Saw something new today while mowing around the pond - (numerically) small, medium, and large schools of fry at and near shore, doing that neat swirling around in a mass to confuse predators thing (as seen on TV!). They looked to be about 1/2" to perhaps 3/4" long, too small for me to positively ID from as close as they would let me get.

I believe they were also out in deeper water because of the vibration-like surface disturbances that occasionally occurred out in the middle of the pond. I think they were LMB fry, as I have watched BG fry for 3 years now and have not seen this behavior; last year was our first LMB spawn and I could certainly have missed it once. I am pretty sure they were Centrarchidae from the body shape/fin layout. Anybody have a good idea?

I may have to tape an aquarium net to a broom handle and try to catch a couple to get a closer look. But it was a really neat sight and caused me to stop the tractor for about 10 minutes and gawk.

"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever."
-S. M. Stirling
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