Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Fishin' 2009

Good news James, bet y'all had fun - it was cold, windy and miserable Saturday.
Details please, tackle and technique for us HSB folks.

I wish Bruce would post his technique and possibly even do a class at the conference.

And in the meantime?????????

Great fish guys. HSB and rainbow, I'm jealous. It is supposed to be warm here by the weekend, maybe I can get out and make some fish famous for you guys.

Great fish, Bruce!. Looks like a pretty messy day. James is that your house in the background? Is your lake 10A?

Super fish Bruce. How old is that fish roughly?

Just wanted to give a quick update on my fish that we had been discussing - the last few trips yielded several nice bass that were quite plump and healthy looking. I'm still trying to add some bluegill as I can but it's clear that not all my fish are skinny.

I appreciate all the helpful advice y'all have offered.

We continue to wait with baited breath..
Tackle and technique please...

EXCERPT FROM NEBRASKALAND MAGAZINE

Strictly bank anglers, Bruce Condello, his father, Frank, and cousin, Craig, have found that from late-April to early-June is the only period they consistently catch open-water species.

"Fish are hungry in the spring," said Bruce Condello. "Mid-May is the best time to catch white bass and walleyes in the shallows. For wipers, it's late-May to early-June."

The three Lincoln men spend many days fishing the Salt Valley lakes for walleyes, white bass and wipers. They don chest waders and head for a dam, wind-blown point or

Wading close to deep water, Craig Condello fishes for white bass at Pawnee Lake near Emerald.
other areas where they have found fish. They cast jigs into the teeth of the wind using light spinning tackle and light line.

Unlike many anglers, the Condellos prefer wind. It's the first thing they check in the weather forecast, and, when the wind doesn't blow, they're disappointed. "Give us any 15- or 20-mph wind, northwest, south, anything," Bruce Condello said.

Many anglers curse the wind because it makes fishing difficult. Whether in a boat or casting from the bank, wind puts slack in their lines, making bites difficult to detect. It's easier for anglers to cast with the wind to their backs, but there probably aren't as many fish around to take the bait. But wind-driven waves also concentrate zooplankton and other microorganisms that baitfish feed on in shallow water. Where there's zooplankton, there are shad, and where there are shad, there are game fish.

Bruce Condello said he sometimes uses a lipless crankbait at night or when water conditions indicate a need for a large-profile lure or noise to help attract fish. But most of the time, the Condellos fish with jigs. A Roadrunner or a hand-tied bucktail jig is about as fancy as they get. "I like to keep it nice, clean and simple," he said. "It's a lot more satisfying."

The Condellos make their own jigs, using heavy-duty hooks on jigs for wipers, which can straighten most commercially made wire hooks. "Use the lightest jig you can fish in the conditions," Bruce Condello said. Typically, that's 1/8- or 1/16-ounce jig, but on windy days they also use a 3/16-ounce jig - a size not available at most stores.

Their favorite body is a Fuzz-E-Grub (page 112). They use the largest size to get a long feather tail, and, if necessary, trim the body to fit their jig. Chartreuse is their favorite color for walleyes, white-and-pink for wipers and white or white-and-red for white bass.

Bank erosion has created shallow flats around most lakes. The Condellos reach deep water by wading. "If you want your jig to be in 6 feet of water you have to be throwing from 3 feet," said Craig Condello. "You can catch fish from shore, but your entire cast is in productive water when you're wading. From shore, it's only productive for the first quarter of your cast."

To find fish, the Condellos vary the speed and depth of their retrieves. Wipers and white bass look for baitfish silhouettes above them. Bruce Condello believes that aggressive fish are close to the surface, and he fishes there first. He allows little time for a jig to sink before beginning his retrieve. If he doesn't catch a fish, he'll let the jig sink another second or two, gradually increasing the time until he's fishing on the bottom. If he has covered an area casting in a fan-shaped pattern and doesn't catch fish, he moves down the shore until he does.

"Locating fish is easier with two or three people," he said. "If one gets a fish the others can move in. These are schooling fish."

The Condellos' luck from the bank diminishes when the water temperature reaches about 70 degrees and the fish move to deep water.

This guy is a regular media man now!

That is for sure Sunil. Some day we'll be saying....

Yea, I know Maxwell Spackelberry personally, we used to hang out together until he got all famous and stuck up.

Neat article, Bruce.

When I fish saltwater, I almost exclusively wade fish. It's definitely the way to go.

great stuff bruce, thanks for sharing...

jig fishing is cool..

I havent been fishing for two weeks and I dont think I will get to any time soon?

George, that HSB is just AWESOME!!!

George, to say I am jealous of you is an understatment. Also do you sleep in your fishing gear, or just have it by the bed ready to go? haha j/k

Great fish!

The remarkable thing about this fish is that it was grown-out in a ¼ acre un-aerated pond with very little supplemental feeding.

The pond was full of a gazillion fry and fingerlings from TAF CNBG, culled from main pond.
We transferred ~#30, 1.5 – 3# HSB to main pond last fall/early winter, but left a few to control BG spawn.

Gotta get the rest of them outa that pond for spring stocking of Floirda LMB fingerlings for future use in main pond.

I know it's early and the water's cold here, but I haven't gotten a bite in 2-3 attempts since my fishkill. So george, I'm glad it's you catching those nice fish right now - after your kill last year, it is inspiring rather than depressing.

Hang in there, Theo. The remaining fish should have more than enough to eat this spring/summer.

They'll get their spawn on as well and it won't be long until everything is back to normal.

Thanks Theo, I really appreciate your support.
As you recall I was so sick at my stomach I could not return to check on pond for several weeks, but with the support of my forum friends, it's been a blast starting all over.

The 1/4 acre pond saved my HSB program, after losing my big HSB in the fish kill in main pond.

That big mama I caught yesterday morning is swmming in the big pond this morning.

You likely have more survivors than you think - near surface water temp was only 52 degrees Wednesday morning and fish just now becoming active.

george, i'm guessing that beautiful hsb is the star player, but since no one has chimed in on that RES i must say.........outstanding FISH!!. i havent seen mine in over a year.......

Just for you George.
And you too Nate.
And really anyone else who likes big fish.

Some real nice looking HSB!

I am chomping at the bit to get out after my HSB!
Thanks for the pics cheyenne!