Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations TGG Update: June

Growth: 8 inch TGG are now the norm. The growth rate for this period has slowed somewhat and approximates that of the baseline rate for Texas BG .012 IPD (inches per day). The cumulative TGG growth rate is now .02 IPD.

Aggressiveness: The June ten cast results were CNBG 50, native BG 35, and TGG 25. The fly(s)was a tandem "pop and drop" Miss Prissy and zug bug(my personal favorite for large CNBG). The trend continues toward TGG preference for minnow imitations, not insect.

Sustainability: After many repeated traping attempts, one single F2 was finally trapped and transported to the micro-pond. As an added bonus, this update includes a picture of the HSB predators which are now 9 inches and apparently doing quite well.

Pictures and data can be viewed at my home page on the following link:

http://www.meadowlarkponds.com/TGG.htm

Comments and questions welcome.

ML, the fish on the upperside of the tape measure for your June '06 pics looks like it may go over 8", maybe 9".

Glad it's working out for you.

These pics show some more of that (T)GG variation in appearance, but they all look in good shape.

coolbeans

ML, thanks for the updates, and thorough info. When I finally get my 1/4 acre pond dug, I was plannin on HSB, SM, BG, RE, FH and GS. After seein yer results, I'm going ta reconsider the reg BG. Bob-O

ML :

Good work . The GGs on the June pic look a lot like some HBG I have seen. The banding pattern is a little different but from the pic it otherwise looks quite similar.

Sunil,

You are correct, it is a little larger than 8 but the other one is just barely 8. It should average out. My measurements aren't the most precise, especially on weight. I need to find some small fish scales, rather than this Berkely digital. It just does not have enough granularity

ML, here's my fear with GG posts. Since it's your thread, I'll give you first shot at replying to Bob-O's post about not stocking BG in his pond.

It has been pointed out to me that the HSB picture from the TGG pond isn't viewable on the website...it looks great on my screen but does not show on other screens.

Sorry,I'm still trying to learn html and obviously making mistakes. So, the picture below is provided so you can view that HSB. It was stocked as 4 to 5 inch along with the GG's in Dec. The TGG were and are the target fish of this experiment and I had no expectations of the HSB....only that they survive and perform their magic on the Fx offspring. I was surprised to see a 9 inch fish at this point. In my experience with HSB, which granted is limited to 4 years, this is a good growth rate. It also offers some degree of hope that these once small HSB could be transported to a large pond to become a full grown predator. It also begs the question as to what happens down the road when/if they outgrow the small pond. Replace them with more 4 to 5's, let them continue as is, or other? We will see.



p.s. the HSB should be visible now at the website, unless I messed up again. Thanks.

http://www.meadowlarkponds.com/TGG.htm

Yup. Thar she blows!

Wow! Will either of those fish survive a Missouri winter especialy the TGG that guy is a monster. That is if and when I get my pond fish friendly

So far happy for ya. I have not seen anything I would not have expected. What I want to see is the results of how many F2's, and if HSB alone can control the population once spawning does occur more frequently. Especially year 2-3. Keep us posted and thanks for doing this experiment in such a controlled manner. thanks

Greg,

Thanks for your observation. As I mentioned previously, only trapped 1 F2 thus far and I am trapping now every weekend 24 hours a day. I am really interested in the same thing relative to controls....but am concerned about the growth rate of the HSB...will they get too large to perform the control in a pond this small and shallow? Will they die out as the temps really get going in the next two months?

That's why this is an experiment.

p.s. Greg I'm installing your feeder(thanks) on the experimental pond today. With it, I can feed very small amounts multiple times per day and I'd like to try that for awhile to see the effects.

Trialsguy,

Yes, the HSB certainly should survive your winters...in fact with their high sensitivity to temps above 80 degrees, one would think they would do much better in your area than here in Texas. I believe that we have seen posts from Indiana of GG's and know for sure that Bz in Minn. is doing an outstanding job with HBG. Check out this thread for his comments:

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=002902;p=2#000021