Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations 30 degrees and feeding-pix included

Iridescent BG - thanks saturation filter!

Yeah , you can tell by the color of my hand, the color of the bait in the fishes mouth, the color of the tape measure and all the other surrounding colors, that I really really saturated everything to the max in the photos and the fish are not really that color.

Ok you got me. My coppernose are really black. Solid black.
Where do I pay the fine to the color police?

You know I noticed something funny. My fish seem to change colors for one reason or another. It just seems like when the water was cooler earlier in the year, they looked less colorful. Maybe it's just my eyes playing tricks on me?
Or maybe I didn't saturate them enough to try to trick YOU.


Hmm, here's another one. Wow this is really mysterious.


Submitted for analysis by the color police, most notably , detective teehjaeh57

I would check my water temps, but don't want to chop through the ice to do so.

My trophy size bluegills are definitely lighter under the ice. When I catch or harvest them in the spring, they are a little darker with more color, but what I don't like is when I overdose them on an anesthetic (I sell them whole to other taxidermists) once they expire they turn really dark. Almost black.

The only time I've ever seen this is when I've caught bluegills in acidic New England water and they turn pitch black after being caught.

Allegedly fish that are stressed turn dark. But they don't do this in the winter whem they are caught.

Cecil, regarding the fish turning black, I wonder what would happen if you put them in a container, closed the lid and kept it dark for a few hours, then dosed them? Would they turn dark or would they stay lighter in color?

For the record, I enhance my fish photos using filters all the time to enhance colors, reduce shadows, focus on certain characteristics, and improve the experience for the viewer.

Regarding your response, no one is out to get you, and I'm sorry you apparently interpreted my post as such - certainly not my intent. Further, please bear in mind as a forum we're intolerant of toxicity - just isn't conducive to the vibe we promote on the forum. We have collectively invested years establishing and fostering that positive environment - it's important to preserve and protect. Please bear that in mind moving forward regarding civil discourse.

As always, thanks so much for sharing the photos of your fish.

When my YP/BG pond increased in tubidity due to crayfish activity, the became quite pale. They haven't returned to their full normal colors yet even though clarity has improved from 6" to probably 30" now. I'm assuming the muted colors is due to the reduced light penetration, I think I recall catching pale fish species in other turbid water before, but it's been a long time. Hopefully my cray trapping reduced density to the point I'll continue to witness improved clarity.

Good question. Going to have to do some experimenting.

I did have a prof at Lincoln University in Missouri tell me they dipped their pond fish in saltwater strength water, before adding them to heir indoor tanks, to kill external parasites, but didn't remove them until they turned white (I remove them when they turm on their sides).

Maybe salt is the answer?

Makes sense.

Another interesting thing I observed this year. Seined and placed some YOY bgs into one of the indoor tanks this year like I usually do. As is typical they became lighter over time. Then seined the pond about a month later and put more in. The second group that had been in the pond longer were noticably darker. What's interesting is they have still not lightened.

A good tan will last awhile. On good yrs my Florida tan will linger till my In tan kicks in.

Bob. I consider us friends. I humbly ask you honor my request. Please don't post picks of your tan lines in that new camo speedo!

Just my 1 cent....

+ Quintillion.....

I was thinking a calendar - something like "The Seasons O' Bob" - featuring playful, yet tasteful shots against natural backdrops. Tell me that wouldn't fetch a handsome bounty at the next Jesse West auction?

Regarding the speedo shots...no one can expect to control Bob's creative flow any more than one can control the tides - wherever he goes, he goes. Just be grateful to be part of the audience.

Something just broke in my mind....

There ya go Bob! Opportunity is knocking. Get busy on that calendar. You still got time to get a January pic of you on the beach with one of those hot babes with the big adams apple!

Hey, this is a family oriented site. We don't need a bunch of sex symbol models here.

I saw no uncivil discourse.

I saw no problem either. Sometimes folks just take things the wrong way. Happens all the time.

Nice fish man! Post more pics when ya get them!

Bob-O is the Robert Redford of the widows down in Florida.

Some think he is a slim version of George Clooney!

Bob I know you're here!