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Bill D. Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: stickem'
Very nice, Bill.....she appears to be a healthy one. I think the last 16"er I caught was around 2 lbs. You throw her back?


Thanks Charlie,

I have to admit I was torn whether to keep or release. Then I remembered Bob L's comments on attributes of a "keeper," other than Rw, and she had them all in spades. I don't recall ever catching a fish as thick across the shoulders as this one. Sooo...she went back. I didn't calculate Rw but I have to believe she is OK in that category.


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Bill D. Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: Bob-O
Fish looks good!! Now the dude.......well, I'm feelin nice tonight so never mind.


I agree Bob. Shady looking character. I found him peeing behind the pump house and made him hold the fish while I snapped the pic! smile


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Bill D. Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: farmallsc
Way to go, Bill!


Thanks man! I'm looking forward to seeing pics of your fish in the future!


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That is a nice LMB coming off winter, I calculate RW at 105.52%. My LMB probably look like Bob-o in a speed-o.



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Originally Posted By: Bob-O
Fish looks good!! Now the dude.......well, I'm feelin nice tonight so never mind.

Good looking dude just coming off winter! My bad.... good looking fish I mean

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Bill, she was more than OK ! Glad to see u released her back in the pond. I would be willing to guess, she will just get better. Got a name for her, you should, it might be harder to see her over rice if she has a name lol


Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.


Tracy
Bill D. #467305 03/21/17 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted By: Ben Adducchio
That is a nice LMB coming off winter, I calculate RW at 105.52%. My LMB probably look like Bob-o in a speed-o.


Thanks for running the numbers Ben! Hopefully, your LMB have a little more fashion sense than Bob O! grin

Originally Posted By: Pat Williamson
Good looking dude just coming off winter! My bad.... good looking fish I mean


Pat, The fish is in way better shape than the old dude!

Originally Posted By: TGW1
Bill, she was more than OK ! Glad to see u released her back in the pond. I would be willing to guess, she will just get better. Got a name for her, you should, it might be harder to see her over rice if she has a name lol


Tracy,

Her name is Lucky Lucy. Lucky because I told my bride, Nattha, that the fish was “pregnant” or she just might have been dinner last night. Lucy's chances of survival will drop dramatically if Nattha catches her post spawn!

We know we need to harvest LMB this year. There are just too many Lucy's size and larger for my little puddle. Hopefully, even if we catch her later, by letting her spawn she can at least pass along her genetics.

Last edited by Bill D.; 03/21/17 07:35 PM.

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Bill D. #467322 03/21/17 10:02 PM
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Ben, your fish will never look so frightening. As for fashion sense, it's the lack of common sense that worries me.


Do nature a favor, spay/neuter your pets and any weird friends or relatives.
Bob-O #471258 05/04/17 09:50 PM
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Bill D. Offline OP
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Update....It has been a LONG spring for us battling the geese. Last year we had two pair and they and their goslings returned this year. I am learning the ropes on control slowly but surely. Loud noises are effective for one or two days. Most effective thing I've found is waiting until the adults and goslings are grazing far enough from the pond that I can sneak in on the JD X585 tractor between them and the pond and herd them all into the thickets. They HATE that! Opening and closing the FEL when chasing them seems to be a plus. I also installed 4 flashing amber lights today in an effort to annoy them if they sneak back after dark. Jury is out on the results.


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Bill D. #471723 05/11/17 07:43 PM
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Originally Posted By: Bill D.
Update.... I also installed 4 flashing amber lights today in an effort to annoy them if they sneak back after dark. Jury is out on the results.


Jury is still out on the flashing lights but we no longer wake up to geese on the pond that have sneaked in after dark. Maybe they are working. The lights I bought are solar powered and extremely well constructed. Maybe the cost of 4 lights for $185 delivered was worth it...still getting random geese dropping in during the day though. Must be last years goslings that are too young too nest.


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Bill D. #471938 05/15/17 08:39 PM
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Update...

Pros of the lights:

They are low profile and you barely even notice them around the pond in daylight.

Cons of the lights:

Although well constructed, they cannot hold up to a blast from a 410.

Don't ask me how I know but, I ordered a replacement light today! blush

Last edited by Bill D.; 05/15/17 08:42 PM.

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Bill D. #471942 05/15/17 09:12 PM
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Thanks for the update Bill. I have wondered how well they worked.


John

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Bill D. #471992 05/16/17 10:16 AM
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I need a 410. I can only imagine how that would feel, when you blasted that light though. Two years ago I tried to pull of a three point turn on the downslope to the pond, in wet grass, on my lawn tractor. The front wheels were In the water before I finally gave up and went for the UTV to pull it out. I guess I'm saying, if I had geese lights, I might know what it feels like to shoot one. wink


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RES, YP, GS, FHM (no longer), HBG (going away), SMB, and HSB (only one seen in 5 yrs) Restocked HSB (2020) Have seen one of these.
I think that's about all I should put in my little pond.
Otter attack in 2023
Bill D. #472123 05/17/17 09:04 PM
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Thanks for the feedback SG. Definitely not my finest hour! Shortly after I bagged the light from the deck with the 410 we got hit by a storm with 3/4 inch hail. All the lights worked when it got dark except my trophy. I walked down the next morning to retrieve my wounded goose warrior and found zero damage. Took it up to the house and cycled the switch in the closet and it started flashing! Good news is, a spare light is on the way for the next time I go light hunting! smile

Last edited by Bill D.; 05/17/17 09:10 PM.

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Bill D. #472141 05/18/17 04:56 AM
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Bill, that's the kind of dumb stunt that is a part of my life.


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
Bill D. #472234 05/18/17 08:38 PM
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Thanks for the input Dave. You have to admit though, it keeps life interesting! smile

I just read in a post that Catmando is working to perfect the art of fly fishing for snakes. Maybe I'll try that next! grin


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We have some friends coming to visit so my bride said we need to start harvest early this year so she can prepare one of her Thai recipes. Walking around the pond I can see way more LMB than I thought we have and 3 size classes so I didn't feel bad harvesting a gravid female.

The LMB weighed 2 lb 14 oz and was 16.5 inches.

The SMB was in what I consider poor condition which I attribute to something wrong with its lower jaw. Maybe GBH damage.

The PS (7 inch) got caught accidentally off his nest and was gut hooked. He is dead in the photo. His spawning colors were much more vibrant when first caught. I saw one PS male on the nest today that has red coloration mixed over his entire body...Beautiful!




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Update....I am extremely happy to report that I haven't seen a goose poop machine on the pond since my last post on this subject. I estimate my FA has been reduced by 80% compared to this time last year. Not saying the war is won but maybe I've actually won a battle against these critters! I'm hoping they have settled in to molt somewhere else and I can relax for 6 weeks or so.... smile


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Update to keep this thread current....I am now feeding 200% of what I was feeding before I started hydrating the Optimal BG chow. The fish finished in 3.5 minutes tonight. Lots of YP showing up now as well as more BG, and, of course, my 4 or 5 CC. Looks like I will need to bump the amount again. I only want to supplemental feed so I will work towards feeding what is consumed in 5 minutes once a day.

Thanks again guys for turning me on to the hydrating strategy. I swear I can actually see the fish growing every day!...I also hydrate the 3 mm Skretting I feed the tiny guys and they really appreciate it! (I think the little guys would actually prefer the Optimal BG Jr but there is no way I would feed 50 lbs in my small pond in a season. I sure hope they come out with smaller bags for us small pond owners!)

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Bill D. #480226 09/22/17 06:56 AM
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Finally had a chance to do a little fishing in the pond yesterday. I was very surprised when I caught a 6 to 7 inch CC, especially considering the number and variety of predators in our little puddle. I stocked a couple three years ago and the few originals are at least 6 pounds+. This spring I caught a 14 inch and now this little guy. I assume this means my CC have found suitable spawning habitat and actually managed to provide a small number of recruits. Would this 6 inch one be from this year's spawn or last year's? Anybody else have CC recruits in their small ponds?

Last edited by Bill D.; 09/22/17 07:00 AM.

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Bill D. #480245 09/22/17 11:32 AM
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Last years fry should be 6" right now I believe


Mat Peirce
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LMB, BG, YP, WE, HSB, RES, BCP
Matzilla #480297 09/23/17 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted By: Matzilla
Last years fry should be 6" right now I believe


Thanks for the input. I was thinking the 14 incher was a year old and the 6 incher was this year. I was under the impression that CC grow really fast but it sounds like that is not true?


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With feeding, they should be 12 to 14 inches in a year from spawn, from what I have researched. Even bigger is likely with satiation feeding. That six incher could be a stunted one from a late spawn last year, or a shooter from an early spawn this season. I had at least one go from a nine inch stocker in September of 2015 to a fat 22.5" five pounder when caught in June of this year. I don't know if I have recruits for sure or just a couple of really badly stunted ones. Have seen a couple approx. 13 inch CC this summer, actually caught one of them. I put four adult CC in the pond winter of '15-'16, all four albino.

Last edited by John Fitzgerald; 09/23/17 10:09 PM.
Bill D. #480460 09/27/17 10:34 AM
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Thanks for the input John. Sounds logical.


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TGW1 #480461 09/27/17 10:38 AM
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My bride caught this little gal this morning on a 3 inch BG for bait. 19.25 inch and 2 lb 7 oz. Very happy too see the WE are doing ok!


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