at last see if anything's down there and watch my jig in relation to any fish.

i haven't been using any minnows which is very reliable for yellow perch.




Not really. I have a few weeks.

The pond has been fished really hard for a two to three week period by up to six anglers at a time for three years now to harvest the fish I sell. It's possible the relased fish that didn't meet the minimum size are getting hard to catch. The seine this spring should take care of that.

Master,

If you get in a pinch, you can try harvesting some trophy FHM from my pond. Bring the big gear though. Once they see that hole in the ice they head for the bottom!

Your buddy,

Grasshoppa

Delete.

See CNBG, no concave stomach. This fish is thriving and rising fast. Well done Al...save a few for me!

HBG thriving here too - note no concave stomach region. I think that fish has some potential. Awesome.

YP - CONGRATS AMIGO!!! I'm ear to ear smiling. I'm guessing male, did you flip it and check urogenital? If female it should be showing a little by now? Well done...very happy.

Cody Note - I agree the 8" YP is likely a male.

Cecil,

I think you told me once you deliver the fish frozen. How long can you keep them in the freezer before they go bad?

They are shrink wrapped so pretty much indefinitely.

It was perch madness this evening just before dark. Caught six in a very short amount of time.The lantern sitting next to the hole illuminating the bait below the ice hole may have been a factor. Fish were six to twelve inches off the bottom caught on chartreuse jig and a couple of beemoths. Going to pick up some minnows tomorrow as I have a taxidermist in Oklahoma that wants three in the 13 inch range for a competition in March. He obviously can't wait for harvest in March. I have one already and minnows should make harvest faster.

Sorry no pics. I tried to get a picture of a 12 inch female that had very developed ovaries for Bill Cody to see, but she hopped iher way to the hole before I could snap a picture. I've never seen one that developed that early.

Hey Cecil,

Did you get the 2 BG you were trying for yet? I would love to see a pic of those if you get a chance.

Bill D.

No not yet Bill. The yellow perch greatly out number the bluegills in the pond as I've had a hard time getting the number of male bluegills into the pond I'd like to. And the fact that two of the high schools that grow them out for me over the winter had a number die didn't help.

The yellow perch are much easier to catch in cold water, at least that has been the case in my pond. Once I start using minnows the perch will be really easy to catch. I catch some bluegills with the fatheads as bait but it's mostly yellow perch.

I guess that makes sense right? YP are probably more active in cold water than BG. That is a question, not a statement.

Oh for sure. And I would guess they need to eat as spawning is just around the corner.

Case in point: In my pond in early spring you'd think the only thing in the pond are yellow perch. In late spring it's just the opposite with bluegills the primary catch.

Thanks Cecil.....

Stepped out on the ice at sunrise, and found the bluegills in 18' of water holding to the bottom. They were very cooperative, and for two hours I culled and released. No big fish today, just average size.

By this evening the ice was suffering....mid fifties all afternoon, still 46 degrees right now. Four inches of good ice this morning, probably junk by tomorrow.

Took one photo, grapefruit coloration on a male.

Cecil, please report on your ice/snow conditions as of tomorrow. My friends daughter called from Ft Wayne and said it was 48 today.

Took advantage of a nice weather day and reeled
in a catfish that couldn't resist a bite of shrimp.

Bob,

There was water on the the ice due to melted snow but I still had solid ice on the pond away from the open water created by my diffuser on one end. At least 5 inches of ice maybe 6.

I caught around 10 yellow perch from about 11 to 14 inches and now have three 13 1/4 to 13 1/2 inch perch for a taxidermist in Oklahoma. All were released except for those three.

Got the following bluegill at 10.0 inches and 1 lb. 2 1/4 oz. Just have to to get one more for the order.

Thanks for the update. Those BG sure are impressive but not surprising from your place.

Gorgeous fish!!!

My neighbor said I have 6" of ice too. Each of his 3 daughters caught a fish, then they were ready to go back in the house. 1 YP about 12", 2 BG about 9". All right on the bottom. YP picked up the jig on the way down.

Thanks to genetics from your fish! I've crossed them with other fish twice now but those Condello genes keep shining through!

Nice cat Mark. Have you caught any of the albino cats yet?

Went out this afternoon @ 4 P.M. and couldn't buy a bite until about a half hour before dark when all hell broke loose. Caught and released at least 20 perch with two on at a time at times. Also had lines tangle as my two poles were only about 4 feet apart and some of the perch decided to swim laterally!

I need one bluegill to fill an order and could only get yellow perch. Go figure! I do have until next weekend to pull one up.

Most of the perch were in the 13 inch range with two just over 14.

Pics aren't that great but it's a one man operation and the fish rarely cooperate! I feel like a one armed paper hanger trying to control the fish and snap a picture at the same time!

Wow Cecil, those fish are amazing. You set the bar high - well done!

I got in 30 minutes of fishing late yesterday afternoon. I'm desperately trying to find the temp and weather trend that turns these fish on and off. These rose to get a fly, but never moved more than a few feet anyway from the deeper water they were resting in. Water was 45 degrees, and rising.

The first fish looks more like Overton's CNBG to me. If so, it is 2 yo or less. That gives hm several more years of growing time. He's probably maxed out length wise, but I expect him to add girth from now on. A shade under 1.5 pounds.


This one, although as tall and almost as long as the other 2 CNBG, didn't make the cut. Ugly CNBG, had to go. If it wasn't for the ear tab, I'd almost call this one female? Weighed just over 1 pound.

That 2nd one almost looks like a Northern BG.

Hey buddy -been waiting for this day - good job!
G/

Scott, IMO the first CNBG is from Overton amd the 2nd is most likely from Tyler Fish farm.
G/

That bottom fish does seem to display some northern characteristics?

Great fish Al...even the cull would be the BG of a lifetime for many up here!

George, Todd and I surveyed CNBG when he brought the trout up, and he felt like these males were integrates, and unusual even for Tyler Fish Farm. This just confuses me more, since I'm pretty sure TJ hasn't been dumping Northern BG over the fence.

More of a fusiform shape, non-distinctive markings including stripes, little to no helmet.. I'll put all these I catch in pond that just needs forage, but they're not something I'm wanting to keep in the gene pool.

So, that begs the question. Have I just been seeing Bruce's genetics with a lot of Northern BG pics? The platter shape is what I'm more used to seeing, and what we're getting with our CNBG from Todd. Now I'm even more confused as to what "native" BG and CNBG look like. Maybe I'm just used to seeing outstanding genetics posted on PB.

Wow what a beauty and only 2 years old! Impressive.



I see nothing wrong with that fish. But that's my opinion.

Fireshot,

How do I go about ordering that measuring board? Looked up Fiskars Brand Inc. Madison which is listed on the side but didn't see anything specifically. Apparently its use isn't designed for fish?

Cecil, there's certainly nothing wrong with that CNBG, it's just not what I'm wanting the genetics of. Your bottom BG picture above, is almost exactly what I'm getting shape wise with my CNBG from Overton's. I really like that look.

Currently, my CNBG that may be integrates, are the longest and heaviest CNBG in my pond. I'm trying to change that.

Looks like a pattern board made for use with a circular cutter? If so, maybe JoAnn fabrics?

Wally World has them in the sewing section. They have them in different sizes, and I'm liking it a lot. One, the grid lets you lay your fish anywhere on the board and get an accurate measurement and 2, it shows the height of the fish. That's right in my CNBG wheelhouse.

They're plastic so they can stay wet with no problems.

We toss around the term intergrade a lot, and I don't dispute that, but could another possibility exist? It used to be common to hear authorities describe two sub species of CNBG....macrochirus purpurescens, and macrochirus mystacalis.

Mystacalis was thought of as a Florida strain, while purpurescens was described as indigenous to some southern Atlantic coast states. Now, many consider them to be one and the same...maybe not, at least for appearance sake.

I know there are threads here somewhere that contain info.... Maybe Travis put something up?

If you get the Fiskars " pizza cutter" to go with the board, you could filet the culls right there also!

Tony, there's probably some truth to all that.

Basically, I guess this is what I'm after. With vertical stripes of course.

Tony, there are two strains of Overton's pure Florida CNBG that have been personally caught and transported from the Florida peninsula to Texas. There is a third strain that I can vouch for but cannot divulge due to confidential agreement.

These pure strains have been preserved and brood stock selected over several years to meet Overton's OTS CNBG standards. Ewest has stocked the OTS CNBG strain and his posts are in the archives.

Overton’s pure Florida LMB have been imported by the same process and verified by TAMU DNA analysis and is published on his website. I am not privy to his CNBG “trade secrets” but he plans to be at the up-coming PB conference and he likes to talk about his fish.

I have been fortunate to participate as a guest in Todd's CNBG program for many years.
Fun stuff!
George

There ya go Tony. Another reason to make the conference.

I hear that there will be an arctic cold snap hitting the end of January/early Feb. Maybe it'll slow sap down enough so you can make it.....

You know, the more I think about it, it is the "look " I'm after.

IIRC, we closed the dam on the big pond 15-16 years ago. This is the first time since it was originally stocked that I can visually verify the age of the CNBG. Like Tony, I live on the property with my ponds, and I hit the brood pond and big pond 3 to 4 times a day, almost every day. From the brood pond, I've figured out over 2 years what my CNBG's dominant traits are from the 2-3" CNBG fingerlings I got from Overton's in March of 2013, and want to continue those traits. It kinda makes all the fun new again.

Ah yes, tetraodontidae macrochirus cactii a Texas exclusive I believe? I have heard that if you step on one, you can rub the wound with the slime from a GSF to numb the pain.

George I agree, oftentimes the details tell the whole story and are quite interesting besides.

I have to admit to being curious though...if I remember correctly, Tamu advocates for the two sub species being the same..I think.

Here: http://fisheries.tamu.edu/pond-management/species/bluegill/

Interesting reading here also...note to Al: check out the part where the CNBG from the manatee river section are described as being more plate shaped than the specimens from the St Johns river system..... http://forum.nanfa.org/index.php/topic/12901-lepomis-macrochirus-purpurescens-vs/

Not claiming either is correct, just some interesting reading material.

Thanks!

Caught two bluegills today along with 8 or 10 yellow perch to 14 inches. Only need one to fill an order. Unfortunately one was just under the minimum size of 10 inches and the other albeit plenty big enough had an imperfect tail and spiny dorsal fin so they went back. The fish are for the world taxidermy championships so the customer is really picky. I'll keep trying.

The yellow perch outnumber my bluegill about 20 to 30 to one in the pond. Hope to change that in the next few years.

"imperfect tail and spiny dorsal fin" .....A little more effort Cecil, seems you're slackin.

Yep I take full responsibility. Should have removed the fish as I've seen him before but I don't have the heart to kill him.

More Saturday action...

HBCP just under 15" - fish are averaging 13" - happy with their success thus far.



Happy to see my WE, stocked at 6", are finally exceeding 18". Suspect this is the 2011 year class. Hopeful with improved gape they'll turn the corner soon and start adding some heft.

Great looking HBCP, when did you first stock them?

TJ,

Keep the pictures comin'. Love it! Nice fish!

Any pictures of the black nose stripe on those HBCP? Looks like fun on your ice! Congrats!

Rex - this fish lacked the stripe...many do. I may need another 50-100 fish down the road...let me know when you're headed this way again.

Interesting spot pattern. Not barred like a white but not as fully covered in spots as a black. Makes sense. What kind of spine counts do you get on these fish TJ? Similar to a white (6) or a black (7 to 9)?

I hope you don't harvest them too soon. They have the potential of getting very large. The biggest crappie I take in are usually natural hybrids. 17 to 18 inches and even one that was 21 inches.

I'll be right back with a pic of one recently posted on IceShanty.com in my area. It's obviously a natural hybrid as it appears more like a black crappie but has the spine count of a white crappie.

My fish above has 7 spines, but another fish taken that day, a little smaller, had 6 spines. I'll start recording this info more reliably and report to the forum. I caught two 15" fish two years ago - I'm hoping they are approaching 17" by now. Would be an treat to see them again!

Cecil, when counting spines, where do you stop? The one in the picture above that you posted has 5 clear cut pointy spines. THe 6th one kind of ties into the part of the fin caudal to that (behind it going towards the back) Is this a 6th spine then?

I count 6 spines on the dorsal fin of Cecil's fish - but see what you mean. I stop counting when they reach the apex of the dorsal fin. I count all others as spines...some fish there are "tweener" spines, it seems.

Anything that will stick ya is a spine!

Be sure to be clear that's not MY fish. I'm sure you meant the fish pic I posted. I could get in deep do do if it looked like I was saying it was my fish. And add to that he may be bring it to me to mount.

Went out to check the fish this morning, and they were very active. We've had a pre-front conditions for the last 2 days, and nothing was feeding or biting. There's been a strong NE wind, and everything shut down. I'm still learning this winter CNBG fishing. It's not really something I've ever done much of, but CNBG seem to be a smidge more finicky than Florida LMB.

Guessing 11", and over a pound and a quarter. Legacy CNBG for sure.

Al, do you suppose there are some RES genetics present in that fish? Either way, that thing is tremendous!

(Nice job on the winter fishing also)

Tony, not that I saw, but I'm pretty weak in the hybrid department. That may explain some things though. I do know that my RES spawn within a few yards of the feeder.

What are you seeing that leans you that way?

I'm desperately trying to find that point where CNBG turn on and off in cold weather. So far, it hasn't been water temp related, because they bit at mid 30's surface temp. Just my WAG, but they do seem to be more affected by the moon and weather changes than they do in the summer months. I'm definitely going to try the tungsten jigs with tippings when nothing else works. I see no reason CNBG can't be catchable 365, if you put in the time to figure the patterns out.

"... but I'm pretty weak in the hybrid department."

Not just in that department....

Al I wondered about the overall coloration, the projected nose, the mottling pattern on the cheeks, and it almost looks like a spot of color towards the bottom of the opercular?

And even though I've never fished for CNBG, I feel the same as you....they're still down there, and I think they could be caught during the colder months.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but it'll be good to see you again next month.

Interesting. We'll hit them hard this weekend, so I'll try to take some more detailed pics.

Tony my immediate take was along the same lines...no color on opercular tab, but still, something seemed to whisper RES....

It does have more of a RES head shape, CNBG often have a more pronouced helmet Head.

They're still hitting well. First fish was 10 3/4" and 1.23 pounds

2nd and 3rd fish were both around 10" and less than a pound.

Tony and others, the reddish copper in the second 2 is not a reflection. I've had big bulls that matched that color in the spring, so I'm good with that being something that's normal here. 3rd fish definitely had red on the lower edge of opercular tab, so I'm not sure at all on that one.

8 1/4 right beofre sunset this evening. Caught her on a jerkbait.

A balmy 78 degrees here today.

Tremendous Al!
You're creating quite an amazing fishery down there.

A little preview-teaser of what we're going to see in a scant few days.....

Really nice Al.

I see you didn't want to risk freezing your beard to the ice to save your life tho.

Very nice Al! It was a pretty day today!

Fine looking fish Al!
Pat

Thanks guys.

Tony, the big test will be around the first of April. We're electroshocking the big puddle almost 2 years to the day after the last shocking. Lots of LMB culling, and the addition of supplemental breeding sized CNBG hopefully helped the overall condition of the pond. I do know our days of catching 30-40 skinny LMB a day are long gone, and that's a very good initial sign.

Beautiful bass! I'm hoping my largest bass will be that size next Summer. Trying for 1.5-2lbs weight gain per year.

On the BG Al, how many years since stocking of fingerlings do you think those fish are?

Fantastic BG.

snrub, the CNBG that we have, and are targeting for brood stock are 2 years old. Even in the water in it's very easy to identify them, and it's the first time I've had the ability to exactly pinpoint their age. Hopefully, lot's of growth potential still let in them.

Well done - that first CNBG was a brute. Are you doing WRs? I picked up a digital scale weighing to .01 oz at WM that works very well. I use a bowl on top too hold the fish as they rarely like being still - scale adjusts for that additional weight. Cost was $15.

TJ, I haven't done any relative weights, but I'm logging the data.

I bought a Rapala hanging scale that helps things a bit with the CNBG. I love my Boga, but IMO, it doesn't work well for smaller fish.

That is fantastic growth for 2 years. I'm coming up on two years this March 19 of stocking 3" northern BG, and I would be happy with 2/3 your performance.

Thank you very much. The last 2 years have been all about the CNBG, and we've had a blast with them.

No trophy by any means, just the overall excitement of catching the first fish of the year.

In the 60's yesterday and 50's today brought me about 90% open water, so I had to try



My water has never been so clear (4'-5' clarity) and I don't know if that has anything to do with it, or maybe it's the cold water, but the colors and patterns are so distinct on this LMB compared to warmer times of the year with a normally heavy bloom in my pond (18" avg clarity).



(although I'm removing 12" and under LMB, I didn't have the heart being the first one of the year )

LL,
I caught a LMB yesterday with nearly no coloring and my wife caught one with similar coloring to yours. Both are descendants of the original F1s that were originally stocked. I had been told early on that the coloring had to do with water clarity/condition but, at least in my case, doesn't seem to hold true.

Here are 3 outstanding threads on fish coloration and dyes.

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=34878&page=1

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.ph...true#Post200457

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=85635&page=1

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=74247&page=1

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthread...true#Post200457

Anyone know what is wrong with the links ? They were copied from threads where the links work.

Here is some of the text :

That could be a hybrid. It could be a genetic mutation to color/pattern or due to envior cause or injury. Could also be chemical imbalance effecting its chromataphores . Here is some interesting info on coloration in fish from http://www.wetwebmedia.com/AqSciSubWebIndex/coloration.htm

Types of Chromatophores

Color and its change in fishes is a matter of colors already present being manifest, clumped or masked.

Of the most common types of chromatophores are melanophores. These contain black or brown colored melanin crystals. The degree or intensity of darkness of these cells and hence the fish they’re found on depends on the amount of dispersion of the melanin pigment within the cell. Intracellular migration and aggregation is the fundamental chromatophores activity. When the pigment is dispersed widely throughout the cytoplasm, the skin macroscopically appears darker (black or brown). When the pigment granules aggregate or contract the cell loses its darkness.

Some examples of this loss of dark color are the dark bands on freshwater angels (Pterophyllum) and sunfishes (Lepomis) that can quickly blanch from dark to light or come back again given fright or excited states.

Other colored cell types include xanthophores and erythrophores. These chromatophores are generally slower to change. An example of these cells can be understood readily by looking at a swordtail (Xiphophorus).

Studies of skin pigment cells in recent years have helped our understanding of pigment biology. Two important concepts have become established re the function of chromatophores re the dermal unit and the epidermal melanin unit. The epidermal unit is only concerned with morphological color change (in warm and cold-blooded animals). The dermal chromatophores unit contains three layers:

The xanthophore or filtering layer

The iridophore or reflecting layer

The melanophore or absorbing layer

Note that there are two types of pigments true or based on color and reflective. Also note that not all chromatophores contain the actual pigment color that they appear. That is, that some work on different principles other than selective absorption/reflection. The iridophores contain quanine crystals that reflect different wavelengths of light, which give them an apparent color though no true pigment is present. Further, there are two types of iridophores or reflecting pigment cells, ones with decidedly larger and smaller quanine crystals. The larger crystals can change their orientation to reflect different colors of light. Cells with the smaller crystals can aggregate or disperse their pigments thereby controlling the intensity of color.

Because iridophores are typically light in color, the effect of dispersion and contraction is opposite that of melanophores. When quanine crystals are aggregated, the cell appears darker. The plate-like crystals give off iridescence as seen on the top and flanks of many fishes (e.g. Silver Dollars, Metynnis, Mylossoma, Anchovies, Engraulis).

Green, gold, red, blue and many other colors can be reflected selectively by iridophores. The iridescent blues of Neon Tetras (Paracheirodon innesi) are a result of quanine crystals for instance, and not blue pigmentation.

Fishes also utilize combinations of pigment cell types, with iridophores and melanophores mixed.

Chromatophore Responses: Physiological (Nervous, Hormonal) and Morphological

Chromatophore changes can be divided into two categories, morphological and physiological. Morphological changes are usually evoked by maintaining an organism in a given setting, on a specific background for a number of days. We’ll discuss these states a bit later.

Physiological color changes involve alteration of pigment granules causing dispersion or aggregation consequent to various stimuli, e.g. light, temperature, chasing.

The control of aggregating and dispersing of pigment granules is caused by changes in the chromatophores ionic charge. A change of charge within the cell causes a change in color. There are two ways to change the ionic equilibrium within chromatophores, hormonal and neural. Both "paths" are often employed, one working more gradually, the other more immediately. For example, the time required to change from light to dark varies immensely. This change can take from scant seconds in the Killifish Fundulus, to about twenty days in the European Eel (Anguilla). The significance of the different time intervals in color change is that it is related to the mechanism of change. When the time for the change exceeds two hours, hormonal coordination is indicated. Alternatively, a change in the span of ten minutes of less is likely largely due to neuron-control.

Physiological responses are defined as either primary or secondary and as stated are moderated by nervous and endocrine system control. Primary color changes generally occur through routes other than the eyes, i.e. by direct action of light on the chromatophores themselves (known as extraocular reflex). Primary responses are functional before the eyes are operative in embryonic and larval stages. Secondary responses depend on the nature of the environmental background and not specifically on the intensity of ambient light. Here the degree of pigment dispersion is determined by the ratio of the amount of light directly incidental to the eye to the quantity and quality reflecting on the eye from the background.

Though color and its change are mediated physiologically by the nervous and endocrine systems, they are determined by direct environmental influences like pH, salinity, and temperature dispersing pigments without the fish’s direct control. Hence a third type (morphological) of color and pattern control exists in addition to hormonal and nervous.

Morphological Color Changes:

Morphological color changes are due to amounts of pigment present in the chromatophores of an organism. Morphological changes occur very slowly, generally over the course of a month or more, and are usually permanent. These changes involve the synthesis and destruction of large amounts of pigment through a few methods:

More or less pigment within the cells

More or less chromatophores themselves

The movement of pigment to different layers in the epidermis

More often than not, morphological color changes are actionable with the other types of color change. For example, a fish placed on a white background will contract the pigments in its cells first physiologically (under nervous impetus), and then slowly lose its morphological color.

Research has shown that the pituitary gland, through its production of melanophore stimulating hormone (MSH) participates in morphological color changes. Further, that if an animal is sensitive to both physiological and morphological changes by the injection of MSH then the morphological process will be slower and more permanent, perhaps irreversible.

Nervous/Neural Mechanisms of Chromatophore Control:

There is good evidence that melanophore control by advanced bony fishes is principally actuated by the autonomic nervous system. Sharks and other cartilaginous fishes colors are apparently not controlled by nervous mechanisms, and consequently do not change rapidly.

There are two principal chemicals that are produced and release by neurons (neurohormones) that affect color.

Epinephrine (Adrenalin): A nerve-activated hormone that’s released by an organism when it is excited or scared, causing pigments to contract and the animal to blanch, lose color.

Acetylcholine: A chemical that is active in muscle tissue, movement, almost always causing melanin to disperse, darkening the organism.

Hormonal Mechanisms of Chromatophore Control:

Hormonal color changes are slower, harder to observe and more subtle typically. Several "chemical messengers" (hormones) affect color. In fishes, all these are carried by the blood system (endocrine means "to cry within"). Most arise fro the pituitary, although they can be produced in the hypothalamus, pineal, thyroid and other endocrine glands. A comment for those unfamiliar with the structure and physiology of the "lower vertebrates" called fishes: they share about the same organs, chemicals and pathways as "higher ones" like ourselves.

For sure the "less advanced fishes", the Lampreys and Hagfishes and Cartilaginous fishes (sharks, rays, skates, chimaeras) do not have neurological color control. Instead MSH produced by their pituitaries is responsible of pigments. "Higher fishes" (teleosts) have a slightly different structure to their MSH, resembling that of mammals.

Melanophore Stimulating Hormone: The most abundant and studied, though not the only hormone affecting color change in fishes is MSH (or Intermedin in older literature). A similar hormone MCH, Melanophore Concentrating Hormone has the opposing effect of lightening individuals.

Estrogen: We’ll mention as many fishes exhibit "sexual dichromatism" or difference in color associated with sex due to this hormone and other sex hormones. Wrasses (family Labridae) are good examples here. Other sexual hormones of fishes include Methyl Testosterone, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). These all influence color in fishes though not as pronounced or widespread as estrogen.

Functional and Behavioral Significance of Color, Changes



Behavior of Color:

Apart from its physiology, the study of the function of color in fishes is a rapidly expanding scientific field of study. As presently understood and classified, color falls into three general categories of function:

Camouflage (concealment)

Advertising

Disguise

Of course, there are other ways to classify color. For instance a classification scheme might measure the amounts and variability of changes therein. One group here would be those fishes with a fairly stable color pattern, like the jawless fishes and sharks. Though there are sharks (e.g. the genus Carcharhinus) that show color change diurnally. Fish with numerous iridophores often do not exhibit elaborate color changes (they’re "shiny" all the time). The Tinfoil Barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) is a good example here.

Another scheme of arranging fishes by color would be by how they do so with their behavior. Most fishes do change color by one or more of the methods discussed earlier.

Camouflage:

This is the most widespread and important type of coloration. This really makes sense when you consider the importance of not being seen to avoid being eaten. Camouflage coloration is accomplished in a few ways.

a) The most common type of coloration effect occurs in most, but particularly pelagic fishes, counter-shading. This is the matching of reflectivity from below and above with ambient reflection. Melanophores cover the topside of the fish, making it darker, and iridophores start about halfway down their sides of the body, increasing in density until almost solid underneath the fish. Next time you see a show with tunas, jacks swimming in the open sea, or visit a public aquarium displaying herrings or anchovies, look for this.

b) Deepwater fishes have bizarre and unusual coloration. Most are black or red, with the red usually being very bright. As the red-end spectra of sunlight are the first to be selectively absorbed in the upper water of the sea this red coloration is a mystery. It could be that the color is in some way related to storage of oxygen.

c) Cavefish of a few species live in worlds w/o light and have lost their pigment through evolution. Most have lost their eyes as well and use other senses to navigate. The blind Cave Tetra (Astyanax jordani) is a fish sold in the aquarium trade that is almost devoid of pigment and totally blind.

d) Matching camouflage is extremely widespread, especially in the tropics. There are several excellent examples of fishes that have active color patterns that match their immediate environment. Some fishes even have a repertoire of several adaptive color patterns. George Barlow (1981) recognized up to eleven such color patterns in Badis badis. Most of these patterns were found to match different surroundings.

Another classic example for pet-fish keepers is the pencilfish Nannostomus beckfordi that has a twenty-four hour rhythm of day and night coloration. A horizontal band runs the length of the body during the day while at night three vertical bands are visible to match the water plants it hides in during these hours. It was found (Abbott 1973) that this fish did not depend on light intensity or vision at all and that blind fish still went through the diurnal matching periods.

The vertical bands of freshwater angelfishes (Pterophyllum) also match vertical bands of plants, and lighten and darken with the presence of such physical objects.

e) Transparency. One of the more clever forms of concealment is to be transparent. Indian Glassfish (Parambassis ranga) and Glass Catfish (Kryptopterus bicirrhis) are two good examples of fishes that use this scheme that are common in the ornamental fish trade. This is obviously a good strategy for avoiding predators that rely on sight.

f) Another widespread color scheme is termed disruptive coloration. These markings serve to distract a predator, the fish thus creating a diversion. False eye spots as in many of the marine butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae) or the Oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) are examples of disruptive coloration, potential predators either scared away or attacking this area allowing the would-be prey to escape. There are many tropical marine fishes with types of disruptive coloration.

Advertising:

Advertising is another function of color and color changes in fishes. In such large and sometimes dark, always relatively dense environments as the waters of the world advertising ones presence, species identity and possibly sex are critical.

a) An excellent example of bold advertising off the U.S. California coast is the Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicunda). The Garibaldi uses its bright orange coloring as an advertisement to others of its own kind to defend its territory. These territorial boundaries are set by sight… becoming smaller in more turbid water, and larger in more clear water.

b) Recognition is a very important function of coloration. Both pattern and color are often used in different types of recognition.

Species recognition is important to fish as it is to us. People often use color and patterns to recognize different species. Though not touted by systematists for discernment, humans being visually oriented often rely on color and markings for species identifications.

Sex recognition. Though not obvious to most of us, there are often morphological and/or coloration differences between the sexes of fishes. Often this brightened condition is disadvantageous during non-breeding seasons; hence fishes show their most heightened coloration only while attracting mates and breeding.

A third type of recognition is warning coloration, within or between species. Changing color to warn of impending trouble.

c) Another example of advertising involves color and cleaning symbiosis. Cleaner fishes (e.g. Labroides wrasses) are brightly colored so they will attract larger fishes that want to be cleaned. This "signal releaser" coloration also advertises that the cleaner is not to be ingested as prey. Some other species of fishes utilize this protection (as mimics) like Aspidontus, the saber-tooth blenny.

Disguise: Mimicry

This is the third major type of coloration and change used by fishes as means for survival. Some species of fishes utilize the looks (and behavior) of others as a means to "get by" or get a meal. An example is a mimic of the common Labroides wrasse Labroides dimidiatus, Aspidontus, the Sabertooth blenny, that uses matching coloration for protection from predators and to gain proximity to hosts as food.

Other Uses and Responses of Coloration:

There are several "secondary" apparent uses, results of coloration and its change:

1) Thermoregulation. Some fishes are notably darker in the early morning hours, lightening up with increased temperature, even with loss or constant illumination, and darkening on one side if the water is warmed there.

2) Environmental Responses. Most fishes have the capacity to adapt to some extent to changes in the shade, color or pattern of their environment.

a) Response to background has been widely observed. The best example here are some of the flatfishes (Pleuronectiforms) that can adjust their body markings, even to checkerboard, to match the substrate. A curious observation is that "practice" shortens the span of time for these matching.

b) Response to darkness. This is a varying of coloration based on direct illumination on the animal.

3) "Psychic Response". Reactions by fishes from being handled or darkening when angry (think of a red devil cichlid (Amphilophus) or triggerfish (Balistidae) by what it observes outside.)

Cloze:

Control of coloration has been found to be a matter of the presence and concentration of pigment and reflective elements in types of cells called chromatophores in fishes. These colors and their change are under environmental, hormonal and neural control. There are differing classification schemes for lumping/splitting color functions and means, but there is no doubt that such markings and abilities to change are of great survival value and multiple functions

Last ice Friday, can't believe we were on hard water March 6. While ice was deteriorating fast, still managed a few SMB, CNBG and YP. Forecast calling for 60-70s over next 10 days. I'm ready.

Stocked at 3-5" 2 years ago (May 2013), again nothing huge but pleasantly plump and personally pleased

Good looking fish


Pat

Please correct me if I missed something but I thought CNBG would not survive northern ponds that freeze over ???

Edit your links on the last three that don't work. Remove the "www.pondboss.com/forums" part and replace with "forums.pondboss.com"

Nice looking fish…

I caught my first SMB Wednesday evening, this one has a very faint healed up up scar from getting hit by a Great Blue Heron last year.

Contest over!!
Shorty is the best dressed fisherman on this site!!!

Yes it looks like Shorty just came home from Chruch and couldn't find time to change clothes. No wonder that nice smallie bit the bait. The guy looked just too good to be a fisherman.

We finally hit "ice out" over night on the main pond. This is one of the latest ice outs that I can remember. Our smaller pond is still 80%-90% ice covered.

I put a small rubber crappie jig on an ultra-light rig after lunch this afternoon. I started a walk around the main pond. The crappies are usually fairly active at ice out.

I got this funny looking fish that only kind-of resembled a white crappie -- mostly white with black spots. About 14-15 inches and really fat. I'm guessing at least two pounds. Probably about Wr of 1.5 - 1.8. Except for taking this picture, most of it never came out of the water. I unhooked it without pulling much more than its lips out of the water.



I was just glad to know that they didn't die out over the winter. I put HSB through the ice into both ponds last November. I was worried about being iced over for so long. I didn't see any floaters in either of the fishing ponds as I walked them today.

My main neighborhood pond is still way iced over.

We'll need a few more of these joyous 60 degree + days to get to open water.

Granted, being in the 20's at night doesn't help.

It's currently 86 degrees here in Lincoln.

Nice HSB Catmandoo!

It doesn't get much more fun than catching one of those on an ultralight!

70 today here. Ice off about 50% and the rest is thin. Walked around the pond and no sign of fish, living or dead. First spring for me with a pond. How long will it be before I should see minnows in the shallows, assuming some survived the winter without getting eaten?

Well done Ken...aren't those a trip? Now wait until it warms up into the 60s and that drag will really sing! When they approach 5#, better put your UL rig away - they'll laugh as they break it in two or spool you - either way.

As the water starts to warm, and the frogs start to peep and croak, you will probably start to see schools of mature bluegill and bass sunning themselves near the top of open water in all parts of the pond. Juvenile fish will begin to appear in the grasses, holes, and structure near the shoreline. If your pond has crappie, like one of my ponds, you will start to see crappie fry. Crappie typically spawn when the water gets to about 57 F degrees. A few weeks after that, you should see schools of crappie fry in the shallows.

For me, March through June is the most fun time to watch the ponds. We still don't have active peepers or frogs,but I expect they will start sometime this week.

I was just south of your pond last week in Garrett (MD) and Tucker (WV) Counties. It was near 60 degrees, but there was still about 2-feet of snow in the woods.The rivers and ditches were over their edges.

Caught two of these last night in the pond, Lost the bigger one messing around at the bank, But I got a picture of one of them at least.

Spring is in the air ...

Some really healthy looking fish you got there basslover.

Bobby is that a flounder? Sorry, my saltwater species ID isn't very sharp.

Good looking fish BL - are you taking any WR measurements? I'd be curious to see - all the fish appear very healthy that's for sure.

sorry, yes one of the flounder living in my pond.

That is one pretty crappie!

Couple bass from this mornin':

Beautiful fish all!

basslover, this is the most exciting time of the year around here. The girls are as heavy as they're gonna get, and it's just a wonderful time to have a lure on a line. Congrats on the pair.

Was a good morning for fishin' here. Landed a few nice LMB.

Nice!

Nice is a understatement!

Nicer than the one SMB I caught tonight.

Great fish, looks like they have excellent relative weights. Pretty green water, too.

By the way, I noticed you have some pines in the background. Do you lime the pond to keep acidity down, or is that necessary with your soil?

14-1/2" SMB


9-1/2" GSH

Today was a beautiful day in North Texas...

Love seeing the kids enjoying the water & the fish!

makes it all worth it anthro!

Glad you had a fun day Mark. Like Anthropic, I always love the kid's pics. They always seem to have the best time, and sure make all the effort worth it.

Did some fishin' this morning with my youngest boy. Landed plenty of lil' dinks, but also a couple nice chunks and a hog in the 2 hours we fished.

very nice bass. Are you in east texas? What is the primary forage?

James -

Thanks. There are plenty of chunks, slabs, dinks, toads and hogs in this Georgian pond. Primary forage is shiners. I fish this pond with shiners and trout. A trout gets me a LMB every cast. I've had 12" slabs take my 8" trout. I've had 20" hogs take my 4" shiner.

Guys,

Help me out here. I have seen a few posts lately with similar statements of LMB eating trout 2/3rds there size. I am not doubting the statements, just trying to understand how. Does the trout curl around in the LMB's stomach or maybe the tail stays in the LMB mouth for a day or two until the head digests and there is room for the tail in the stomach?

sounds like trout must really fatten up the bass.
if affordable...I may try some next winter
anyone know if Overton's offers trout for winter stocking in Texas?

If I can swing it I will tag some LMB and record growth rate. Trout do well in my pond October through May. They are fed trout, the whole trout, and nothing but the trout, so help me cod.



The stomach of the LMB is quite flexible and so it allows the bass to eat the large forage.

The tail of swallow fish can easily remain in the throat of a bass for a day or two until the back moves into the stomach.

Ha Ha....love it.
If Overton's doesn't sell trout I know Lochow Ranch does.
How many lbs per acre did you stock basslover?

"Trout are torpedo-shaped, have no hard spines, and are high in protein, making them ideal forage for largemouth bass. When the water warms in the late spring, trout become lethargic and thus become easy prey for bass. Have you ever wondered why so many huge bass are caught from reservoirs in California? It's partly because they are eating trout on a regular basis."

http://sepond.com/fish-stocking/trout

Mark, yes he does. They are available in December, but I would call Todd in Oct/Nov to get an order in.

I know we're talking about forage, but we stocked 20 last Dec, and have caught 18 and counting. Incredible bang for the buck.

Bill D., the 12" bass hitting an 8" trout may not be getting the whole fish into it's mouth.

It's just trying to eat the trout...that's my guess anyways.

Sunil -

The 12" LMB swallowed the 8" trout. I landed the LMB and it was gorged, with just the end of the trout tail visible in back of throat.

Good deal Al.
I will get with Todd next Fall about a few trout.


So Al are you thinking maybe trout are not that great as winter
forage, but more for the enjoyment of catching?

Zep -

Recommended trout stockings average 300 per acre, with the usual variables at play (water depth, water quality, water temperature, available food sources, etc.).

I don't put trout in to fish for them or dine on them, although I certainly do enjoy eating trout. Mine are for my LMB to gorge on.

Here are some links with information on trout stocking:

http://www.hyonahilltrout.com/faq.htm

http://aquaculture.ext.wvu.edu/r/download/45682

Maybe Cody will post a picture of a 10" LMB that we fed a 7 or 8" YP last year. Only the tail was visible.

Man Alive!!!!

I stand corrected!!

LOL NP. I wanted a snap of it but I didn't want to stress the bass any more. My mate across the pond was laughing he couldn't believe that bass hit that trout (because of the size closeness). I was mildly irked because it was my last 8" trout and I was targeting a 10lb bass but instead landed a 2.5lber.

Are you saying that the 12" LMB weighed in at 2.5 lbs??!!

That's massive.

There's an 8" trout in there, not fair!!

We'd have to know the RW of the trout and average them :P

Yes Sunil. Although the scale isn't certified so there is a + and - factor at play.

Many of the bass in the pond have RW off the charts. I landed a 23" LMB that weight 8.75lbs. According to many the standard weight for a 23" LMB is around 7lbs. These bass are fed six days a week on average 5 feedings per day. The pond is approximately 0.8acres with a max depth of 12' and average depth 7'.

So that 2.5 pound 12 inch bass has a Rw of over 310%. Did I calculate that right?

I thought I had some fatty LMB in my 1/4 acre neighborhood pond, and the biggest one I was tracking was 14" long and 1 lb. 14 oz.

Bill - picture a football shaped LMB. I mean seriously thick. When the line spooled off I was happy because I thought I had that 10lber on the other end of the line. Then the disappoint came when I saw the fish because I knew it wasn't 10lbs. Wasn't even close. And it took my last large trout! lol

That's awesome!

Mark, trout are a preferred LMB food, but they only give you 3 to 4 months of non-reproducible forage. I still think tilapia give you more bang for the buck. But, if you wanted them as bait only, then that might be worth a shot. And a fun shot at that.

We have enjoyed them solely as a winter fun fish, and had a blast catching and eating them. We still are, as they are still feeding and biting like crazy. I'm guessing about 8-10 more degrees (water temp) here where you and I are at, and they'll be toast.

Thanks Al.
I think I see the picture clearer now.
Trout are fun to catch in Texas winters.
Tilapia & Trout appear to be roughly in the same price range,
with the big exception the trout do not reproduce.

Where we are in GA we get 7-8 months of trout as forage fish. Oct-Apr/May pretty easy.

Mark, we've loved the trout. They feed on pellets, and blast the surface when they feed. We've caught them on Stubby Steves, Woolly Buggers, midges, you name it, they'll hit it. We'll definitely stock them again.

Basslover, as a bass lover, I would love to get that long out of the trout. That would really bring a lot of fun options into play around here. But, we have hot water, which really gives us a long growing season, but also limits a whole bunch of fish species.

Congrats on all the fatties, you're doing a great job.

Yo Pineapple, that's still a massive LMB and something of which to be dang proud. Well done - you don't post much about your neighborhood fishery. What else?

10 lb LMB in a .8 acre fishery is very noteworthy. I don't think I've ever heard of someone pushing the envelope that far before. Amazing.

There are multiple 10+ pounders in the pond. At least 6 from the pics (each obviously uniquely identifiable). I land 2-4 pounders every time I fish, and I often land 5-7 pounders (often meaning twice a month on average, fishing on average once per week). I've landed 3 LMB between 8-9 pounds.

The pond is quite unique. I wonder about the biomass. LOL

18 oz female northern strain. Not a giant, but encouraging for a beautiful, spring evening on the open water.

Nice looking gal. Is that a bit of concavity on her belly from a long winter? Or the fin just make it look that way?

Our youngest landed this LMB this morning early. His personal best at the age of 2 years. LMB took a 5" minnow tied to 6lb test on a light action rod. Was a heckuva battle for my boy.

Awesome.

TONIGHT'S DINNER!

Cat
What time is dinner? Mmm

That's enough for me Ken. What are you going to have?

Hey hey hey those are mine Bill!

Dinner seems like its going to be crappie.

(now you have to realize that some of us up here pronounce 'crappie' as 'crap-ee' which is certainly more correct than some of you others who say 'craw-pee.')

However you say it it taste the same everywhere!

But

Being a time zone behind us, most has already been devoured.

It is crappie (craw-pee here) spawning season, so this is the time of year I try to remove as many as possible from my main pond. Neighbors put them in that pond long before we bought this place.

They are one of the few types of fish that I scale, rather than skin. The scaled fillets get marinated for about 30 minutes in kosher salt, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, Worchestishire sauce, and a little water.

I coat the fillets by shaking them in a plastic shopping bag that has a mixture of a half-cup flour to a tablespoon of corn starch for about every 8-10 fillets. The corn starch really seals the fillet while making the coating very crispy. The crispy fillets remain very moist below the coating.

This time of year I always have a box of sprouting potatoes. Tonight I took two very large potatoes and cut off the eyes (sprouts). I cut the the remaining potato carcasses into small French-fry size.

The ptatoes got cooked in the Canola oil I used to fry the fillets.

A few weeks ago, I harvested some of my horse radish roots. They were skinned, ground, and put into a vinegar-salt solution. Tonight I made a "cocktail" sauce from commercial ketchup and my horse radish sauce. The fish and potatoes got dipped in this cocktail sauce as they headed to the tongue.

Now I'm full and ready for a good nights sleep. In the morning I'll plant the potato sprouts.

I also kept the fish heads/filet skeletons. They are brining in a salt solution overnight. Tomorrow I'll turn them into a fish stew that my Finnish mother called mojakka (pronounced moy-aw-kaa). Typical reaction to Mojakka.

Sounds awesome!!!

It is almost time for a fish fry party at Camp Sunil.

Definitely Awesome! I like my BG, CP and CC fried on the bone. Everything else gets filleted unless the wife is cooking a Thai dish, then even the head gets left on a nice WE, SMB, etc. I will definitely try yer breading recipe! Thanks for the tip. Should I assume my bottle of yer horse radish sauce is in the mail?

Cat

Sounds really good- round here it's seasoned corn meal and fried. Gonna try your way, sounds good

We

The Postal Service, the Alcohol-Tobacco-Firearms (ATF), and Homeland Security prohibit transporting my recipe.

Bill guess we will have to take a trip to fetch some of that stuff. Armored truck maybe?

Needs to be a big truck cause we got to get some of that venison pastrami too!

I'm in.

BG bite been steady fishing with waxies and teardops on Al's ice rig around the dock. I'm thinking this is a female BRES - around 7" and in pretty good shape.

TJ -- I don't know what it is, but it looks good enough to eat!

Wow..a female BRES. Very cool!

Very cool! Great picture too!

"Dude, was that fish at Budokan?..eh...uh...the lights...err..."

I know, if you look at it for a while it gets kinda trippy, huh? Just a little enhancement in order to bring her to life.

"Just a little..."

Jeesh you guys are sticklers. Here's the original.

Looks like a little pumpkin seed in that one... Beautiful fish

See, I knew it!!

Still a very pretty picture TJ even without the enhanced color saturation.

Here is one I caught last night. (original picture)


A little enhanced version.

I'm just trying to enhance your visual experience - ungrateful bunch you are.

I was grateful, I really like the enhanced version.

TJ, I like the first one. It reminds me of the 15 minutes of the 70's I remember.

That little white rod is taking up a life of it's own, and I'm loving it.

I was never a stoner, but TJ's first photo certainly was pretty. It would make a good computer screen saver.

Shorty's fish are beautiful too! But, the enhanced photo is better.

I actually think it probably portrays the fish closer to what our eyes really see on a very live wet fish.

I was sent to a US Navy 6-week photography school 40+ years ago. It was so I could take unexciting black and white photos of electronic equipment and installations that I worked on or investigated.

Sometimes it was after a disaster, like a fire or shrapnel hit. Yet, our instructors taught us that photographers should always have artistic latitude in their work behind the camera and in the photo darkroom.

Somehow, I don't think the curmudgeons, who were many pay grades above me, or in congress, would have approved of me bringing back photos like this to liven up an otherwise very dull communications system:



Dang, you sure clean up nicely! I promise this will not affect our friendship in any way. I'm open minded and support your decision to become Ken, Kendra.

TJ was that you I met on the Boardwalk @ Santa Cruz back in the 60's? The guy selling the Orange Sunshine said the same thing about enhancing my visual experience

Tracy
OH! And yes the enhanced colors were similar to your pictures

Does anyone remember the old SNL skit where Jimmy Carter was on a talk show and people were calling in.

One called was freaking out after taking Orange Sunshine. The TV host tried to beg the called off, but Jimmy Carter insisted on taking the call.

Carter's advice was to drink a beer if the caller had one, and put on some Allman Brothers...

Dan Aykroyd was Carter, right? Classic skit - loved it.

Woohoo!

My first HSB of the year, on an ultralight with 4lb test and it was fat and sassy!

So that's all, just Woohoo!

Pretty cool Keith

Hopefully, we'll have a few exciting moments on the lake.

Good looking HSB Keith. How long ago was it stocked?

Thanks, JKB and Snakebite!

They were stocked at 6-8" 9-1-12.

Mine too are fairly elusive but this is the third one caught this year (my first) on a worm and bobber.

Fun stuff!

Well guys, I bit the bullet today. While my wife, Nattha, was at the grocery I dug up a few earth worms at the compost pile. When she got home, I pinched down the barb on a long shank "6 hook and took her to the pond to wet the first line ever in our little puddle. In 15 minutes she caught 3 fish; 2 CC, 14" and 16" and one BG 7”. I stocked the CC last June at 6 to 7 inch and the BG at 2 to 3 inch. What do you guys think, is that a decent growth for fish not pellet fed?

I managed to get a shot of the BG. Seemed in decent condition for such a hard winter.

It's about time you went fishing.... Oh that's right the hen caught them! Come on Bill go fish! Tell the wife good job!

This was just to sample Pat. When I go fishing I will be packin....a fillet knife!

Yur fish is scert !

Last fall I hand threw a few grain based pellets for a couple weeks to the CC to see if they would take to them and they did right away. This year I will be doing a little supplemental feeding for my entertainment. Larger grain based pelllets to the CC and small 3.5 mm high protein fish meal based pellets to any of the little fellers in the pond that want them.

Bill you will be able to see them grow if you feed . I couldn't believe how fast they grew when I started feeding

Bill, that seems like some nice growth. Tell Nadda wanna do anything with a northern Il boy that caint fish to appoint you official camera boy. Also teach her the official Bruce stretch.
Seriously Nattha, those are some pretty good fish with a barbless hook.

Hey Bob,

After she caught 3 she handed me the pole. I fished 15 minutes more and did not catch a dang thing! Guess I will wait to catch a biggun on a different day....when she ain't around! There is a store here that sells whole red snapper. Think she would notice if I brought one up from the pond kind of dead and cold?

Probably not if ya let it turn a bit grey first.

You should come by fer dinner. I'll let you have the "grey" one!

Few HSB pics lately got me wondering how my girls were doing - so thought I'd cast a couple times tonight to find out.

Caught chunky little sis just under 24"





then big sis just under 27" - size 10 moc for comparison


Fat and sassy!

teehjaeh57 fat ones for sure, congrats. How long since stocked/size stocked?

Jeeze TJ,

I'm not sure I would have thrown those back in.

I figure when mine start to reach 24 inches, they will become dinner. I'm hoping (drooling) that they will reach that size by mid-summer.

My problem with the HSB in my main pond is that they are like the HBG in my small pond. They grab any bait that hits the water, and so far they don't seem to be getting hook shy. What an awful problem.

Really nice HSB TJ - lot prettier than mine...
Got 50 primo HSB coming from Overton when he delivers tilapia next week or so - "step laddering" this year with all the fresh water in-flow recently - I'm double down for sure but will begin to harvest some of my babies this year - love HSB - thanks for your post.

What fly did you catch them on?..
George

How bout it TJ, did ya catch em with yer fly down?

So cruel...making that HSB smell the stench coming from your shoe!!!

Brutal...

Incredible HSB. Well done TJ!

Thanks T! The larger fish made several 50-75' runs, and despite the 7' MH flippin stick I had no answer except to hold on and keep the tip high. Even with heavy tackle it took over 5 minutes to get her in. I admit I was a tad fatigued after the second fish...I need to get into HSB fighting shape!

"..I need to get into HSB fighting shape!"

And maybe get some Odor Eaters....

My feet always have, and always will, smell of Elderberries.

The reverse is also true sometimes....

...remember when Condello caught that "Smellie" during the Erie fishing trip last summer?

No doubt a HSB of such magnitude put up quite the fight. Too damn lazy to go back one page, did you CPR? If so, how did the fish do upon release? Any particular care needed, or did cool water prevail?


Elderberries....

Few rules for me when fishing for trophy HSB:

Use heavy tackle - MH-H action rod, Braid, Stout barbless hooks to help prevent fish exhaustion.

I only fish for them when water temps are below 80ish to reduce risk of mortality. I have not lost a HSB to date I'm aware of, but again, I follow this rules strictly. No HSB fishing in July/August.

Vaguely...seems like my college days already. Lordy - that was last year.

TJ, a fish with this much fight and beauty deserves to be caught on the most sporting technique available, and that is on a fly rod.
My weapon of choice is a TFO 8-10 MiniMag loaded with a 11 wt 330 gr bass taper fly line - simple 16 lb leader.
If it took you 5 minutes to land this fish you were just having too much fun..
Land them quickly - resusitate and release.

I agree - no fishing July/August or when water temp hits 80 degrees.
I have caught hundreds of pond HSB on the fly - none on conventional tackle - lost only one IIRC but I have an O2 live well.
My favorite sport fish - on the fly.
Have fun - nice fish!
George


Edit;
WOW - my fish calculator says a 27 inch HSB should weigh over 10 lbs - now I understand the fish in the fight - haven't caught one that big!
G/

I was waiting for you to chime in, Geo. That larger fish put up a heckuva struggle - I was surprised, and I was muscling her in as fast as I could. I'd have to estimate weight at 11-12#, but I could be off, I so rarely weigh big fish as I'm in a hurry to get them back in the water. I'm gunning for one over 28 this Spring. I know she's in there, and you'll be the first to know.

I've had my eye on that mini mag for a while...with your endorsement, how can I miss?

11.09 to be exact on mycalculator - FANTASTIC!
You da man - you done good!
TFO 8-10 MiniMag rules!
G/

Outstanding HSB, TJ. You've had a heck of a run the last few weeks.

Hopefully, I'll start my first HSB stocking soon. I have a 100 waiting in the brood pond, getting ready for the public pool.

Nice fish Bill.

Best I can recall, that is about the growth I got from the freshly my stocked fish. One thing I've noticed this year and late last year, as the new year class of reproduction fish get to about the size of the fish in your picture, it gets harder to catch the original stockers. Don't know if the original stockers just get smarter because some of them have been caught a few times, or if it is because there are so many more mouths going after the lure the probability of catching original fish goes down. Caught one of my original stocked BG the other day at just under 9", but the bulk of what I catch are the offspring at 5-7".

It does feel good those first few catches in a new pond.

You da man TJ! Fantastic fish. I bet your arms feel like after a stint with a chain saw that does not want to start!

Thanks for the input Snrub. Makes me feel like things are at least going ok so far!.

Bout the time I said what I did (about the larger original stocking fish being harder to catch), last night with just about a half hour before it got dark caught two 8"+ BG of my original stockers and only one 5". A nice, plump 15" LMB too.

My statement could have more to do with what bait I was using than I thought. These fish last night were all caught on a small crank bait (hard to believe the 5" BG hit it) where most of the smaller fish I was using curly tail jigs or smaller baits. When the water was colder had a hard time getting anything to hit larger baits.

I'm a very inexperienced angler, so my catch may have reflected the bait I was using rather than what fish were actually available to catch.

I was happy to see the nice, big, plump BG. One male and one female.

From Kentucky Lake yesterday.



Test posting from my phone.

Hmmmm

That's all I use is my phone that's y I can't post pix

Shortay, the img needs to be IMG before and after. All caps...

Nevermind, that didn't work for me.

You mean this?

This guy went 9.25" and 16 ozs even.



A few others, been awhile since I posted any of these. Very active this evening.

As early in the season as it is here, I'm now almost afraid to go out fishing in my main pond. I put 12-14 inch HSB both of my fishing ponds at the end of November, last season.

I've got unwanted crappie in my main pond. This is about the only time of year I can catch them. Unfortunately, this year it doesn't seem to matter what hook or lure I'm using. Within a few minutes of fishing, I've got one of the HSB. I don't want them to become hook shy. They also really stress my ultralight rigs that I use for crappie and BG. I seem to be getting about two HSB for every crappie.

It will be interesting to see what happens in the smaller 1/3 acre put-and-take pond. So far, that pond is still pretty sluggish due to lack of direct sunlight and resulting cold water. But, last year I couldn't get the trout out because the vicious HBG beat them to everything I threw in the water. In another few days I guess I'll be able to see if the HBG or the HSB are the top predators for human induced baits.

I blame all these HSB problems on our friend George! If it wasn't for him, I'd probably never have stocked these wonderful monsters.

Thanks George,

Ken

Those HBG are absolutely amazing. It's like they're fiberglass replicas they're so perfect. Very nice! Obviously some great management going in and excellent water quality.

One more test from the phone.


From Barkley Lake this morning, I think I have this figured out.

Tony -- you are another troublemaker, just like George and his HSB.

If it wasn't for you, I don't think I'd have ever gotten addicted to HBG.

Thanks,
Ken

Nice Shorty! Great fish AND figured out how to post pics from the phone. I'm jealous all the way around.

Hey Ken, it’s not me and Tony that are trouble makers, it’s T.J. that got fancy with his hoity/toity Photoshop color enhancement on his fish that is going to make me start posting fish pictures again. I felt like I was just posting the same pictures over and over again but …hey T.J. - how ‘bout a tutorial - your pictures are just too purty..

With all our fresh water in our ponds from recent rains, I am putting bigger rungs on my HSB stocking ladder this year. Everyone knows I got clobbered by a massive fish kill during record drought of 2011 and lost my big fish, so I am rolling the dice this year since I have new water and up-graded aeration systems. Todd has 50 primo HSB that he will deliver next week or so and since he harvests with a fly rod he is giving me a hard time that I have hook trained HSB on th way - I can hardly wait.

Hey Tony, me and Al got some OTS CNBG pictures coming soon …

Best,
George

A guy I was fishing with this past weekend in
east Tx was using a crazy looking fishing reel.

Mark, he gets double points for having that reel on a spinning rod.

Nice fish, and glad you got out some.

So post the pics George and Al !

OK, I'll begin posting my fish pictures as soon as TJ tells me exactly how to PhotoShop my pics to get those pretty photos - he fessed up!..
Also TJ - how do you get the "wet look"?..
I'll have to rely on my color coordinator to make sure the colors are correct!..
G/

Caught an honest-to-goodness dinosaur today. Stocking class of 2010. Ten and a half, and 22 ozs.





Same fish:


Eleven inches:

Believe it or not, those HSB were just at the right angle, I didn't touch them - they had a pretty cool rainbow finish, just got lucky!

Beautiful - the top fish seems to have a lot of BG, bottom fish more GSF. Wish we could trace genetics to verify exactly what's going on here.

TJ, your HSB are classic! Your phographic skills bring out the best in your fsih!

Tony, love your fish pictures as well - me and Al better get busy!
G/

Post those giant coppernose photos......been holding my breath since I heard pics were in the works, starting to get light-headed now!

You 3 boys have at it. I've had absolutely no time to fish, so I finally took an hour yesterday and gave it a shot. I immediately gut hooked 3 CNBG, and quit. The CNBG spawning colors are pretty vibrant right now, but no superstars caught yet.

Beautiful fish Tony. That first one's a fatty for sure.

I'd like to see CNBG in spawning colors...regardless of size. Please post!

Al that is a sin!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1OXAi7rNMg

If Al's not posting his primo CNBG - I'm not posting.
Mine look like pygmy's compared to his!

I have gone strictly to #6's and 8 circle hooks on our gills to avoid gut hooked fish - folks have gotta see the size and color of your CNBG!..
G/

Al/FIH is too busy doubling down on his Zumba classes....

Trying to get svelte for the summer....but it's just not happening.

"If Al's not posting his primo CNBG - I'm not posting."
------------
Sounds like we have an old fashioned Texas pond monster bluegill standoff/runoff/duel underway....

can't wait to see the results after the smoke clears

Why would it? If I cut out the Blue Bell and chili-mac, you'd forever be known as "Al's Wingman". I'd never put all that pressure on you.

Here's a few from today. Not as bright as yesterday, but fun to catch none the less. I played with the color a bit, to bring out what I was actually seeing.

Old school CNBG. 1.01#


New School CNBG. 1.34#



A couple of healthy ones.



This is Lemmy. We just got Americana chicks for the first time, and Lemmy is mine. It's impossible to keep him locked up, and he prefers mustard greens to butter crunch lettuce. He and I are gonna get along just fine, because he is the ace of spades. That is until the hawks eat him.

Boy, looking good Al. Number two looks like a Richmond Mill fish, but they're all so much healthier looking than my BG with shrunken bellies. Well done...impressive.

Lemmy looks good, but agree his days may be numbered - doesn't look like the smartest of the brood for some reason. Maybe they all look that way.

Are you raising them for eggs or chicks to grow and eventually harvest? I would like to do this someday - when we're out of the city.

Great dynamics on those fish, Al. That second photo is downright beastly. And you've sold me on the sewing accessory also....need to pick one up for myself.

Hi Lemmy. Watch the skies.

Hey Buddy - "new school" CNBG dinner plate size - good example of our OTC CNBG getting wider after reaching somewhere around 10-11 inches long - good job!
Thanks for posting!
George

Great pics guys !!!

Al - layoff the photo shop colors (or did George help you with the color selection). Natural state (color is plenty good enough). I have seen a whole lot of BG , CNBG , HBG , RES , GSF , PS etc and never saw that crazy yellow color!

Did you guys by chance do any RW work on those fish ?

Lemmy on the loose for now !

Nope - no "old fashioned Texas standoff"!
Al and I are near neighbors and share selection of CNBG broodstock characteristics - in fact, our OTC CNBG are out of lthe same gene pool!
G/

TJ, he's not bright, and that's being kind. We have a couple of resident hawks that may number his days.

We're doing the egg thing, and starting out small. 6 chicks, and we'll how many we still have this fall. If they do good, we'll build them a permanent coop that will have bird netting, and get more birds next year.

Thanks guys, I'm really liking the look of that second CNBG. He's almost an inch taller than the first one, and I'm hoping that he'll carry more weight.

Tony, get one for record keeping, but not for posted pics. The ones you take now are far better.

If I could find some tape or erasable board material that would stick to that board, the weight could be recorded on the same picture. That way, you would always know what each fish weighed by looking at the picture.

I have yet to find a sticky measuring tape where the glue lasted for more than a couple weeks. If anyone knows of a good product, we could all use the nudge in the right direction.

After work tonight.

One more from tonight after dinner while chasing RES, the "micro jig" strikes again, 17".

Nice!!!

Dangit shorty you a red ear catching dude. And smallies! Pretty fish

I think I have figured out catching RES, I just need to figure out how to catch larger RES like the 9-1/2" one from tonight.

Female? Boy that's a tweener for me...would guess female. Nice fish, both of them. That SMB looks vaguely familiar...

Female RES was my guess as well.

I also caught this on the micro jig last night as well, she was all spawned out.

Went over to the local state park today to wet a line. The shore was lined with large dead shad. I didn't see any other dead fish besides shad. What do you guys think? Lake turned over and took them out?

Well Bill did you catch anything?

Shad don't acclimate well with rapid water temperature changes this time of year, die offs are pretty common.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/90216.html



http://www.tva.com/river/neighbors/feb09/shad.htm

Pat,

I easily caught a big bucket of 6 to 8 inch shad. Not much of a fight thou!

Shorty,

Thanks, sounds like the temp change got them. Learned something again today which is always a good thing!

Bill D.

Good job Steve. Looks like you're down 2-3' from full pool, is that accurate? Do you supplement with well? Looks like our 90% chance of Tstorms is down to 50%, so not looking promising for the rain I needed for the pond and morels.

I am down 2-3 ft from full pool but not in any hurry to get the water level back up just yet. I am letting smartweed and grass sprout along the exposed edges of the pond before supplementing it with the well.

We were a couple feet low last year from not having any large rain events to provide runoff. This allowed swamp smartweed to grow around the old pond and various other weeds around the main pond. Now that both ponds are at full pool, the small fish are making use of the cover provided by the old dead weeds from last year. That along with the FA is providing pretty good cover for small fish.

Here is a picture of a fish I caught today out of my old pond that at first thought was a pure GSF. The green bars on the cheek were very faint though. Now seeing the picture, the mouth just does not look big enough. I think it must be one of the hybrids I caught in my main pond and put in this old pond.

Been looking for a single or maybe two gravid female GSF to put in my forage pond with my RES brood stock to see if I can get some RES/GSF offspring for stocking purposes. No luck yet, but can't say I've been hitting it very hard. Need to get with the program if I'm going to get it done for this year.

Sounds like a neat experiment John. Both RES and GSF are fighters. I may be doing the same thing. I'm going to get some 100 RES to add to my forage pond that is about 50/50 BG and GSF.

Stocked May 2013, this one came in at 9", .81 lb.

Pales in comparison to many on PB but it's so cool to see the progress of the BG, HSB, LMB and the pond in general starting with what I did 3 years ago. Both photos taken this morning.

All thanks and gratitude to the PBF!

Feeling blessed!




The lilac "fields" are in full bloom filling the air with an incredible aroma, which made watching this sunrise so beautiful this morning!

great pic!

Cool. We can compare notes.

Be sure and get big enough RES so your feisty GSF don't just make snacks of them. I hope that is not what happened to the 125 RES I put in my old pond but I would not have thought the GSF would have had time to grow big enough to do so considering the timing of the cleaning out of the pond and the introduction of the RES. The little puddle I left when I cleaned out the pond surely could have had nothing left other than very small GSF and I put the RES in not long after the pond filled. I need to get with the program and take Shorty's lead and see if I can't catch some of those original stockers. Problem is, usually a BH gets to the hook first!

Great looking fish and great sunrise. I get good sunsets at our pond but the sunrise comes up over large gaudy machinery sheds so not so good looking.

Your fish have done well!

Caught another nice looking HSB Saturday! 3.10 pounds on a 4foot rod with 4lbs test line!! I had two others bust me off so yeah there still in there!! I was excited about that!! At least some of them are still in there!

RC

I am not sure the 9-1/2" RES I caught the other night is one of my original stockers. During the summer of 2012 I caught one 8" female RES so my original stockers might be bigger than 9-1/2" now. My original stockers were 4-6".

Nice HSB RC!

Very Nice RC!

Nice and fat and I know the fight! Don't get much better than that, especially on ultralight tackle!

Congrats!

Here's RC51 and his HSB:

Thanks guys and thanks Sunil for fixing my pic!

RC

Sweet, RC!

RC, the way you posted your pic was just fine.

I like to put it right in the thread as I think more folks see it that way.

FWIW IMO Pros and cons to both approaches of posting pics. Pro of .jpg posting is it will always be there. In some of the old threads I find the links to pics are no longer good.

FYI - I just got a message from a buddy that they are stocking trout in Lake Olin in Kentucky (I assume rainbow). Awesome lake to fish and this will just make it that much better!

One pound, six ounces. Creeping up there slowly....

That second HBG is gorgeous.

Very nice sparkplug.

Nice!

Went down for a few minutes this morning to see if I could sample a few more fish in my new little pond. Keep in mind I CAREFULLY stocked PS, YP and BG by hand sorting every fish.

First fish a 5.5 inch YP with Black Spot (I may need to put some RES in when I stock in the fall)

Second fish I gut hooked a 6in BG so had to keep that one.

Third fish a 5 inch GSF! Where did that come from???

Fourth fish a nice fat 7 inch HBG! Where did that come from???

I quit fishing. Figured the Fifth fish would be carp or BH!!!


Looks like one on the neighbors must have "helped" me stock last summer before we moved in to the house in August.

Wow! That's disappointing. Sorry to hear that Bill. Don't know what to say. Just hope there are only a few of the undesirable species.

I guess I do have a word of hope. The GSF and the HBG are likely the most aggressive biters in the pond. So maybe if they are few in number you can catch most of them. I think I caught the few HBG that was mixed in with my main pond fish. Have not caught one for a long time. You might want to keep fishing to remove the unwanted ones in hopes they are only a few.

I am not really that upset. My puddle is so mixed up now. I took out the GSF but, that HBG was pretty and a great little fighter so.....I put it back!

And another convert takes that first step....

Showing pictures of those great HBG you have sprkplug, how could anyone NOT be a convert? Your HBG definitely inspire me.

His pictures are the only reason I knew what the heck it was I caught!

Anybody got a picture of a female HBG they can post?

Edit: Never mind. I found a pic of a female in one of Sparkie's old posts.

Lots of females here:

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=257895

Al's ice rig strikes again...record YP and BG are loving teardrop and waxie combo vertical jig around the dock. Even managed to land a chunky HSB which almost straightened the jig hook. Somehow I'm finally managing to produce some prodigious BG through aggressive culling and feeding strategies.

Warning: These photos has been enhanced due to poor light conditions and quality of IPhone photos.

This is the 4th YP around 14" in the last 4 months. Spawned out female.


Not a record length BG, but might be the best WR of any BG to date. 9.5" and 15.85 OZ.


Didn't get a weight on her, but she's pushing 11" and is the length record BG to date.



Didn't get a weight on this chunk, but was amazed I was able to haul her in at all. I instructed her that she needs to focus on pellets and BG moving forward, not waxies.

Very nice fish guys. Well conditioned and good pics as well.

Spring has obviously sprung. Outstanding fish guys.

TJ, that little white rod is a trophy catcher for sure!

Truly amazing fish, TJ! Well done on all counts!

This cold front has really slowed down my RES fishing.

TJ, female?

Finally got a break in the weather this morning and didn't rain until this afternoon...
Here's a few pics of many we caught but have to go to fly fishng topic for the winner - all were caught on the fly.
You'll have to wait about ten days 'til the full moon to see them in full spawning colors..

I hear ya Shorty,

30 to 40 MPH winds here and supposed to drop below freezing next few nights. Not even going to consider fishing until next week.

Bill i told ya to move down here where it's warm, 80s day and 70s at night! Come on down we got room fer ya

Geo1
Those are beautiful CNBG!

I'm curious what TJ thinks also. Based on opercular border,(orange) I would guess female.

Awesome fish George! Even though those CNBG foil my efforts to sex them everytime, I'm going to put it out there again...

First BG photo....female.

Second BG photo....this one is confusing to me... chest coloration, round body dynamic, and I THINK I see scale tipping? That small opercular throws me though.... immature male?

Third BG photo....male.

Fourth BG photo....male.

How did I do?

Steve and Tony, that's my WAG too, simply based on color of margin on tab. I seem to remember a RES with a thicker, deep red border Steve posted recently which seems to be the only Male I would be confident in.

GEO posted some dandy CNBG right there...gives us a standard against which we can measure our progress. I am very happy with the exposure the "other" species seem to getting on the forum. I admire a monster LMB, but these fringe species are finally getting their recognition. Love the trend - it's good for our overall education.

Tony, I think "she's" a female - looks like full of eggs and a male that size would be obvious - I think...

They will be in full spawning colors in a couple of weeks.
Thanks!

Thanks George...the opercular and swollen abdomen do look female. I guess it's time to throw scale-tipping out as a reliable indication of male, at least on CNBG.

IMO the amount of scale tipping in the 2nd BG picture is not enough to think this fish a male. There will be some natural variability of body markings in each population. Remember one has to look at each fish in relation to many of the other available fish in the same pond. Also do not use one body feature to separate male and female BG. A combination of body features have to be compared to other siblings in the same pond and not use individual generalized features presented in a magazine. The generalized features are just suggested key body characters to use for comparing or separating individual fish in each water body. There is too much natural variation of body coloration and patterns in each population to apply 'cast in stone' book guidelines for sexing fish using external body characters.

George does grow some nice fish that would thrill any fly rod angler.

I agree Bill, just trying to get a handle on these CNBG, especially in regards to this thread:

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=391707&page=1

1st RES over 10".

Nice! You gotta love it

Well done Steve - you are on a RES tear lately!

I think I have figured out the cool water pre-spawn RES bite. I have caught somewhere around 150 RES in the last 5 weeks with water temps mostly in the mid to upper 50's, lower 60's at best. Almost all of them have been caught in 2-3 ft of water. I also think I have figured out how to sex them as well outside of the spawn.

Well done Shorty!

Couple more nice fish taken with Al's ice rig, teardrop and waxie

I'm guessing this is a pure BRES - if so, it's a pond record. Feedback?




Belt buckle Gill that is destined for my trophy pond this Summer

Very nice TJ!

caught this snapper out of my pond last night , Pretty excited! Sorry, I am never prepaired to measure them. I'll work on that.

One question Bobby , did ya eat it or turn him loose?

TJ, I agree on the BRES. Very nice fish, and that BG is stellar.

That is SO cool....

Tony, you give me a high standard to pursue on those hybrids...finally seeing some nice fish, though.

catch and release only.

Looks delicious! Well done!

snapper are delicious but my pond fish are not for eating. Ill go out to the river or ocean for that.

Sure, but we've got to know if these 'salt water' species still taste good coming out of fresh water!!!

I agee , mangrove are known brackish water inhabitants so they should be fine but still.....need to know

Pat, run down to the gulf and bring a few back and try them out in your pond and see if you can get them to surrvive your winter. You might be able to pull it off.

Don't know that they can pull that off. Sometimes winter temp gets in single digits.... Not all the time . Even in Galveston they will die back if water gets to cold

I don't know if this qualifies, but one of my HSB died a few days ago. It hadn't been dead very long, but had floated to the surface in the 48 F degree water of my uppermost pond. It hadn't lost color, and its eyes were still clear. Its gills were flared, and it was quite dead.

I filleted and skinned it. It was a female full of eggs. It was right at 16 inches and just over 3 pounds -- I don't have any Wr charts for HSB, but it sure looked like it had an Wr of well over 1.

Also, our asparagus patch is doing extremely well this season, so we we've been adding that to our dinners.

I lowly-heated and slowly melted half of a 1/4 pound stick of salted butter into my 12-inch cast iron skillet, that also has a heavy cast iron cover. I chopped up and added two garlic cloves to the melted butter.

After having soaked the fillets in a salt brine solution overnight, and then soaked them in several refreshes of tap water before getting ready to cook them, I slathered them in olive oil and dropped them in the warm melted butter. I topped the filets with a coating of some "Old Bay" seasoning, some ground cayenne pepper, and a drizzle of liquid smoke.

I added some of the thumb-thick fresh asparagus where there was space between the filets.

These striper's fathers may have started out as saltwater fish. This particular batch of HSB have lived in my ponds for about five months.

Freshwater or saltwater, it sure didn't affect the taste in anyway, except to maybe make it even better.

I can't even begin to describe how delicious HSB filets (with the fat removed), slowly steamed in butter with fresh asparagus, can be.

Ken

Wow that sound good! Course I like fish anyhow

"I don't know if this qualifies, but one of my HSB died a few days ago. It hadn't been dead very long...."

I immediately knew something was getting cooked.

Yep, just like hearing "I came across a fresh killed possum in the road on my way home".

Sounds good to me. Roadkill possum can be real tasty if properly prepared, and if it hasn't been flattened and sun-baked into a road tortilla.

If Sunil wasn't such a good personal friend with whom I've experienced everything from potential life-threatening situations, to a lot of just plain fun times, I might take this as something less than complimentary.

But, I've seen him inhale or slurp down a lot of my wildlife/deadlife/roadkill delicacies -- and that was before he had a chance to down very many Peronies.

I just wish he wouldn't have had another mutual friend of ours boot a big old snapping turtle out of the outhouse at his pond! That would have been some good eating!

It is time for a regional Pond Boss fishing/hunting/eating fest.

Maybe Omaha or Lincoln, NE. Lynda and will be out there a couple of weeks from now for a visit.

Bobby,
how big was the snapper when you put in the pond? Can you notice any growth?

Don't know if there are rules associated with this thread. Because these weren't caught on our pond. Our place is a few miles from Mark Twain Lake 17,000 AC Corps lake in NE Missouri. The wife and I heard the crappies were spawning, so we gave it a shot. Caught 30, these were the bigger 15..

Awesome 'stringer' of fish! They look like they would produce very nice filets. Do they taste good? Similar to panfish/BG or closer to bass? How do you prepare them or filet them and cook them?

Taste wize they in the top5 of all fish

My wife fried up some filets last night. They were delicious!!
We also cook them on the grill. On foil with butter and some spices. Fantastic..
Sixty filets will go pretty fast. They say the spawning season at Mark Twain runs for about six weeks, moving west to east, shallower to deeper water. I hope to get out at least one more, maybe two more times.
Thanks

A lot of them look like females full of eggs. You keep those and fry them up too?

Shorty - you are growing some real dandy smallies. Nice work. You are making pond owners jealous.

Beautiful fish, Shorty!

Pond Grand Slam - great morning on the pond:









http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=410019#Post410019

Nice job Mr. and Mrs. G!!

Outstanding, Glazeners!!!!!

Was a good morning. Landed a few dinks but landed 2 nice little LMB as well, back to back maybe 30 minutes apart.

6.92 lbs




5.33 lbs

But the topper of the morning was this chunk. A big fat channel cat.

Last Autumn I hooked up with the fish. I managed to work it to shore on 6 lb test line, got its head in my net but the water was so shallow that it flopped out when I tried to lift the net. When I attempted to reposition the fish to the net the line broke. And that fat cat swam away. GRRRR! LOL

Fast forward to this morning. The bass action slowed so I rigged up one line for this catfish. Yes this specific one. Using the chilli cheese hot dog I flopped it into the pond, set the rod against a cinder block, and walked back to my other lines. A few minutes later I looked over and noticed the line being peeled off the reel in a hurry! I sprinted over to the rod and set the hook and knew I had a big catfish (there are turtles in this pond, and they enjoy eating cheese dogs as well). But within seconds the line went limp and I reeled in only line. The hook, bait, and cat were in the water. Line broke. I switched reels to a saltwater reel with 15 lb braided line on it, set another cheese dog in the same spot and I kid you not within 10 minutes that line was zinging through the pond and the rod tip bouncing all over the place. I picked up my rod and hesitated, allowing more line to be peeled in hopes that the cat would swallow or bite down and I wouldn't set the hook and rip it from the cat's mouth. But stupid me I hadn't adjusted the drag, so upon setting the hook I had nothing but limp drag and the reel clicking as I was attempting to crank in line but the drag was set poorly and the fish found slack and out with the hook. Strike 2! I adjusted the drag, I put another cheese dog on the line and set it back into the same area. Maybe 5 minutes and BAM the line is going crazy AGAIN! I picked up my rod and let the line run over my finger, feeling it to determine it if was a big 'un. Wait...wait for it ... and then SET! And it was a good set and I knew I had that big fat cat from last Autumn on my line!!! This was a fast catfish and he peeled off quiet a bit of line with the drag set it was a workout for the fish. I reeled in, it peeled out, I reeled in, it peeled out, etc. But after some minutes I noticed I made progress, it was closer and closer to the shore. So when I see it I instantly recognize it as the cat that broke my line last Autumn and I have my net but I'm thinking how am I gonna get this fat boy in it? I figured I had one opportunity to position the net and guide the cat into it. This time I was in deeper water and so I was able to guide the head in and the deep net allowed me to scoop the rest of the cat in and out of the water! I couldn't believe it I finally landed that bait stealer!!! So a little conversation between he and I, a couple of pics, and then a massage back in the pond and the cat was swimming away. My work here is done, I thought. Two LMB over 12 pounds total, and now this big cat - why stay and fish any longer? LOL

Cool day fishing! Did you weigh the cat?

Wow, basslover! Every picture I've seen you post has made me envious of your pond/fishery!

I can only hope that I can one day pull the quality of LMB out of my pond that you pull out of yours!

So my questions:
What are you catching them on?
How often do you change your bait/lure (do you think they'll get hook-shy?)?
What have you had the most success with (or your go-to bait/lure)?
What do you have for structure/cover and is this where they're hanging out?

Thanks and congrats on the success with your pond.

PS - HOLY CATS! I just saw the huge Channel Cat! Great story and congrats on landing it!

Keith

Bill - I did not weigh the cat. I would guess between 20-30lbs though, not on measurements that also were not taken, but solely on the heft and my muscles. LOL

I was too happy to land that bugger and get it back into the pond. It was a heck of a battle getting it out of the pond and then wrestling it down to pick it up for a pic.

Hi Keith -

Thanks. I'm fishing two ponds and posting pics from both. I'm landing bass on nightcrawlers and shiners the overwhelming majority of the time. I have some success with artificial lures, including; worms, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and poppers/plugs/jitterbugs. Hard to beat the real thing though.

I really look to see what is in the water and then use it, or find something that resembles it. I vary the speed and technique of my retrieval as well. I'm not the type that repeats the same cast to the same spot with same retrieval and technique. Slow, super slow, medium, fast. Steady, stop-n-go, jerk, pull. Etc. Aside from live bait topwater lures are my go to and that usually produces.

I haven't a problem yet with hook shy. My bass in my pond that is very clear water are hesitant at times. They can see the hook, sometimes they nudge the worm around and if they identify the hook no dice. If they see you it becomes much more difficult to induce a strike. So you become excellent at long casts, hiding, and patience. I also sometimes chum the water - I toss in worms or shiners and since they eat without consequence I then can entice a strike by tossing one in with a hook. I also chum the water at times for the bluegills. I find the feeding frenzy of the bluegills gets the bass active and they want in. So in the middle of this I will then target a bass and usually land one.

Just received email from son Jeff:
"14#'s it destroyed my spinner bait. Knocked the spinner blade off. Really fun to catch. Didn't think I would get it to the bank."

Never heard of a GC on a spinner bait before.


ps: If someone smater than me can turn thispicture over I would appreciate ... PhotoBucket won't cooperate...

Great info, basslover! Thank you!

I think sometimes as fishermen we get a little stuck in our ways on how we fish, so it's great hearing what others are using and doing.

Clear water is not an issue with my pond due to a consistent heavy bloom so I never have to worry about being seen. Although I wish it were as I envy those seeing spawn beds and swimming fishes!

I change up frequently on artificial baits, as well as presentation but I'll have to try worms and small BG as I don't have any Shiners. I do catch an occasional HSB, with my best luck with a "pellet fly" at feeding time when I toss out the AM LMB food. Yet not often as I don't want them to become shy on feed (don't know if they will or not, I just don't want to take the chance of them being reluctant to feed). I'm also going to order some Stubby Steve's and see how they work.

And it's hard to beat top water baits, definitely my favorite!

Thanks again for the reply and info!

Keith

TJ, reading through this post a few pages back, you posted a picture about your pond record and said:

"I'm guessing this is a pure BRES - if so, it's a pond record. Feedback?"

What is a pure BRES? Is that pure BGxRES vs HBGxRES? What are the features that would help us see the difference or is it something you know based on what fish are in that pond and what crosses are even possible?

Thanks

George, go to your photobucket page with this picture, above the picture on the right side there is a line of symbols. Click the one on the far right that looks like a gear and a drop down menu will show up. The third and fourth options on on the drop down are "rotate right" and "rotate left". Do either one of those twice and the picture should appear the way you want it. It appears this way accessing photobucket on the "full site" rather than the "mobile site", you can switch back and forth at the bottom of the page.

BRES is BGxRES F1 hybrid. I suspect this ID is correct as fish lacks tell tale GSF genetic traits. A HBG [BGxGSF] or GRES [GSFxRES] would exhibit GFS genetic traits like yellow margins on anal, pelvic fins, larger gape, etc. Sometimes fish can be F2, F3 etc. and can consist of various backcrosses and have multiple lepomis species genetics involved. In cases like this I'm left merely speculating what might have happened to produce such a fish.

Keith - I used to wonder about water being too clear. Now I wouldn't have it any other way (although I would prefer any pond over no pond!). I've been shooting a lot of video underwater - feeding the fish, working lures, and fish striking bait and lures. The clarity really is nice for this.

I'll throw in mealworms and small red wigglers to stir up the panfish. All that feeding gets my bass aggressive. Then I'll toss in a large nightcrawler on a hook and often land a bass. But I also throw in many non-hooked nightcrawlers (or shiners when fishing with them) so the bass eat without being hooked. And I also spend time in and around the pond without doing any fishing.

Landed this one last evening, 4.12 pounds.


Same fish

Thanks Shorty - your instructions much appreciated and turns pic right side up, but when I post it - stoopid computer flips it up-side down....think it may be son's "mobile device" took up-side down photo...or dummy me?
Guess photo shows big GC anyhow....

George, you can rotate the picture after it is posted to photobucket.

Yeah, that's what I did.....

Your picture now looks like what you wanted.

Shorty - my picture is still up-side down ...
I even re-booted both my PC and lap-top and the crazy picture is still up-side down....I think I hi-hacked my own thread...
Let it go man....many thanks - I think...

For mods -- copy paste http://i.imgur.com/LXujgpa.jpg & delete this post

THANKS GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, now you're just showing off! (I am kidding of course!)

What's so cool about this forum is the diversity of fish, ponds and goals among the members. Mine in particular when I moved here in march of 2012 was the initial challenge of restoring this pond, then for the pleasure (and challenge) of raising and catching sizable fish, the scenery and peacefulness of spending hours at/on the pond and sharing this all with family and friends.

So far so good and what you're catching out of your pond(s) and the pictures you've shared do nothing but get me excited and also inspired!

I know I've got a few LMB reaching 5 lbs and many in the 2-3 lb range, but after reading your posts, I'm going to try your method to increase my "catch".

Thanks again for sharing!

Keith

Sounds like you've got a great outlook on your pond and sharing it with those close to you.

What are you feeding your 5lb bass to grow them larger?

What are your bass striking on?


By the way, today I landed a 3lb LMB that had peeled off all the line on one of my rods by the time I got to it and as I picked the rod up the line broke! I glanced down and saw the line going into the water - SPLASH! In I jumped grabbing the line and I battled the bass hand to fish style. Couple others fishing stopped to watch the schmuck battling the bass using his hands. I landed it though, sopping wet shorts and shoes and all. LOL

Although my LMB were not pellet trained when I stocked them, they've certainly taken to pellets since then! I'm feeding AM LMB food which is what the HSB hammer as well. Hopefully the LMB are also focusing on the larger BG! I'm also feeding AM 600 for the BG (and in hopes the LMB on feasting on the feeding BG!)

I use mainly plastics (craws, baby brush hogs,etc.), with my go-to being a dark green Gene Larew 4.5" Mega Ring Tube, but they've also hit on spinner baits and buzz baits and even Crappie jigs.

Reqarding your hands-on catch, I'll bet that was a sight and even better that you got him!

Few Recent catches. My youngest son caught the 3.95 lb 21 inch trout

who woooda thought trout get that fat in Childress, Texas!

Good grief Dustin. That's tremendous.

Those fish are spectacular, Dustin!

Thanks guys! I cant take credit. aquamax and help from Lusk and Overtons is the key to success.

Im anxious to see if my hybrids are still here. I am afraid with the large water event that I lost them again over the spillway. I am going to have to design something too keep that from happening. '

Without a doubt I lost my original stocking of hybrids as they were crazy active, then the rain storm 2 years aog, then gone....


On a positive note, my temps dropped by 15 degrees, so this will breath some life back into my trout!

I went and fished a public body of water near my house this afternoon and caught a lot of crappie, a few BG, and one GSF. Here is one of the non-pellet fed female BG I caught today. This lake has a lot of sub 12" LMB.





The GSF


Then I fished my pond this evening, TJ, both of these are males.

Today's catch: the large (BGxRES)


and the small (YP)

Mr. Gallus,

A big welcome back to the forum after your hiatus.

May we hopefully see more regular postings from your camera and your mind!

Ken

One very nice hybrid.

The perch looks like something I would catch.

Awesome Gill-Cracker Theo!

Dang Theo, Nice fish!!

Good to see you back posting!!

One of the finest gillcrackers I've seen. Outstanding!

I would like to nominate Dustin Pratt as the most honest man alive.

If my grandson caught a 3.95 pound fish it would be a 4 pound fish !!!

Just a quick trip before dusk, first fly cast this season. 10 BG in about 15 minutes not bad. I didn't have scale only my fly box which is close to 9"

I posted this in my pond thread but wanted to share in the pond fishing 2015 archieves... I caught this last week in my pond.

Awesome fish everybody!

Wow cool nice fish Bobby!!

Saturday me and my boy caught a few nice ones!! Here are a couple of pics for that.



Brett had a blast Saturday he caught several BG but this was one of the better ones.

The Bass were biting also I caught like 5 or 6 in the 3 pound range. Here is one of them they all looked in GREAT shape!

Nice work RC !

Thanks Eric I love watching my boys catch fish! Brett sat and fished with me for over 2 hours and never once said anything about an electronic anything!! It was great!! They don't realize just how much they really do love it! I told him he will remember this day for a long time and he couldn't wait to go again!!

RC

I'm fascinated by the ongoing thread Shorty and others have going right now helping identify mail and female RES and the wonderful pictures on it. I'm seeing small variations in the color and intensity of the color on the tab of the pure RES but still cannot figure out how you can tell by the ear tab the male vs female RES. The pictures and the labels help and I hope someone keeps the pictures and tutorial coming!

Then this fish was posted and is called a 'gillcracker' or BGxRES. Can someone teach us how to see that this is a hybrid and where are the RES features? I don't see colored ear tab at all, maybe slightly larger ear tab? It looks like a big bluegill to my very untrained eye. Maybe it is the size of the mouth that gives it away?

If you scroll down from Theo's great picture to the nice bluegill posted by Snakebite in the next post they look similar to me.

IF someone can help that would be good. Maybe it is one of those things you get a feel for only after studying hundreds of pictures.

It's finally happened !!!!

I broke the record that I was initially shooting for, a panfish over 8".
RES solid 10", weight 15 oz.
Never physically seen a RES or BG this size in person, just pics of what all you guys catch. Yaaahoooooooooo.......
After this one, I still can't even imagine one getting so round like you guys show.

Awesome!

Well I got to go fishing with two of my nephews and here are some of the fish we caught!!

Over a pound and a half and very tasty!!!






This one was over 3 and 3/4 Lbs!! 108 RW




Here is it's gape.



I got lucky and bested them with this one. Nearly 6Lbs and 120 RW!!



All the LMB uder 14 inches and all the crappie were delicious!!

Great day!

Congrats on the record catch fish n chips!!! That RES is a beauty!

And Brian, looks like things are working VERY well for your pond (lake?)....love that crappie!

Ok well this Saturday was a pretty good day on the pond. We culled a few bass caught a few nice BG and had a fish fry. Cant beat that.


Here is a nice 9.5 incher I caught on a 4 inch worm!



Here is a cage we made to keep fish in until we get enough to have a fish fry it works great!



Here we are using the new cleaning table we made up! Worked like a charm!




Then that evening my mom caught a real nice Bass she was excited her little rod and real almost didn't get it in!! It was a blast!! Course we let this one go back. But we kept 5 others that were smaller.



Then of course the best part of all!! Grilling them fish baby!!

That's some good looking fish Flyer!! Nice!

fish n chips, is that a Mr. or Mrs. RES? Very beautiful, I can imagine your excitement.

I think that RES looks female, but curious to hear what others say.

CC, you asked about Theo's photo of the gillcracker, check out the "cheeks" on that fish... See the mottled pattern? Pure bluegills do not display that. The opercular is shaped a little differently than what I would expect to see on a male BG of that size, and the overall pattern of color, body-wise, appears to indicate another influence as well.

That's what I see anyway....

The cheeks! I see it! subtle mottling, like 'hammered pewter' many thanks for cluing me in sprkplug. I'll keep practicing. Thanks to all who post their catches here as well.

I honestly can't say. My guess is female because the belly sure seemed like it was ready to blow.

I can't set my next goal to much higher because I just find it hard to believe it could happen. Of course, I will take it if it comes!!!!!!

Looks like a female RES to me.

See this from the archive and look under RES - lots of info.

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92482#Post92482

Highflier it looks like your crappie are mighty nice. Congrats

Fly fishing again Sunday for gills. Someone crashed the scene and scared my gills away. He didn't get away with it.

He looks a bit thin, snake.

I agree, still pretty thick on top but the belly was a bit then. Thinking due to being post spawn and water the past few weeks getting very low visibility with rain storms.

Post spawn?

I would think it`s post spawn Dave, TN usually goes from early April- till late May. I noticed it looked to have dark patches on the lower anal fin and tail fin. I just assumed it was a female that had nested on a rough surface/male bass fin nipping/tail dragging/ water temp swing capillaries in the fins burst healing up. Please correct me if I`m misinformed.

Ok so it's not from my pond but it's the second largest pike I've ever caught so I had to share. Caught this big boy on a 3 inch rapala on a local lake. 38" didn't get a weight and it's back swimming in the lake!

I'll bet THAT was a surprise!!

I am not doubting Theo nor your ID of that fish as a BRES - I'm not a lepomis expert like they are - but it fails to demonstrate the obvious characteristics of BRES from my fishery or the BRES I can recall seeing from your fishery also, Tony. Obviously I've not seen all your fish, however.

I see your point on the mottled pattern on the gill cover - but honestly I would have missed it and released as a nice pure BG without a second thought. When it comes to lepomis hybrids it appears there's a great deal of variability regarding the characteristics they possess - the BRES in my fisheries all exhibit some trace of color on the margin of the opercular tab - at least that's what I've been looking for - maybe I'm missing some much more subtle BRES specimens?

I'd have to guess that is not a F1 BRES - rather a BRES x BG F2 or BRES x BG x BG F3 - but I could be entirely wrong. What do lepomis experts think? I'm sure seeing majority BG genetics being expressed in this fish.

I agree that the fish doesn't display like my BRES do. I also think there's every possibility that a BRES might've backcrossed with a parent to create this particular specimen. Still, I just don't see pure BG there. I think a lot of it has to do with knowing your water, and your fish. YOUR fish. In my opinion, there can be a heck of a lot of variance in how lepomids display, and I just can't wrap my mind around a set of concrete, never-fail visual markers that always ring true where identification is concerned.

For the longest time I was convinced that scale-tipping was indicative of a male BG. We still use that here on the forum all the time. But I have removed too many eggs from fish that featured scale tipping to rely on it as a foolproof means of sexing fish. Do I think it is most likely scale-tipping is found on males? Yes. But I also feel we need further clarification on the matter. Our knowledge base is continually expanding, and from time to time we should revisit the tried and true, apply that new knowledge, and make adjustments to our theories accordingly.

When I look at Theo's fish, I see something else in the mix. Predominantly BG, but something else also. But that's based on seeing thousands of lepomid photos from all across the country, not so much on what Theo has in his pond...and in my opinion, that's what matters most....knowledge of one's fish, and one's water.

I'm about as far removed from expert as it's possible to get. Still trying to learn all I can from everyone I can. I feel like I'm gaining knowledge, but not as quickly as I would like.

Matter-of-fact, when it comes to CNBG's, I have a LOT to learn....those things throw me for a curve!

There's just not many better looking fish than a nice healthy BG:

Nice copper!

Took my boy fishing Saturday they were biting! He had a blast caught several 9 to 10.5 inch CNBG. He has a small 4 foot rod so it was like a whale on the other end of the rod!! I caught a few bass they one in the pic is the biggest so far sense I have had my pond. Right at 4 pounds. The BG Brett is holding (1 pound exactly) is the second biggest caught in my pond to date! He was proud of that!!

RC

Nice Fish RC! Hopefully someday my bass will get that big !

Thanks it was more fun watching my boy catch them BG then anything! If he isn't hooked on fishing after Saturday then I don't know what's gonna do it.

RC

Sorry about the poor quality pictures but the kids were excited, and I was trying to get a cell phone picture.

We had been researching a place for our family to vacation and found a place about 60 miles north of Grand Rapids on a 250 acre (smallish) lake called Diamond Lake. It is shallow, heavy peat bottom, weedy, and only one small area where it reaches 25 feet. In the facebook pictures from the resort there was a picture of a large RES that was caught. I was curious when I got here if there would be any we could catch. Today the kids caught about 6-8 very nice RES. They have a darker coloration due to brown bottom, brown weeds where they seemed to stay. You can see the dark colored bottom in the picture. It was only about 6 feet of water, lots of weeds, hard to think they were in there and I saw no spawning beds around even in the sandy shallows. We caught several typical bluegill also with more typical coloration.

I don't know if the bottom shots will show up and I think of the 4-5 we caught most seemed to be male. Very pretty dark red spots on ear tabs and urogenital pore quite small.

Since this is a shallow lake, 60 miles north of Grand Rapids, and very likely to struggle with winter kill it is encouraging to know that the RES population survives. I don't see this lake on the list of DNR lakes that they stocked them in but somehow they go there and are making it.

They bit on a worm under a bobber and you had to have the worm right in the middle of the weeds. Any further out in the open and they wouldn't budge to go get it.