Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Fishing 2015

It was perch madness this evening just before dark. Caught six in a very short amount of time.The lantern sitting next to the hole illuminating the bait below the ice hole may have been a factor. Fish were six to twelve inches off the bottom caught on chartreuse jig and a couple of beemoths. Going to pick up some minnows tomorrow as I have a taxidermist in Oklahoma that wants three in the 13 inch range for a competition in March. He obviously can't wait for harvest in March. I have one already and minnows should make harvest faster.

Sorry no pics. I tried to get a picture of a 12 inch female that had very developed ovaries for Bill Cody to see, but she hopped iher way to the hole before I could snap a picture. I've never seen one that developed that early.

Hey Cecil,

Did you get the 2 BG you were trying for yet? I would love to see a pic of those if you get a chance.

Bill D.

No not yet Bill. The yellow perch greatly out number the bluegills in the pond as I've had a hard time getting the number of male bluegills into the pond I'd like to. And the fact that two of the high schools that grow them out for me over the winter had a number die didn't help.

The yellow perch are much easier to catch in cold water, at least that has been the case in my pond. Once I start using minnows the perch will be really easy to catch. I catch some bluegills with the fatheads as bait but it's mostly yellow perch.

I guess that makes sense right? YP are probably more active in cold water than BG. That is a question, not a statement.

Oh for sure. And I would guess they need to eat as spawning is just around the corner.

Case in point: In my pond in early spring you'd think the only thing in the pond are yellow perch. In late spring it's just the opposite with bluegills the primary catch.

Thanks Cecil.....

Stepped out on the ice at sunrise, and found the bluegills in 18' of water holding to the bottom. They were very cooperative, and for two hours I culled and released. No big fish today, just average size.

By this evening the ice was suffering....mid fifties all afternoon, still 46 degrees right now. Four inches of good ice this morning, probably junk by tomorrow.

Took one photo, grapefruit coloration on a male.

Cecil, please report on your ice/snow conditions as of tomorrow. My friends daughter called from Ft Wayne and said it was 48 today.

Took advantage of a nice weather day and reeled
in a catfish that couldn't resist a bite of shrimp.

Bob,

There was water on the the ice due to melted snow but I still had solid ice on the pond away from the open water created by my diffuser on one end. At least 5 inches of ice maybe 6.

I caught around 10 yellow perch from about 11 to 14 inches and now have three 13 1/4 to 13 1/2 inch perch for a taxidermist in Oklahoma. All were released except for those three.

Got the following bluegill at 10.0 inches and 1 lb. 2 1/4 oz. Just have to to get one more for the order.

Thanks for the update. Those BG sure are impressive but not surprising from your place.

Gorgeous fish!!!

My neighbor said I have 6" of ice too. Each of his 3 daughters caught a fish, then they were ready to go back in the house. 1 YP about 12", 2 BG about 9". All right on the bottom. YP picked up the jig on the way down.

Thanks to genetics from your fish! I've crossed them with other fish twice now but those Condello genes keep shining through!

Nice cat Mark. Have you caught any of the albino cats yet?

Went out this afternoon @ 4 P.M. and couldn't buy a bite until about a half hour before dark when all hell broke loose. Caught and released at least 20 perch with two on at a time at times. Also had lines tangle as my two poles were only about 4 feet apart and some of the perch decided to swim laterally!

I need one bluegill to fill an order and could only get yellow perch. Go figure! I do have until next weekend to pull one up.

Most of the perch were in the 13 inch range with two just over 14.

Pics aren't that great but it's a one man operation and the fish rarely cooperate! I feel like a one armed paper hanger trying to control the fish and snap a picture at the same time!

Wow Cecil, those fish are amazing. You set the bar high - well done!

I got in 30 minutes of fishing late yesterday afternoon. I'm desperately trying to find the temp and weather trend that turns these fish on and off. These rose to get a fly, but never moved more than a few feet anyway from the deeper water they were resting in. Water was 45 degrees, and rising.

The first fish looks more like Overton's CNBG to me. If so, it is 2 yo or less. That gives hm several more years of growing time. He's probably maxed out length wise, but I expect him to add girth from now on. A shade under 1.5 pounds.


This one, although as tall and almost as long as the other 2 CNBG, didn't make the cut. Ugly CNBG, had to go. If it wasn't for the ear tab, I'd almost call this one female? Weighed just over 1 pound.

That 2nd one almost looks like a Northern BG.

Hey buddy -been waiting for this day - good job!
G/

Scott, IMO the first CNBG is from Overton amd the 2nd is most likely from Tyler Fish farm.
G/

That bottom fish does seem to display some northern characteristics?

Great fish Al...even the cull would be the BG of a lifetime for many up here!

George, Todd and I surveyed CNBG when he brought the trout up, and he felt like these males were integrates, and unusual even for Tyler Fish Farm. This just confuses me more, since I'm pretty sure TJ hasn't been dumping Northern BG over the fence.

More of a fusiform shape, non-distinctive markings including stripes, little to no helmet.. I'll put all these I catch in pond that just needs forage, but they're not something I'm wanting to keep in the gene pool.

So, that begs the question. Have I just been seeing Bruce's genetics with a lot of Northern BG pics? The platter shape is what I'm more used to seeing, and what we're getting with our CNBG from Todd. Now I'm even more confused as to what "native" BG and CNBG look like. Maybe I'm just used to seeing outstanding genetics posted on PB.

Wow what a beauty and only 2 years old! Impressive.



I see nothing wrong with that fish. But that's my opinion.