Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Fishing 2015

Truly amazing fish, TJ! Well done on all counts!

This cold front has really slowed down my RES fishing.

TJ, female?

Finally got a break in the weather this morning and didn't rain until this afternoon...
Here's a few pics of many we caught but have to go to fly fishng topic for the winner - all were caught on the fly.
You'll have to wait about ten days 'til the full moon to see them in full spawning colors..

I hear ya Shorty,

30 to 40 MPH winds here and supposed to drop below freezing next few nights. Not even going to consider fishing until next week.

Bill i told ya to move down here where it's warm, 80s day and 70s at night! Come on down we got room fer ya

Geo1
Those are beautiful CNBG!

I'm curious what TJ thinks also. Based on opercular border,(orange) I would guess female.

Awesome fish George! Even though those CNBG foil my efforts to sex them everytime, I'm going to put it out there again...

First BG photo....female.

Second BG photo....this one is confusing to me... chest coloration, round body dynamic, and I THINK I see scale tipping? That small opercular throws me though.... immature male?

Third BG photo....male.

Fourth BG photo....male.

How did I do?

Steve and Tony, that's my WAG too, simply based on color of margin on tab. I seem to remember a RES with a thicker, deep red border Steve posted recently which seems to be the only Male I would be confident in.

GEO posted some dandy CNBG right there...gives us a standard against which we can measure our progress. I am very happy with the exposure the "other" species seem to getting on the forum. I admire a monster LMB, but these fringe species are finally getting their recognition. Love the trend - it's good for our overall education.

Tony, I think "she's" a female - looks like full of eggs and a male that size would be obvious - I think...

They will be in full spawning colors in a couple of weeks.
Thanks!

Thanks George...the opercular and swollen abdomen do look female. I guess it's time to throw scale-tipping out as a reliable indication of male, at least on CNBG.

IMO the amount of scale tipping in the 2nd BG picture is not enough to think this fish a male. There will be some natural variability of body markings in each population. Remember one has to look at each fish in relation to many of the other available fish in the same pond. Also do not use one body feature to separate male and female BG. A combination of body features have to be compared to other siblings in the same pond and not use individual generalized features presented in a magazine. The generalized features are just suggested key body characters to use for comparing or separating individual fish in each water body. There is too much natural variation of body coloration and patterns in each population to apply 'cast in stone' book guidelines for sexing fish using external body characters.

George does grow some nice fish that would thrill any fly rod angler.

I agree Bill, just trying to get a handle on these CNBG, especially in regards to this thread:

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=391707&page=1

1st RES over 10".

Nice! You gotta love it

Well done Steve - you are on a RES tear lately!

I think I have figured out the cool water pre-spawn RES bite. I have caught somewhere around 150 RES in the last 5 weeks with water temps mostly in the mid to upper 50's, lower 60's at best. Almost all of them have been caught in 2-3 ft of water. I also think I have figured out how to sex them as well outside of the spawn.

Well done Shorty!

Couple more nice fish taken with Al's ice rig, teardrop and waxie

I'm guessing this is a pure BRES - if so, it's a pond record. Feedback?




Belt buckle Gill that is destined for my trophy pond this Summer

Very nice TJ!

caught this snapper out of my pond last night , Pretty excited! Sorry, I am never prepaired to measure them. I'll work on that.

One question Bobby , did ya eat it or turn him loose?

TJ, I agree on the BRES. Very nice fish, and that BG is stellar.

That is SO cool....

Tony, you give me a high standard to pursue on those hybrids...finally seeing some nice fish, though.

catch and release only.