I didn't think the channel catfish would put a big dent in the forage base as far as the bluegill are concerned but you're probably right about it being better to wait. I caught four more sunfish today, all about the same size. One smaller one that looked like these but I didn't take a pic of but here's what I caught, I think they're all bluegill:
Does anyone have any tips on how to keep the fish from swallowing the bait? I was using a size 10 hook and fishing with a bobber and three of the four swallowed the hook. Obviously a bigger hook would keep them from swallowing it but I think they may just pick the bait off of it. These aren't really big enough to eat so I put them back, just hate killing something and it not going to good use. Hopefully they got picked off by some bass.
I also found out there's a second pond on the landlord's property. I'd seen it before but just assumed that by the way the fenceline ran that it was on someone else's property. I am going to ask him some more about it tonight. I am not good at judging size of lakes but guess it's maybe 1/4 acre? Here are a couple of pics I took of it from the road:
The first time I saw this was in the fall when we first looked at the place. The lake was about halfway empty but this pond was at almost the same level it is now. I guess there's a spring not too far above it because there was a little stream running into it then, too. He said that they transfered some carp from the lake to this pond when the lake was almost dry, didn't mention if there was anything else in there. I'm not sure how deep it is but it may be deep for it's size with the steep banks around it. That, with the stream, and the trees around it may keep it cool enough in the summer for trout but I'm not counting on it. If I'm lucky and it is, I'll probably use it to put maybe 15-20 in to grow out and put in the lake this fall. If not, I'm thinking of hybrid sunfish and a few channel cats in it for the daughter to fish for so I could focus on developing bass in the lake. Any other ideas?
