Pond Boss

We have a spectacular offer for Forum Members only! Many of you contacted us, asking for the opportunity to participate in the Silent Auction that benefits the Jesse West Research Endowment at SDSU. Last year’s proceeds from the endowment went to Melissa Wuellner to buy observation tanks for her work on walleye and smallmouth bass interactions. Melissa will be one of the speakers at the annual conference this year. We’ve also used those tanks for work on the endangered pallid sturgeon. This year’s proceeds went to Justin VanDeHey, who is working on a cool new technique to assess food habits from fish tissue, fin clips, and scales. It turns out that different diets will create a different “signature” in the fish. We’ll have Justin come to next year’s conference and report on his results. However, we are hoping for a very exciting research opportunity. We think we can go back and get walleye scale samples from 20 years ago, before smallmouth bass were introduced, and then compare their diet signatures with current walleye samples after the smallies have been introduced. If this works, how cool will that be??

One student that I had an opportunity to know fairly well is Andy Korth. He got his BS in Dave's program and is now working on his MS under Dr. Gary Larson in Botany at SDSU.

I had a great time at Lusk's. I think I caught 10 feed trained Largemouth in 2 hour of fishing over the two days. The biggest was about 4 pounds.

I also caught about 30 Bluegill, 1 Redear, and 3 catfish. Today N8ly and I got a double on our flyrods fishing for catfish. We were using George's Aquamax Largemouth pellet fly.

What?????? "JeffHasAHangerover"!?!?

Sir, I deny and disaffirm that remark. I did not have personal relations with that "Captain and Coke."

My fish held as the largest fish for Sunday. I caught a personal best record.... a 6.25 pound channel catfish.

In addition after spending the day fishing, Mr. Lusk polled the crowd and it was determined that 13 personal best records were achieved that day. I can't remember all of the details (stupid, stupid Captain and Coke) but I know our two were: I caught the afore mentioned Channel Cat and Ricki caught her first HUGE Coppernose Blue Gill.

I'll post photos once my head stops pounding.

I'll write more about the entire conference experience soon but I want to take a moment to mention that Nate (N8tly) is a one in a million young man. He is very generous with his time and sharing his expertise. Without his help and the help of Bruce Condello I would have never landed this personal best Channel Cat. It is a memory that I will cherish forever.

As and also and besides both Nate and Chris are fantastic fly fishermen.

Jeff, that what is truly amazing about your fish is that it was caught on that little rod! What was it 4, maybe 6 lb test at the best. I've got a short video of part of the fight, but it doesn't do it justice, as I was on the other side of the pond.

I just remembered some questions that came up at the Conference that need answered.

JHAP: Just what is a "Captain and Coke"? Did Tennille dump him for illegal substance abuse?