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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,794
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,794 |
Good thread - there is a vast chasm that lies between! Some pondsters have "vast" fish and fishing experience and other have none.
I well remember catching my first "bass" more than 80 years ago - fishing for "brim" in a creek behind our house with worms with a cane pole - ran out of worms and tied on a berry blossom and caught a bass. Been fishing all my life and know a skinny bass from a fat bass so don't do WRs or run around with a O2 meter or water testing kits and don't over think turbid water and don't keep paper records - only photo journal. I have raised some really nice fish and mother nature and I have killed a few on occasion.
I am a firm believer in "to over analyze is to paralyze" - especially in pond management, for me anyway. Fly/lure in the water is my tool and observation is my teacher.
Everything about pond management is a means to an end for me - if not for the fishing sport I would not have any interest in ponds. Some of my biggest stocking mistakes have turned into success by stocking large numbers of CC that aided bass in controlling over abundance of small forage fish, and in the process, discovery of the sport and beauty of CNBG.
This was a two edged sword however, causing my first fish kill by excess biomass and too much fertility with excess feed. I also learned on my second fish kill that bottom diffuser aeration alone could not prevent a fish kill in severe Texas heat wave and drought conditions.
Went against all conventional wisdom from the fisheries experts and TP&W biologists about stocking HSB in ponds and now a common practice in Texas farm ponds.
Deep pockets are sometimes necessary some time to achieve maximum success in in pond management, but some folks like to keep it simple by choosing a simple recommended “balanced” plan of LMB, CC and BG.
Fun stuff - thanks Sparky! George
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1 |
...some of my biggest stocking mistakes have turned into success... In the midst of a great post, an even better one-liner! My experience too has been that some of the boo-boos turn into big successes. You just have to be observant enough to be able to appreciate some of the subtleties going on around you. I think that therein lies the greatest benefit to participating in this forum. People here are just as willing to discuss their mistakes as their triumphs. And each "mistake" can benefit others by observing the result--regardless of outcome. THAT'S WHY I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!
Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099 Likes: 22
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099 Likes: 22 |
...some of my biggest stocking mistakes have turned into success... In the midst of a great post, an even better one-liner! My experience too has been that some of the boo-boos turn into big successes. You just have to be observant enough to be able to appreciate some of the subtleties going on around you. I think that therein lies the greatest benefit to participating in this forum. People here are just as willing to discuss their mistakes as their triumphs. And each "mistake" can benefit others by observing the result--regardless of outcome. THAT'S WHY I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! What mistakes?!?!?! I still say TJ's muskrat has better flow now!
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1 |
....The program kicked off the evening by stressing the importance of setting goals, and having a plan to help attain those goals.......aeration was not recommended--too much risk....(supplemental feeding discouraged)--too much risk.... Take a moment to digest what the biologist was really saying... Set a goal--but don't take a risk. Wouldn't you agree that virtually EVERY great achievement ever made by man involved a risk?!?! What the biologist is really saying is "What's your goal?--just make sure it's not interesting or fun or different". I would contend to the speaker that they come to a Pond Boss conference sometime. It would blow his mind. He might actually come to the conclusion that we're all fighting boring and mundane existences, and perhaps, just maybe, we'd like to spice things up a bit. Even if it involves some risk.
Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,544
Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,544 |
The biologist should be required to come to pondcon. Maybe they'd learn something useful actually I know they would lol
I believe in catch and release. I catch then release to the grease.. BG. CSBG. LMB. HSB. RES.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1
Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1 |
I love how feeding fish in a pond is a waste of time according to Indians's DNR pond guide but the yellow perch from one of my ponds was disqualified because my fish were on a "feeding program" and therefore an unfair advantage. Never mind 12 of our state records came from ponds, and it's likely some feeding was involved in at least some of them.
Last edited by Cecil Baird1; 05/31/14 03:29 PM.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 74
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 74 |
I would literally die and go to heaven if I had several ponds to manage and fish that I could experiment with. There are several species I'd like to (try) grow to abnormal sizes just because. 2 species I'd try if I had the ponds to "waste" are longear sunfish and spotted bass.
Bass/catfish/bluegill is somewhat boring. Heck, I can just go fish public water for those almost anywhere in my area.
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