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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,794
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
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I think you have to stock a certain density to see an effect on FA and 10# seems a little light for that purpose -- ask Rainman. IMO, tilapia stocking numbers are one of those “it all depends” choices with stocking rates. Besides the fact that he is only about 10 miles from Overton Fisheries, I would hazard a guess that those 10# numbers were Todd’s since Pat’s pond is fairly new? Todd just stocked 25# tilapia in our 2 acre pond and we have no FA - just wanted to bump up our forage base. “It all depends”? George
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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Joined: Oct 2014
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Joined: Oct 2014
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Pat,
Are you one of the lucky ones? Will Tilapia live year round in your pond and can propogate?
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
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Joined: May 2012
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Joined: May 2012
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I think you have to stock a certain density to see an effect on FA and 10# seems a little light for that purpose -- ask Rainman. IMO, tilapia stocking numbers are one of those “it all depends” choices with stocking rates. Besides the fact that he is only about 10 miles from Overton Fisheries, I would hazard a guess that those 10# numbers were Todd’s since Pat’s pond is fairly new? Todd just stocked 25# tilapia in our 2 acre pond and we have no FA - just wanted to bump up our forage base. “It all depends”? George I really don't know what he should stock -- just trying to point out someone who does. I'm sure Todd knows very well.
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184
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OP
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184 |
I think you have to stock a certain density to see an effect on FA and 10# seems a little light for that purpose -- ask Rainman. IMO, tilapia stocking numbers are one of those “it all depends” choices with stocking rates. Besides the fact that he is only about 10 miles from Overton Fisheries, I would hazard a guess that those 10# numbers were Todd’s since Pat’s pond is fairly new? Todd just stocked 25# tilapia in our 2 acre pond and we have no FA - just wanted to bump up our forage base. “It all depends”? George I really don't know what he should stock -- just trying to point out someone who does. I'm sure Todd knows very well. Easy fellers: it was my idea to put 10# . That's all the extra cash I had this week to throw away on bait, I don't have a lot of FA and like Mr G says it depends, extra forage was the main reason- take the heat off the CNBG a little this spring. We will see if I need to add more
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184
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OP
Joined: Aug 2014
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Bill no they will die off this fall when it's cools down
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 939
Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
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They have begun biting on the ponds (9-10"ers). Text pic's sent earlier tonite to me. Hoping to boat one that breaks the 13" mark this year. Same rig as we always use.
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184
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Joined: Aug 2014
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No longer seeing any tilapia hitting feed or cruising the shoreline. Kinda wondering if bucket bass have eaten them all. The last ones I saw were males and were 10" long. That would be a fairly large bass to eat that I would think. Any ideas ?
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,028 Likes: 274
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
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Beats me Pat. 10 inch would take a heckuva bass to eat. However, they might have tried.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Aug 2014
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Joined: Aug 2014
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I had a BIG one eat a6" crappie and never slowed it down for about 30 seconds before he decided to let go- I still caught the crappie minus scales on both sides....never saw any female tilapia all summer just males with the long red fins. So I don't think I got any forage for the crappie
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
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Pat, Large males are often all you'll see. The bigger the male, the bigger the nesting area it will defend. Males chase off every tilapia except a female ready to drop eggs, within minutes. After she's picked up her eggs, and he's let go of his milt, the male will kill her if she hangs around!
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Joined: Aug 2014
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Joined: Aug 2014
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Thanks guys was wondering why I haven't seen any tilapia swimming around or at feeding time... Guess will wait for it to get cold and see what floats up
Last edited by Pat Williamson; 09/03/15 08:30 AM.
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Joined: Aug 2014
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Joined: Aug 2014
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The first spawn of the crappie from last year are 7-8" long now, is that a normal growth rate for them or should they be larger?
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110 Likes: 478
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110 Likes: 478 |
Crappie at about 16 months old and 7"-8" long is good growth. If the growth rate continues at this pace they will be 13"-15" long next summer. Excellent growth if it can happen.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
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Joined: Aug 2014
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Joined: Aug 2014
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Funny thing is that I'm not catching any of the original stockers that this spring were 12"+. Are the 8" ones beating them to the jigs ? Have not tried any live bait
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Joined: Aug 2014
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OP
Joined: Aug 2014
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Mr Cody you have any ideas why I'm not catching any of the larger crappie any more?
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Joined: Oct 2014
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Joined: Oct 2014
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Hey Pat,
I am not a pro but FWIW we never catch the big ones here when the water is this warm. Spring is best for us. I can pick up a random one here or there but they are smaller and don't seem to be schooled up when the water is warm. It is luck for me to catch one.
Looking forward to hearing what Bill C. has to say. I may be just fishing the wrong way for warm water.
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184
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OP
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184 |
Thanks you might be on to sumpin. Maybe mr C will chime in
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184
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OP
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184 |
Update the water is cooler and still only catching small 7" crappie that look thick enough but no longer catching many that are larger like we were last spring. Very odd unless we had a few over achievers and did not have a spawn the first year and they are slow growing cept for a few . They been in for two years
Any ideas as to what is going on?
Last edited by Pat Williamson; 01/08/16 03:14 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110 Likes: 478
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110 Likes: 478 |
Not catching larger ones may be due to one of several reasons. I am not an expert crappie angler. My first thought was the oldest, largest ones died of old age but since they are still relatively young (3-4 yrs) old, age factor is not likely. Fast growing crappie will not live as long and die earlier as crappie that grow slower. Could be the younger more abundant BCP are getting to the bait before the older fewer numbers of "wiser" larger crappie. Crappie may school somewhat by size group so you may not be fishing where the larger crappie are hanging out?
Last edited by Bill Cody; 01/08/16 03:45 PM.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 605 Likes: 13
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 605 Likes: 13 |
That's where I'm leaning schooling with similar sized adults. They also could be suspending in open water not near structure. Do you use a boat with any kind of sonar?
Forced to work born to Fish
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184
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OP
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184 |
Last winter you could catch them in shallow water and it was colder than this season. Now they not biting hardly and only right on the bottom in 10-12' water on structure also could troll and catch while paddling the boat. Water is 52 deg at 3' and vis is down to 12-18"
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1 |
Just a thought Pat. Last winter I expect they were a lot smaller, maybe the size you are catching now? FWIW in my experience around here, now that they are Big Boys and Girls, they may very well have moved to deep water. In the spring here, the big ones school up and move back into the shallower water for spawning.
Last edited by Bill D.; 01/08/16 04:54 PM.
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
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Joined: Aug 2014
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OP
Joined: Aug 2014
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Bill the only place I can catch them is out in deep water on the bottom, and I mean bottom and not moving at all.
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Joined: Oct 2014
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Joined: Oct 2014
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I'm siding with Bill C. and Snakebite then....I would keep trying different places, different baits and different depths. Have you tried small live minnows?
Last edited by Bill D.; 01/08/16 06:06 PM.
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
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Joined: Aug 2014
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Joined: Aug 2014
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Have tried different depths and baits to no avail. Haven't broken down and used live bait. LOL that's the next thing I'll try, up until lately I could catch them everywhere......
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