Has it really been 12+ years? I remember those days. Lots of changes have occurred since that time of bass, bluegills and channel cats. Anything else was arcane heresy.

George, here's a trip down memory lane for you.

I attended a TAMU pond conference somewhere below Austin about that time. There was a guy there who raised HSB for consumption to the Asian market. He told me that they were fine for public lakes but were not suitable for ponds. He wouldn't sell me any fingerlings or even any up to 12 inches. BTW, TP&W agreed with him.

I read an article from a biologist who said that tilapia would be the ideal forage fish for ponds. I posted something about it on the original PB site and it was challenged immediately by a TP&W guy who used to post here. The thought was that their fecundity would create a biomass problem. Then I asked a well known TAMU Professor who reminded me of the XMAS movie about the kid who wanted a BBG gun. He told me "You'll shoot your eye out boy". I mentioned it to Meadowlark who has tried to stock everything but great white sharks. He tried them, then George tried them, and after a couple of years others dipped their toes in the water. Now they are an often used tool. But, due to my varying water level, it took me quite awhile to get around to trying them.

George, do you remember the days when BG were not considered a sport fish? The thought was that they would top out somewhere around 8 to 9 inches. You, Meadowlark and I had already grown some that hit 11 inches but not a lot of people really believed us.

Dave Willis was some college professor who wrote textbooks who impressed us by saying "We really don't know yet.".

Cecil was growing huge trout but I couldn't figure out why.

There is one thing that hasn't changed since the pioneer days. When Bill Cody said something everybody else shut up. My buddy, Slick Willie Cody, has been a legend for a long time.

Yeah, there have been quite a few changes.

Last edited by Dave Davidson1; 01/17/15 05:29 AM.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP Grandpa