Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Nine Inch Fish

Why do I catch a lot of 9 inch YP and BC ice fishing year after year in Bremer Pond? Each year I think next year they will be the next size bigger, but not. What is happening to the 9 inchers from the year before, and why are there always that size?

Enough food to get to that size for them, but not enough to get bigger? Or not enough food OF the correct size for them to get bigger.

I think som e bodies of water can only produce fish up to a certain size. This can probably be attributed to several factors, especially in smaller rivers, lakes, or ponds where genetic diversity can be very limited as well as food sources.

I would guess lack of the right sized forage to get those fish bigger than 9".

A fish that survives past 9 inches in a pond with many large predators has learned to avoid anything that appears unusual.

Multiple light beams shooting through 20+ inches of ice would certainly look like something to avoid. This is especially true when they see their 9 inch friends and relatives sucked up through those light beams.

Dwight... THAT was funny!
Beam me up Scotty

Probably has something to do with the vortex.

Hey Rex, how are you doing? Last I remember, you were dealing with some crap. Funny now how we all talk about health, rather than chicks. What I would not do for a time machine.

Dwight something else to think about is that in your pond the big northern pikes rule the roost. At their current size they would rather eat 10 inch plus fish. They won't waste their time eating many smaller ones unless they have to or are presented with a no lose small dumb fish right in their grill.

You would have a heart attack if you knew how many big perch a big northern pike will munch on annually.

Nate, I imagine those big NP eat more than their share of LMB too. I think you have convinced me to remove those -+ 40 inch NP and put some smaller ones in. Of course it may not be possible to catch that 45 inch one that is wary of any and everything.

Dwight, have you tried fishing for the big NP with a 12" live sucker?

Thats the common bait around here for ice fishing. NP also like trout.

I got out on Bremer Pond today. All of my fishing budies had plans or were ill. Went by myself. Got stuck. Lost a rod an reel to some big fish, got it back later. Lots of action, but no giants. Dwight stopped by from 1900 hours until 2030 hours, he is not feeling well, but wanted to see what was happening and talk to his brother. Score 7 LMB, 17 Perch, 20+ crappie. A lot better than watching at NETFLIX
DVD.

Was the fish still on the rod & reel when you got it back?

Nope. Happy to get the equipment back though.