Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Tagging Help Needed

I want advice on tagging guns, tags, etc to tag lergemouth bass and hybrids in my three acre pond. Whet brands have you had success with (or what brands to avoid). Also any tips or articles on techniques would be appreciated.

Thanks

Frank

Here's a good response on this subject by Fishman.

Author Topic: "Tagging" Bass?
Dobber
Lunker
Member # 171

Rate Member posted July 18, 2002 09:48 AM
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Has or does anyone "tag" the bass they catch? It seems like it would be a nice management tool. If so, what is a reliable way to do it? What kind of results have you noted?

(Double posted under "Questions & Observations")
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Posts: 21 | From: Loganville GA | Registered: Jun 2002 | IP: Logged

Fishman
Lunker
Member # 115

Member Rated:
posted July 18, 2002 02:55 PM
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For short-term stuff (a year or two) Floy tags work o.k. web page here I would have to ask why you would want to tag your fish. For fun or do you really want to find out something about the population? You could potentially tag the fish you catch, then estimate your total bass population size based on recaptures. However, this approach requires a lot of assumptions, perhaps the most important being "equal catchability". In other words, all bass in your pond must have an equal chance of biting your lure, or your estimate will be skewed.

If the same bass tended to bite your buzzbait your population estimate would be too low. You'd be recapturing the same fish over and over. If those bass that bit learned that the bait was not edible, then your population estimate would be too big. You'd rarely recapture a tagged fish and it would look like you had an endless supply of fish.

And furthermore, if you did get an accurate estimate of population size, what would you do with that information? You wouldn't be able to compare it to prey densities because you would have no information.

About the only thing you could do is compare growth of recaptured fish from the date of first capture to the date of second capture. There are easier and more consistent ways to obtain that information, in my opinion.

Not to rain on your parade or anything. Catching a tagged fish is fun. "Hey, I caught Bob again!" But I have my doubts as to its utility as a serious management tool for the private lakeowner.
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Posts: 115 | From: Waco, TX | Registered: May 2002 | IP: Logged


There are other posts on the subject you can find by clicking on search in the upper right corner of this screen. Also the link to Floy fish tags is in the original post but didn't copy over.

Frank, I have said this before, but many tag systems have came and went, but floy tag has been here for years. They are easy to use. I agree I do not put alot of sceince in results. However they can tell you about individual growth rates and are just plain fun. They are really only good on adult fish. They have cheap color tags, but the number tags are much more. They alos have several gun styles but I like the scissor grip myself.

Have tagged some bass . but my son & law caught one recently but we could not read it because of algie build up , could not scrape it off . any suggestions < Harvey

Harvey was this a floy tag? Usually I just wipe the outer layer off and can read for a few years.

Me too what is a floy tag we use animal ear tags steel last approx. 3 years up here monel up to 6 years. We tried the plastic dorsal tags from aquatic eco but could not get tool to work properly anyone know of a better one?

Hey guys.... I'm new to Pond ownership but when it comes to finding information on the Internet.... well what can I say.

Here is a link for information on Floy Tag:
http://www.halcyon.com/floytag/fish/floyfish.html

Happy New Year to all.... Going to our weekend getaway Sunday for New Years. Hope it's frozen over soon so we can ice skate.

Trava makes fun of me because I called LMB "big mouth bass" in the past. He still learning how to type on a computer.... LOL.

Greg-I got my gun and tags [ Fin Pals Fish Tagging System ] bought from Paul Dorsett at total lake management. The gun works great and bought the # tags . your right the'r not cheap . would clear water add to my problem . have not personally caught one of the tagged bass to see for myself . Harvey

Harvey not sure but glad you brought that up. I don't think they make Fin Pals anymore, so orer more tags if they sitll have some left. Floy tag has been here for years. I'm not familiar with the tag to see your problem.

Colored tags are cheap. I use them to tag new genetics. This way I know not to harvest a fish with a colored tag. It also gives me an idea of growth.
Three years ago, I stocked 30 new genetic bass weighing approximately 3/4 lb. I tagged them with yellow tags. Two weeks ago my 4 year old son caught a 6lb. bass with a yellow tag.