HSB in Hot Summer Weather
Now that our ponds are �full and flushed� from the recent rains, and entering summer months, I believe it timely to �jump start� the thread about HSB mortality in summer temps.
Last week I fished our � acre un-aerated �forage/grow-out/HSB-CNBG� pond to catch and transfer 5, 10-12 inch HSB to main pond.
Surface water temperature was 85F.
In the process, I caught several ~3# HSB that have survived two record breaking hot/low water summers, and resuscitated in O2 live well, returning healthy fish to pond.
While sampling CNBG in main pond I �accidentally� caught 3, 4+# HSB, and after O2 resuscitation, successfully released healthy fish.
These fish were landed quickly with a 9wt striper fly rod with 14# leader, to avoid �fight to death� syndrome�.
I agree that HSB caught temps above 85F are at risk, but will continue to monitor their progress on an infrequent basis.
I will continue to leave the 3# class of HSB in � acre un-aerated pond to observe survival over the 3rd summer, and beyond if low mortality.
Two sources of information used are derived from Texas Fishing Forum, posted by ML, and Bruce Condello�s website.
Texas Fishing Forum
http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/1291106/page/2#Post1291106ot Summer Weather SB in Hot Summer Weather SB in Hot Summer Weather
#1291868 - 05/02/07 08:23 AM Re: Stocking White Bass [Re: johntvette]
Meadowlark Angler Registered: 11/04/04 Posts: 332 Loc: East Texas Offline
sealytexangler,The whites don't survive in my East Texas ponds. I've tried. You're probably familiar with hybrid striped bass(HSB), which is a cross between a white and striped bass. I tried them also, thinking I could find a better pond predator than the LMB. They didn't work out for me either. They(HSB) grew well up to about 4 pounds then didn't show much growth after that. A perplexing characteristic of the HSB is that in ponds in the summer months, the HSB suffer a very high angling mortality in fish above 3 or 4 pounds. Last summer, during the drought I lost some 4 pound plus class fish that just died in the ponds without angling. After that, I've abandoned my affair with HSB in ponds and go strictly with LMB as the primary predator. You can read about my experience at:
http://www.meadowlarkponds.com/HSB.htmIn addition to angling mortality, the HSB are voracious feeders requiring artificial feed to achieve high weight gains. I found that they are not very compatible with LMB in a pond because they take so much of the available forage to sustain themselves. Every pond is different and maybe one could be successful with Whites(or a better bet the HSB) in a pond, but they didn't work for me.
Bruce Copndello�s WebSite
http://www.bizfunctional.com/wipers/livestock/livestock.asp � Stocking rates can be as high as 100 lbs/acre-foot of water if ample aeration and fresh water is available. 500 fish per surface acre of water is an acceptable number as long as fish are periodically harvested to not exceed 100 lbs/acre-foot.
Wipers aggressively take feed and will grow rapidly! 2 pounds/yr growth rate is typical with a top end of 12-15 pounds. Larger wipers over 4 pounds prefer water temperatures of less than 82 degrees F. with dissolved oxygen levels of 4-8ppm. Shallow ponds in warm regions may need a cool water discharge during the heat of summer. Kids and adults enjoy watching wipers on a feeding frenzy. 500 fish will turn your pond into a froth during feeding time. High quality game fish chow from Purina is an excellent, economical choice.�
These are two opposing views from East Texas and Nebraska.
I continue optimistic and enthusiastic about the future of HSB in our N.E. Texas small ponds.
I am very familiar with hot E. Texas summers, but I will rely on Bruce�s comments pertaining to Nebraska summer heat.
As of now I believe water quality to be as much, or more a factor in HSB mortality as hot summer temps, but hopefully will be conclusive, moving in to our 5th year HSB experience.
George Glazener
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds
