All, I saw my first LMB on a nest this week. He was defending it very well. After watching him for a day or so, I decided to record him with my underwater camera. I had to try it several times because I needed to learn how it is done without bothering him too much. The day after the recording, I saw him with a really fat female! I am hoping for a good spawn this year! I believe I can count seven or eight nesting LMB in the big pond right now!
On a side note, I saw a 10-12 inch LMB on another nest just six or seven feet away from this guys nest. I was fun watching him defend his nest as well!
Here is the better video I shot Thursday:
Last edited by highflyer; 04/07/1210:16 AM.
Brian
The one thing is the one thing A dry fly catches no fish Try not to be THAT 10%
Bob, the camera is still in tacked and I still have my legs, but the duct tape did get a few battle scares!!
Eric, the full moon was last night. I plan on looking on Monday to see what is out there and again in a week to see what I can find. I'll post more when I find it.
This is really cool, of course my biggest concern was that I don't disturb the nesting process. If anyone see anything I could do better please let me know.
Brian
The one thing is the one thing A dry fly catches no fish Try not to be THAT 10%
Great video! I have around 8 nesting in my pond as well. Most are tagged (feed trained) but there are a few that aren't. They didn't want to hit a plastic worm dropped in the nest, so I'll try a live nightcrawler tomorrow. I want to remove all the non-feed trained LMB.
I did catch about a 5# RBT on that bass worm. 4/0 hook and all. I tried to keep it away from the trout, but they were too fast.
He really thumps the camera, doesn't he? No wonder why his lips are red!!
Well the Bass was still on his nest. He was alone. He still was giving me the fishy stink eye and fought off the camera! I'll check back next week to see if I can find any of the YOY.
Does anyone know of the top of their head how long LMB eggs need before the young hatch?
Also, I think it was Tilapia on the other nest. I got some video of it as well which I will post after processing later today or tomorrow. The fish had a red tail and vertical stripes running the length of his body. His lips were lightly colored and his mouth was partially opened most of the time.
Any thoughts, or questions that might help?
Brian
The one thing is the one thing A dry fly catches no fish Try not to be THAT 10%
Well the video of the Tilapia on his nest came out better than I thought, so I am adding a link to it here.
I have found several beds like this, and I have seen more than five Tilapia on them. It is funny to see them on the beds, any time there is a larger intruder, they leave the nest, swim a racetrack, and then return to see if the nest is clear.
Also, in this video, when the Tilapia leaves, I counted over 15 small Bluegill studying the nest and camera.
Enjoy!
Brian
The one thing is the one thing A dry fly catches no fish Try not to be THAT 10%
I am using a Go Pro HD for the underwater video. I tape it to a 1/2 inch diameter ten foot PVC section. The Go Pro is easy to use and is very versatile.
Last edited by highflyer; 04/12/1201:18 PM.
Brian
The one thing is the one thing A dry fly catches no fish Try not to be THAT 10%
Well I was back on the farm yesterday in the rain with the over case and I did see what looked like several hundred 3/4 inch fish swimming in the brush right next to the LMB's nest. I did not find that LMB there, but there was another LMB in the area. The overcase combined with the rain made it nearly impossible to video any of the action, so I will try again when I get back out to the farm. I am excited to get the little guys on tape, so I am hoping for better weather next week!
On a side note, I caught a 14 and a half inch 1 LB 10 OZ and an 8 and a half inch +4 Oz LMB during the rain!
I also caught several really nice RES and assorted sunfish but no CCs.
Fish trap 2.0 lite is still working very well. I am catching three to four size class of sunfish every time I set it out.
Pictures on request!
Brian
The one thing is the one thing A dry fly catches no fish Try not to be THAT 10%
Always want to see pictures! Today I found some bass fry that had hatched and another on the nest just starting the "ritual". I'm a little concerned about all the new bass that are going to be in the pond. I seen a wood duck hen with 8-10 little ones too!
"I have not failed, I have only found 10,000 ways that won't work" Thomas Edison
Nice fish. You tagging any of the bass to check growth throughout the year? It would be interesting to see how much the bass grow feeding on the tilapia.
"I have not failed, I have only found 10,000 ways that won't work" Thomas Edison
Me either CJ. Only key here is the yellow on the tails. But I will say those Ark CNBG don't look like George's or most of the others I see from the deep south when they are young. I got some recently from Ark and could only id about 20 % as certain CNBG. Checked with the hatchery again and they assured me that only CNBG were in the pond seined. That has happened before and they all turned out to be CNBG. The Ark fish when small have close skinny bands like regular BG.
Below are photos of immature male and female CNBG that I donated to Brian for his forage pond a couple of weeks ago. Brian took these pictures after transport and release into his pond.
I selected these two photos to show the characteristics that I choose for my pure strain of CNBG.
The male has the obvious copper bar on his nose, cream-colored tip tail fin, and 4-5 faint broad vertical bars. Broad vertical bars are also evident on the female. Number of broad vertical bars is a critical marker, as well as cream tips on tail fin.
I am colorblind so color is not a criterion for my ID - colors change due to water and sunlight conditions as well as spawning periods.
Theses fish were caught from our pond with turbid water but the characteristics of pure CNBG are obvious – to me anyway….
Immature Male CNBG
Immature Female CNBG
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)