Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Behemoth BG - Now What?

I always have a tape measure and a digital scale in my fishing vest which is always with me at my pond. However, I usually forget to bring the digital camera.

ML, that Coppernose Bluegill is probably not alone. He has friends, I would suppose.

George,

It's a mistake I hope to never, ever repeat! I've regretted the mistake over and over since Saturday evening. It literally haunts me.

I completely forgot about the cork grip thing and should have used that or anything else, e.g. a stick or weed or whatever, to get the length. I guess my brain froze. All I could think about was whether or not to kill the fish by taking it back to the house or release it.

It was the weight of this fish that was so special. Incredible size. No pictures, no proof, however. Just another fish story.

I always go to this pond on the small tractor and carry a bucket, tape measure, scales, and usually the digital camera. This one time, I just grabbed the fly rod, tied on a Charlie, and walked out to the pond to quickly sample the CNBG. I knew it was full moon time and I expected them to be in shallows for spawning. Never expected to see the fish of a lifetime.

Sunil, I hope you are right...and will not stop thinking of this fish until another one hopefully comes along sometime.

ML :

For me you don't need the proof as it is the dreams and stories that count where it matters most. At our ponds the best chance to catch a really big BG is on the bed near the full moon in May. It is the most pronounced BG spawning event. A suggestion for what it is worth (2 cents). Take the fly rod to the same exact place ASAP (or around the June full moon) and try the same fly. If it does not work leave for about an hour and come back and try a sinking fly or a Lady G $-Gill and let it sink then hop it around. Who knows it may work. Think positive as luck favors the prepared mind.

The great thing about a truly awe-inspiring catch is how it causes you to forget simple things like documentation. I keep a 5 gallon bucket on each side of the pond for short-term fish storage; when I caught a really neat BG last month it was all I could do to decide to kill or keep it, and then photo and release it. It never occurred to me to put it in the bucket and take time to think. And the bucket was 2 feet way.

What happens to me a lot is I catch the most awe inspring fish just before dark. Not the best time to take pics.

I learned many years ago that without documentation, a caught and released fish is just another fish story – except for PB forum members of course....

I have used film, poloroid, and now digital camera – for my own records, and to share with fishin’ friends.

Handy for pics of family members on the pond, as well as a memorable sunrise/sunset on the pond.

I was in a similar state of confusion this weekend. Not nearly as large as ML's, but since I dont get to fish my pond much, it was exciting. Just before dark in a boat away from feeder. Fishing in deeper water with a 4 inch GS. I knew this was too large for the BG or newly stocked CC. Thought I would see how the LMB had been growing. Fishing on bottom. It was a very large female BG. Thought it a very fat male, but no coloring, Huge mouth(not a TGG). Turned her over and knew was a female. Cut line, put her in the 5 gal. bucket to revive. Couldn't decide to keep or let go. Dummy decides to let her go and hopefully spawn, but forgets to try and remove hook. Buried deep in roof of mouth, but barb was smashed. Hope she got to deposit her eggs.
ML, you will catch another one. From your story and George's earlier posted pic., it seems that Bruce's Barry Bonds juice has made it into north Texas.

My Dad just caught the first ever legit 10 inch fish that originated from egg in my breeding program. This fish is age-3.

He's got kind of a funny look to him. I can't quite put my finger on it. I think it's the fact that the black spots are so pronounced, but he doesn't have any bright reproductive colors. Hmmmm. I'll try to figure this out later. Maybe we need to catch a couple of more fish.

Bruce, what a beauty. I have caught a couple of fish that looked like that, not as large, and wondered if they were cuckolds.

So much for "never taking the camera along."

How big are the Bull Gills if the lurkers are 10"?

Holy lavender and burgundy a 10 inch immature male? What have Dr.s Bruce and Frankenbruce developed?

Answer : A wonderful strain of BG for all to admire.

Very nice Dr.s and well done. Recall that they change color quickly even from the time hooked until you land them. I would not be concerned about the color if only one or even if most looked that way.

I'm pretty sure this fish is the one Dr. Willis and I held for the Pond Boss article part I. It is one of 33 remaining fish from the first spawn. 30 males and 3 females. The other males are 8.75 inches or greater in size, but this one's the biggest I've seen. He hasn't started to form a hump yet, and I don't know if that's because he's immature or too young.

I thought it was really interesting that in the total absence of most other traits of maturity that the nape spots are so obvious. Perhaps that black spots are purely a trait of male vs. female as opposed to mature vs. immature.

I'd swear he was looking at me as my Dad held him.

Here's my Dad with the same fish.

Nice gill Bruce. What were the measurements?

It looks like we left a bit too early.

You missed him by about twenty minutes. My Dad also caught four more yellow perch from 7.5 to 9.5 inches. The fish was ten inches on the money, but we popped him right back in the water as opposed to weighing. I didn't have my scale with me but I'd bet he was at least one pound.

Originally posted by Bruce Condello:

I thought it was really interesting that in the total absence of most other traits of maturity that the nape spots are so obvious. Perhaps that black spots are purely a trait of male vs. female as opposed to mature vs. immature.

My opinion leans that way.

I'd swear he was looking at me as my Dad held him.

Not in that picture - no pinkeye. But he and you Dad sure are lovingly gazing at each other.

Bruce here is a thought for you. How much do the traits of maturity and or maleness (especially those related to spawning)reduce or become less obvious if there are no females (adult females) present? That is how much and which ones are dependant on courtship and mating dominance triggers ? The concept is greater growth in males as a result of lack of male investment in reproduction and spawning activity (in addition to good food and water). The corollary result may well be reduced color and dominance expression (from that normally associated with breeding males) during the spring/summer. Of the pictures in the PB articles (and in your mind for comparison purposes) how many were from male only ponds. Important to compare apples to apples.

None of the photos in the Pond Boss articles were from male only ponds, however I have noticed what is seemingly less vivid coloration from the ponds without females, including the one above.

It seems plausible that there is a connection between female availability and the bright colors normally associated with male bluegills. Just a hunch, but I think you're right on.

I do know that some trout breeders put their females upstream from their males to get the males conditioned for spawning at spawning time. The females apparently release hormones in the water. So what you are saying is definitely plausible.

My bluegill pond that I just drained had probably 99 percent males. Almost all of the males even though they were 8 to 8 1/2 inches did not show much mature coloring. However in my other pond where there are an even balance of both sexes the coloring difference is striking for the same size fish. Albeit it's not peak spawning time yet.

You know things are pretty cool when we can track individual fish like this!!

Just tossing this picture from Saturday in to compare the color differences with the Bruce's male BG. This one darkened up before I could get the picture taken.

Very healthy one, Shorty! Another Nebraska Cornhusker.

Shorty - That fish is a perfect example of what a male bluegill should look like. Very nice picture and thanks for posting it.