Originally Posted By: CJBS2003
He recently posted he's seen some sign of reproduction but he feels the verdict is still out on them. Hopefully he'll weigh in...


Sorry late to the party. Set some minnow traps early this Spring [March] and to my surprise discovered this:



Notice no blackstripe



I'm surmising this is the result of the HBC reproduction from Spring 2011. Fish was approx 3", apparently low WR, and in overall haggard condition. I wasn't happy to see the reproduction, but it's body condition gave me hope that the assertion that F2 were inferior was accurate.

I caught several HBC this Spring from around the dock fishing for BG - most fish ranged from 10 - 12", but Bruce indicated his Dad managed one estimated at 15", so I'm not unhappy with growth thus far.

This is what I know and/or hypothesize:

HBC grow fairly fast
HBC will reproduce
F2 fish - as evidenced a very small sample [1 fish], don't appear to be thriving, and MAY indeed be inferior.

Sorry I don't have anything more conclusive.

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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