Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Fishing 2015

So cruel...making that HSB smell the stench coming from your shoe!!!

Brutal...

Incredible HSB. Well done TJ!

Thanks T! The larger fish made several 50-75' runs, and despite the 7' MH flippin stick I had no answer except to hold on and keep the tip high. Even with heavy tackle it took over 5 minutes to get her in. I admit I was a tad fatigued after the second fish...I need to get into HSB fighting shape!

"..I need to get into HSB fighting shape!"

And maybe get some Odor Eaters....

My feet always have, and always will, smell of Elderberries.

The reverse is also true sometimes....

...remember when Condello caught that "Smellie" during the Erie fishing trip last summer?

No doubt a HSB of such magnitude put up quite the fight. Too damn lazy to go back one page, did you CPR? If so, how did the fish do upon release? Any particular care needed, or did cool water prevail?


Elderberries....

Few rules for me when fishing for trophy HSB:

Use heavy tackle - MH-H action rod, Braid, Stout barbless hooks to help prevent fish exhaustion.

I only fish for them when water temps are below 80ish to reduce risk of mortality. I have not lost a HSB to date I'm aware of, but again, I follow this rules strictly. No HSB fishing in July/August.

Vaguely...seems like my college days already. Lordy - that was last year.

TJ, a fish with this much fight and beauty deserves to be caught on the most sporting technique available, and that is on a fly rod.
My weapon of choice is a TFO 8-10 MiniMag loaded with a 11 wt 330 gr bass taper fly line - simple 16 lb leader.
If it took you 5 minutes to land this fish you were just having too much fun..
Land them quickly - resusitate and release.

I agree - no fishing July/August or when water temp hits 80 degrees.
I have caught hundreds of pond HSB on the fly - none on conventional tackle - lost only one IIRC but I have an O2 live well.
My favorite sport fish - on the fly.
Have fun - nice fish!
George


Edit;
WOW - my fish calculator says a 27 inch HSB should weigh over 10 lbs - now I understand the fish in the fight - haven't caught one that big!
G/

I was waiting for you to chime in, Geo. That larger fish put up a heckuva struggle - I was surprised, and I was muscling her in as fast as I could. I'd have to estimate weight at 11-12#, but I could be off, I so rarely weigh big fish as I'm in a hurry to get them back in the water. I'm gunning for one over 28 this Spring. I know she's in there, and you'll be the first to know.

I've had my eye on that mini mag for a while...with your endorsement, how can I miss?

11.09 to be exact on mycalculator - FANTASTIC!
You da man - you done good!
TFO 8-10 MiniMag rules!
G/

Outstanding HSB, TJ. You've had a heck of a run the last few weeks.

Hopefully, I'll start my first HSB stocking soon. I have a 100 waiting in the brood pond, getting ready for the public pool.

Nice fish Bill.

Best I can recall, that is about the growth I got from the freshly my stocked fish. One thing I've noticed this year and late last year, as the new year class of reproduction fish get to about the size of the fish in your picture, it gets harder to catch the original stockers. Don't know if the original stockers just get smarter because some of them have been caught a few times, or if it is because there are so many more mouths going after the lure the probability of catching original fish goes down. Caught one of my original stocked BG the other day at just under 9", but the bulk of what I catch are the offspring at 5-7".

It does feel good those first few catches in a new pond.

You da man TJ! Fantastic fish. I bet your arms feel like after a stint with a chain saw that does not want to start!

Thanks for the input Snrub. Makes me feel like things are at least going ok so far!.

Bout the time I said what I did (about the larger original stocking fish being harder to catch), last night with just about a half hour before it got dark caught two 8"+ BG of my original stockers and only one 5". A nice, plump 15" LMB too.

My statement could have more to do with what bait I was using than I thought. These fish last night were all caught on a small crank bait (hard to believe the 5" BG hit it) where most of the smaller fish I was using curly tail jigs or smaller baits. When the water was colder had a hard time getting anything to hit larger baits.

I'm a very inexperienced angler, so my catch may have reflected the bait I was using rather than what fish were actually available to catch.

I was happy to see the nice, big, plump BG. One male and one female.

From Kentucky Lake yesterday.



Test posting from my phone.

Hmmmm

That's all I use is my phone that's y I can't post pix

Shortay, the img needs to be IMG before and after. All caps...

Nevermind, that didn't work for me.

You mean this?

This guy went 9.25" and 16 ozs even.



A few others, been awhile since I posted any of these. Very active this evening.

As early in the season as it is here, I'm now almost afraid to go out fishing in my main pond. I put 12-14 inch HSB both of my fishing ponds at the end of November, last season.

I've got unwanted crappie in my main pond. This is about the only time of year I can catch them. Unfortunately, this year it doesn't seem to matter what hook or lure I'm using. Within a few minutes of fishing, I've got one of the HSB. I don't want them to become hook shy. They also really stress my ultralight rigs that I use for crappie and BG. I seem to be getting about two HSB for every crappie.

It will be interesting to see what happens in the smaller 1/3 acre put-and-take pond. So far, that pond is still pretty sluggish due to lack of direct sunlight and resulting cold water. But, last year I couldn't get the trout out because the vicious HBG beat them to everything I threw in the water. In another few days I guess I'll be able to see if the HBG or the HSB are the top predators for human induced baits.

I blame all these HSB problems on our friend George! If it wasn't for him, I'd probably never have stocked these wonderful monsters.

Thanks George,

Ken