Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
Shotgun01, Dan H, Stipker, LunkerHunt23, Jeanjules
18,451 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics40,902
Posts557,113
Members18,452
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 28,418
ewest 21,475
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,112
Who's Online Now
4 members (teehjaeh57, Bobbss, esshup, Boondoggle), 754 guests, and 189 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 16
S
Lunker
OP Offline
Lunker
S
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 16
Hey

Anybody have any idea which species this is? I am in SE Mississippi.

Thanks





Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,948
Likes: 9
C
Moderator
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Lunker
C
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,948
Likes: 9
Longear

Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043
Likes: 1
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Offline
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043
Likes: 1
And a purdy one at that!


If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.






Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 16
S
Lunker
OP Offline
Lunker
S
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 16
Thanks for the comments. If this is indeed a Longear, it is a potential MS record. The record is 0.14lbs and this one weighed 3oz (0.1875lbs) on my digital scales.

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458
Likes: 2
C
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
C
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458
Likes: 2
What a specimen! I just don't know why everyone sticks with BG/RES ponds and up north maybe PSS. With pretty fish like LES and RBS to add, you'd think people would stock at least a small percentage of them into their ponds.

Joined: May 2006
Posts: 794
T
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
T
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 794
Boy that is a dandy! I would be honored to have such a handsome fish in my pond, The kids would sure love to show off its beauty.


A little snow, Please!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458
Likes: 2
C
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
C
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458
Likes: 2
Then again, where do you source RBS and LES? Only a couple hatcheries sell RBS and I know of none that sell LES...

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 16
S
Lunker
OP Offline
Lunker
S
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 16
This fish was caught out of a small creek. I caught 2 more that were alot smaller but same colors as this one. I was considering putting the fish in my small "goldfish pond" at my house, but it jumped out of the bucket that I had it in. I even had a top on the bucket but it wasn't latched. It's in the freezer now. I may go back tomorrow. If I do, I will take more pics. I also caught several small bass up to about half pound. I think they were spots.

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 743
W
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
W
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 743
Looks like a longear to me. I'd say contact a state wildlife agent and see if you can get the catch certified. Did you weigh it on a certified scale with a witness?

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,973
G
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
G
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,973
cj yes you answered your own question, avaialbility of other species is limited due to demand. I did recently find a source of bullhead catfish. THought that was rather strange but neat.

stumpy, we hit a couple ponds a year where we get some longear. Usually good size creek entering the pond.


Greg Grimes
www.lakework.com
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 16
S
Lunker
OP Offline
Lunker
S
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 16
Greg, what size fish do you usually see? How big do they get? Do the GA longears look similar to this one, i know there is alot of variance in this species?

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,973
G
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
G
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,973
1/4 lb is a big one. Yes look similiar actually.


Greg Grimes
www.lakework.com
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458
Likes: 2
C
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
C
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458
Likes: 2
Longear(LES) and Redbreast(RBS) are both basically stream species, that although preferring streams can survive in ponds. They are very closely related. Both reach a maximum size of about 12" with 10" being like a 12" BG, not very common! I would say the average size for both species is around 5"-6", with 8" being large. As I recall correctly there are as many as 6 different subspecies of LES. The northern LES subspecies doesn't reach as large a size as the other subspecies and some scientists feel it is a distinct species. Each subspecies has unique coloration and some are considered prettier than others. Perhaps a specialty market will emerge as more pond owners become aware of species other than BG and RES...

Greg, Zetts Tri State fish hatchery in WV sells brown bullheads. I am not sure if that is the source you found. They are the only one I know of.

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 191
M
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
M
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 191
Yes, I have looked all over the east coast and still hav enot found a source for LES, I would love to get some for my pond, and hate the thought of robbing local streams for them.
If anyone knows where to get some, please let me know!!

Salmonid


Have fish..Will Travel
Mark Blauvelt - Dayton Ohio
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.75 acre pond, HSB,YP,CC,BC,BCF,BG,HBG,RES
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458
Likes: 2
C
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
C
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458
Likes: 2
LES are not a rare species... Collecting a couple dozen from the wild would not cause any issues,

Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 28
O
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
O
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 28
Definitely a les. They don't get big and are rarely submitted for the record books when a large one is caught. They don't get big so not much interest. I catch them in Coles Creek as the primary fish in the creek. Lots of them there and in Louisiana. Don't see and issue with catching some wild ones and stocking your pond with them.

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,840
M
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
M
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,840
Longears are fun to catch IMO. The size I would think is the main factor. If they grew larger I think someone would like to try to raise them. I have considered trying to catch 50-100 in the wild and putting them in one of my small ponds that should not have many if any predators in it just to see if they would take and what kind of numbers they have compared to BG.

I have stocked 2 in my pond. I started with just 1 as he was a pet for a while but way too aggressive for the other tank mates.

I will be curious to see if I ever catch or see them again, but if they take to the feed it may be a nice size one some day.

I may put some more in later, but I figure they would just cross with the BG or GSF making even smaller hybrids.

Will keep everyone posted though.

Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 22
Likes: 4
D
Offline
D
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 22
Likes: 4
I put Longear Sunfish in my 5 acre pond in north central Kansas (76 of them). I also put 12 Orange Spotted sunfish in the Pond.

2020 Pond Construction. Sunfish were stocked at roughly same time as my Golden Shiners, Fatheads, Bluegills, and Redears (spring 2021). They are both doing well. Longears make up of about 2-4 percent of my panfish catch. Reproduction seems good. The Orange-spotted sunfish population blew up quick but seems to be controlled by the Walleye and Saugeye.

I love Longears in my pond and people love to catch em (they are beautiful). They were sourced out of a small Flint Hills Creek.

Now if I can knock back my Green sunfish and Bulheads (that flowed in early) I will be happy.
Everything seems to be pretty good as far as year 3.

My pond goal is a Diverse Northern Style pond (NO LMB). I - 70 Corridor

YP, SMB, Saugeye, WE, BG, RES, LES, OSS, CC(albino)
BNM, FHM, BNM, RSH, GSH, GAM


5 Acre Pond- Ave Depth 7 ft- Max Depth 18 Ft.
3 members like this: 4CornersPuddle, ewest, FishinRod

Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
cro, HC1968
Recent Posts
pond experience needed
by esshup - 03/29/24 12:45 AM
Relative weight charts in Excel ? Calculations?
by jpsdad - 03/28/24 09:45 PM
Alum vs Bentonite/Lathanum for Phosphorus Removal?
by FishinRod - 03/28/24 08:28 PM
New pond middle TN: establishing food chain?
by Bill Cody - 03/28/24 07:57 PM
Happy Birthday Bob Lusk!!
by FireIsHot - 03/28/24 07:33 PM
Working on a .5acre disaster, I mean pond.
by PRCS - 03/28/24 06:39 PM
Fungus infection on fish
by nvcdl - 03/28/24 06:07 PM
Can anyone ID these minnows?
by Dylanfrely - 03/28/24 05:43 PM
1 year after stocking question
by esshup - 03/28/24 04:48 PM
Yellow Perch Spawn 2024
by H20fwler - 03/28/24 04:29 PM
New 2 acre pond stocking plan
by LANGSTER - 03/28/24 03:49 PM
Paper-shell crayfish and Japanese snails
by esshup - 03/28/24 10:39 AM
Newly Uploaded Images
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
by Tbar, December 10
Deer at Theo's 2023
Deer at Theo's 2023
by Theo Gallus, November 13
Minnow identification
Minnow identification
by Mike Troyer, October 6
Sharing the Food
Sharing the Food
by FishinRod, September 9
Nice BGxRES
Nice BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, July 28
Snake Identification
Snake Identification
by Rangersedge, July 12

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5