Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Show off your catch Who says LMB don't feed in the Fall?

This one ate a red treble hook with some weight wrapped around the shank as I was casting for Tilapia in the pond.





17.5", 4.24# WR 1.49 This was not one of the tagged feed trained LMB, but it was by the feeder....

Now that is an impressive LMB.

That's just wrong. I obviously don't have enough forage, because that's the fattest LMB I've ever seen.

Strong work.

Wow that's a pig now almost too bad he had to kill hisself with an eating disorder

Oh, don't worry. I'm sure that there are fatter ones swimming in there! The pond rule is any LMB not tagged is removed, no matter how small or large.

I asked a friend if he wanted some Tilapia from the pond. He said yes, and he doesn't know that this one is in with them. I gave him a bucket of fish covered with ice and I don't think he's made it home yet.

You shoulda jammed a huge talapia in it's gullet just too mess with him lol

esshup, great fish and rw!!! any guess on the age?

also any idea of water temp?
are you still feeding them with the feeder?

That thing is off the chart awesome!

LMB typically put on a feeding binge in the fall (water temps 50-65 F) depending on local adaptation. Still recovering from the spawn and trying to fatten up so as not to starve over winter.

Nice fish ! ! May look like this by next year.

Ewest, how big is that bass?

Regarding the original post, that fish is awesome. I haven't read much about it, but I would think that bass in a lake would benefit greatly by hanging out at a feeder and taking out the bluegill/tilapia/shiners when they are vulnerable. Wouldn't you expect that hunting success rate would go up and energy expenditure down?

149 Wr is a great number. Great job!!

Thanks for info ewest!

Not to get off track but I got to wondering how active LMB were in the 50-55F water temp. Specifically when Moz. tilapia die. I knew they ate tilapia when they got "sluggish" but wasnt sure how active bass were the actual die off at lower temps. I have some Floridas tho they may not as feed much at 50F?

And another great fish! the condition on both fish makes me drool! I found that pic just two days ago reading old posts.

Not weighed but the fisherman (a cousin) says 9 lbs and I think that is a good estimate at 4 yrs old.

Tilapia dying from cold in winter followed by RT dying in summer are both big plus events for LMB feeding. Lots of food value with very little expended energy.

Your saying LMB will eat the dead fish?

Fresh dead, I think so. I've caught LMB on cut bait fished on the bottom for CC at night.

The fish was removed from the pond because it didn't have a floy tag. I stocked 39 tagged, feed trained LMB early last summer that were 2 years old when stocked. If I don't stay on top of the LMB population, it'll eat itself out of house and home. The BG population in the pond is a little thin as it is, and I need to give them all the help that I can.

I looked for a imperfection that meant that the tag fell out, but didn't see one. I had stocked 4 feed trained LMB the year previous, at 10", and had subsequently caught 2 of them and tagged them. For the amount of food that it looked like it was eating (either live or pellets) I doubt that it would be one of those, as they were 10"-12" when stocked 2 1/2 years ago.

Water temp has climbed back up into the low 60's with the daytime temps in the high 70's.

I removed 3 smaller (8") LMB this evening when fishing with a 3" paddle tail minnow.

Yes, I'm still feeding, and will continue to do so all winter. I stocked 50 Golden Rainbow Trout and some of them are hitting the pellets.

TUNA!!!

I have caught more LMB using frozen smelt during ice out than catfish.

That is one nice fish there, wonder how many Tilapia it had eaten this year?

Scott, that sucker is obscenely fat. I generally think of the term Large Mouth Bass as the relationship of the mouth to the rest of the fish.

Sweet, Nice Fish. Congrats.

Those two LMB are a testament to the fishery management skills of their owners...really amazing Scott and Eric - you make us all proud!

I can say that I got a lot of help along the way. No one does this without help.

I couldn't have done it without my PB friends! Old wives tales are hard to debunk, but when people listen, they are suprised a few years down the road by the results.

You guys are way too modest - keep growing those green assassins and show us the way!

Sweet fish!