Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking IDing juvenile fish

Juvenile Bass: Once large & smallmouth bass get 1.7-2", in addition to the horizontal dark band, they also have a vertical darkish band at the end of the tail. This is readily apparent as the fish swims parallel to shore. This dark band is often easier to see than the horizontal one and tends to persist even on bass 14"-15" long. This dark tail band is easily visible in most waters esp with darkish bottoms or clearish water. The dark band is not so prevalant in muddy or light colored waters.

B.Morris: To better see these small fish, you can set a minnow/fish trap(WalMart $8-$9) parallel to shore baited with bread or fish food. Best to spray paint trap a dark or dull color; shiny often tends to scare/alarm fish from traps. Bgills are easy to catch in a trap bass tend to avoid most but not all traps. If you cannot catch any of these fish in your drab colored trap they are very probably bass. Once you get these 2" fish in hand you should be able to easily recognize bass from sunfish/bgill. You can also catch most 2" game fish on a number 12, 14, or 16 hook baited with a small bit of worm & no weight with maybe an ice fishing bobber or round toothpick as a bobber, rubber banded to your 2-4 lb test line. . Just have to think small.
If you have minnows in the trap, not to worry the bass will eliminate them in pretty short order; it won't make any difference what kind they are unless they are carp which can grow too big for bass to eat.

FYI to All: Small 1"-3" gamefish are NOT minnows; they are called fingerlings of which ever parent fish they were spawned; for example fingerling bass, fingerling catfish, fingerling walleye, fingerling bluegill. Minnows are a separate type (family) of fish that belong to the minnow/shiner/chub/dace/carp family suchas FAThead minnow (not flathead), golden shiner, emerald shiner, redbelly dace.