Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Fishing 2015

Good deal Al.
I will get with Todd next Fall about a few trout.


So Al are you thinking maybe trout are not that great as winter
forage, but more for the enjoyment of catching?

Zep -

Recommended trout stockings average 300 per acre, with the usual variables at play (water depth, water quality, water temperature, available food sources, etc.).

I don't put trout in to fish for them or dine on them, although I certainly do enjoy eating trout. Mine are for my LMB to gorge on.

Here are some links with information on trout stocking:

http://www.hyonahilltrout.com/faq.htm

http://aquaculture.ext.wvu.edu/r/download/45682

Maybe Cody will post a picture of a 10" LMB that we fed a 7 or 8" YP last year. Only the tail was visible.

Man Alive!!!!

I stand corrected!!

LOL NP. I wanted a snap of it but I didn't want to stress the bass any more. My mate across the pond was laughing he couldn't believe that bass hit that trout (because of the size closeness). I was mildly irked because it was my last 8" trout and I was targeting a 10lb bass but instead landed a 2.5lber.

Are you saying that the 12" LMB weighed in at 2.5 lbs??!!

That's massive.

There's an 8" trout in there, not fair!!

We'd have to know the RW of the trout and average them :P

Yes Sunil. Although the scale isn't certified so there is a + and - factor at play.

Many of the bass in the pond have RW off the charts. I landed a 23" LMB that weight 8.75lbs. According to many the standard weight for a 23" LMB is around 7lbs. These bass are fed six days a week on average 5 feedings per day. The pond is approximately 0.8acres with a max depth of 12' and average depth 7'.

So that 2.5 pound 12 inch bass has a Rw of over 310%. Did I calculate that right?

I thought I had some fatty LMB in my 1/4 acre neighborhood pond, and the biggest one I was tracking was 14" long and 1 lb. 14 oz.

Bill - picture a football shaped LMB. I mean seriously thick. When the line spooled off I was happy because I thought I had that 10lber on the other end of the line. Then the disappoint came when I saw the fish because I knew it wasn't 10lbs. Wasn't even close. And it took my last large trout! lol

That's awesome!

Mark, trout are a preferred LMB food, but they only give you 3 to 4 months of non-reproducible forage. I still think tilapia give you more bang for the buck. But, if you wanted them as bait only, then that might be worth a shot. And a fun shot at that.

We have enjoyed them solely as a winter fun fish, and had a blast catching and eating them. We still are, as they are still feeding and biting like crazy. I'm guessing about 8-10 more degrees (water temp) here where you and I are at, and they'll be toast.

Thanks Al.
I think I see the picture clearer now.
Trout are fun to catch in Texas winters.
Tilapia & Trout appear to be roughly in the same price range,
with the big exception the trout do not reproduce.

Where we are in GA we get 7-8 months of trout as forage fish. Oct-Apr/May pretty easy.

Mark, we've loved the trout. They feed on pellets, and blast the surface when they feed. We've caught them on Stubby Steves, Woolly Buggers, midges, you name it, they'll hit it. We'll definitely stock them again.

Basslover, as a bass lover, I would love to get that long out of the trout. That would really bring a lot of fun options into play around here. But, we have hot water, which really gives us a long growing season, but also limits a whole bunch of fish species.

Congrats on all the fatties, you're doing a great job.

Yo Pineapple, that's still a massive LMB and something of which to be dang proud. Well done - you don't post much about your neighborhood fishery. What else?

10 lb LMB in a .8 acre fishery is very noteworthy. I don't think I've ever heard of someone pushing the envelope that far before. Amazing.

There are multiple 10+ pounders in the pond. At least 6 from the pics (each obviously uniquely identifiable). I land 2-4 pounders every time I fish, and I often land 5-7 pounders (often meaning twice a month on average, fishing on average once per week). I've landed 3 LMB between 8-9 pounds.

The pond is quite unique. I wonder about the biomass. LOL

18 oz female northern strain. Not a giant, but encouraging for a beautiful, spring evening on the open water.

Nice looking gal. Is that a bit of concavity on her belly from a long winter? Or the fin just make it look that way?

Our youngest landed this LMB this morning early. His personal best at the age of 2 years. LMB took a 5" minnow tied to 6lb test on a light action rod. Was a heckuva battle for my boy.

Awesome.

TONIGHT'S DINNER!

Cat
What time is dinner? Mmm