I want to address George's Grandpas's isolated pond fish story. I GSF and mudcats are very low DO tolerant. It is feasable when the ponds dried up there were one or two tiny isolated muddy wet areas that did not completely dry to the point of subsurface cracked dusty dirt. From a distance or maybe even a casual close up view the pond was "dried up". Eventual refilling with rain and watershed drainage revived these estivating fish.
Bill, this is a fun topic and the �natural� fish-stocking question will likely never be resolved.
It brings back memories of a young city boy, spending summers in the country, experiencing life the present generation will not understand. My most lasting memory is sloshing in the mud barefooted and stepping on a mud cat � ouch.
It may be difficult for many in other parts of the country to imagine what life was like to eke out an existence on a hard scrabble, dry land cotton patch with neighbors sometimes miles away.
Cotton was king and mules were essential livestock, in need of water from small tanks. The tanks were shallow and dug by a mule drawn �slip�, which was a simple flat scoop with a lever that one man could dump the dirt.
I recall watching one being dug � how did the fish arrive?
Interesting.
