Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Sunfish-Including Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass One of those afternoons!

I wanted to post some pics of the BG I caught this afternoon. But first, a big thanks to everyone who contributes on the forum and in PB magazine! I decided that my goal was going to be to grow big BG. I have implemented the techniques I have learned here and seems like you folks know what you are talking about

First, some background on the pond. Finished in September 2008. Stocked fall 2008 with RES, BG and FHM. Many of the original stockers died within a few days. Discovered the following spring that the RES and BG really turned out to be HBG I transfered 200 4" - 5" BG from another pond nearby in June 2009 and Rex stocked some RES later in 2009. So, these fish were spawned in the pond sometime in 2009. Now, there may have been a few pure BG in the original fall 2008 stocking, but I am not optimistic about that.

There was a hatch of some sort of flying ants going on and I caught all of these on a fly rod. What a blast! The timing was perfect and it was just one of those times when the stars lined up.

I know you all like a good challenge too.

1. I am confident that 2 of these fish were part of the 200 I stocked from another pond. Any guesses which 2? Hint, they were stunted when I stocked them.

2. I think 1 of these fish is a hybrid. Any guesses?

I did catch a 10 1/2" male BG earlier in the day, but I did not have a camera with me I think that fish could have been the biggest BG I have ever caught. Not the longest, but the body condition was incredible!

Thanks again everyone! Enjoy .......

Scott, here is the photographic proof!

Second to last looks like an awesome female.. And the third to last has a humongous ear flap. Nice fish man..

Sweet fish!! I don't see anything that looks definitively like a HBG, but the 5th pic appears to lean mighty heavily to the RES side of things. Awesome condition on all of em'!! What are your water temps right now?
I caught an 18 oz gravid female HBG this afternoon, and my fish haven't been on the nest for weeks now. Surface temp down here is 70 degrees, just wondered what you folks further north were seeing.

Excellent catch!

I would say our temps are real close to that. I haven't checked them recently. I did catch a couple HBG this year, but I think they are few and far between now. Once I realized they were in the pond, I started taking them out.

Pretty looking sunfish, the 5th one is a hybrid the others look like pure BG. Nice and healthy...

I'm guessing 2 and 7 were the transfers.

Nice job guys! Yes, I believe 2 and 7 were the tranfers as well. 5 is a RES/BG hybrid.

The transfered fish did grow quickly, but the fish born in the pond are showing outstanding promise. In fact, their characteristics were the inspriration for the pond name. I have wanted to have a name for the pond for 3 years, but never thought of the perfect name. I think I finally have it.....

"Little Eye Lake"

What do you think?

Nice!

Now, you need to start eating a few. When you clean them, let us know how much fat you find in the body cavity. Some of them might suprise you.

That's whay feeding 100# of AM600 per month will do.

I caught a dz. BG out of my pond to take to my Aunt at the reunion. 2 of the females were full of eggs, although I didn't see any nesting activity.

George, take note - he was using a fly rod.