Well, I've been continuing to fish my UL gear and catching as many small LMB as I can. My fishing buddies are also helping out. We figure we've harvested about 12lbs so far.
We're not really weighing and measuring like I know were supposed to but we email each other with the reports and we've taken out about 15 fish in the last 10 days.
Some have been "released in the grease" as they say and others have been given new homes in the creek on the other side of our dam - it's the same water.
We're going to keep it up until we can get about 50 LMB or about 40 pounds harvested. We didn't really harvest anything last year though we knew we probably should. So, we think we're playing catch-up on our harvest (though any pond expert will probably tell us that we really aren't). We've all just been so busy this summer that we haven't put in the efforts we should have.
If you're too scared to throw that bait where the fish are, why did you tie it on?
My Lady is the Champ! Caught, faught and landed the largest HSB from our pond to date. A feeble attempt on my wobbly legs on a slippery bank resulted in a quick release when the boga kissed it’s lips.
I know - without documentation it’s only a fish story, but if you want to see the picture look inside my head. Mrs. G’s 7-8lb class Hybrid Striped Bass on a 6 wt fly rod is a special memory for us!
Several 3-4lb HSB and a few nice bull CNBG caught . This RES was my booby prize for a nice fly fishing day on the pond.
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
Nice fish George - both the one in the pic and the one in your head. It does not matter what others think - the truth always sets you free. You and Mrs. G know what happened and that is what counts.
Nice fish George - both the one in the pic and the one in your head. It does not matter what others think - the truth always sets you free. You and Mrs. G know what happened and that is what counts.
I really felt bad about losing her fish amd still do. It's double tough thinking about it but I am facing reality that I can't continue to do things I have taken for granted for so long. Water level is down about three feet and slick banks after a rain are not for the faint of heart! Positive note - lots of fat fish!
Thanks to all for continuing support!
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
George - you must be kidding ! " I am facing reality that I can't continue to do things I have taken for granted for so long."
Not even a 25 year old athlete can go down a muddy inclined clay bank with a boga and get a big HSB without getting wet and muddy (usually on ones backside).
Those kings were in the river 1-2 weeks - most of what we caught and saw were darker than what was caught in the previous two years at the same time. They still fought like heck, and were more than 1/2 full of eggs. The week prior - we had gotten 4" of rain and all the rivers were up and unfishable for a week or more - and I think some of them had been in the creek a while. They still took egg imitations - and we landed about a dozen and all but one were fair and square jaw hook ups.
Nice hybrids caught today on a swimbait. The air temp was about 63 in the afternoon and the hybrids were feeding heavily. Caught six in fifteen minutes before I had to leave.
Folks that don't have them - need them ... Will out fight any fish in the pond and make a LMB blush with shame. The best part is that they are easy to catch and don't easily get hook shy. (If they do, match the hatch with a AQMX pellet fly!)
Son Jeff will begin hand feeding AQMX Largemouth next spring since now conveniently availble from Overton - he's had so much fun catching them this fall he has been converted from a lifelong LMB fan to a hardcore HSB believer!!!
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
Thanks! The first one was by far the largest and may have been my largest hybrid out of the pond so far. It was almost as tall as it was long but for some reason the pictures are elongated.
Kind of hard to believe that fishing 2010 is just about done!
Had a great day fishing on the ice today after Church. I guided 20 people on their own pond (which is intensively managed by herman brothers) and they caught a ton of fish.
I also took this video footage of the young ladies and lads learning the fundamentals of ice fishing. Was a busy, but very fun afternoon!