Hello Pond Boss Family it's been a while. Sorry been busy with life and such and have not had a lot of time as of late. I wanted to show of this HSB I caught this weekend though it's the biggest fish out of my pond to date. 8 pounds 24 inches. A few fun facts.
1. Caught her on a 3 inche bluegill. 2. She did have eggs her! 3. This is my first gen fish put in pond in 2012.
Man did she put up a fight wow!! It was a good thing I had my actual bass fishing equipment or I may have been in trouble with this one!! Anyhow thought I would share the pic. Hope everyone is doing well!!
Last edited by RC51; 04/08/1909:10 AM.
The only difference between a rut and a Grave is the depth. So get up get out of that rut and get moving!! Time to work!!
Nice fish! I�d sure like to know what my HSB look like. Ha! Someday I�ll catch one.
12 yr old pond, 1 ac, 15' deep. RES, YP, GS, FHM (no longer), HBG (decreasing), SMB, and HSB (only two have been seen in 5 yrs) I think that's about all I should put in my little pond. Otter attack in 2023.
Nothing like seeing your bobber bobbing. 1 acre pond with LMB BG GSF BH CC and whatever else I can find Not after trophies I just like catching and eating fish Buddy R Hill
Thanks everyone I fear i put a few to many of them in my pond as some of my LMB are starting to suffer. I am seeing a little more big head small body out of my bigger LMB so I fear my HSB are winning the battle. So I am starting to keep everyone I catch now and put in the freezer!! Flame I have the same issue with my LMB sometimes they can be hard to catch for sure. I put a live BG on my hook one day after Dave Davidson told me to try it with a bobber about 2 feet up from the hook and I caught a LMB in like 5 minutes. One thing I have noticed is that these fish see and eat a certain bait day after day after day after day and if you can mimic that or use the real thing your fishing will be much better that's for sure! I also have good luck with the Senko for my LMB.
Last edited by RC51; 04/09/1908:39 AM.
The only difference between a rut and a Grave is the depth. So get up get out of that rut and get moving!! Time to work!!
Consider culling the underperforming LMB, too. They won't really ever catch up to where they should be. Better to take them out in hopes the younger ones will have a better shot.
Consider culling the underperforming LMB, too. They won't really ever catch up to where they should be. Better to take them out in hopes the younger ones will have a better shot.
Agreed, Bocomo - and start working on your forage base by increasing dense, shallow cover for BG recruitment.
That HSB is looking good, 104 WR. Good work and congrats.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
I don't know about tearing up the gear. A guy caught a near 60 pound striper in the White River near here on 12 pound test, and I believe, a Zebco 33 reel. The river was low that day, and the fish was confined to a single long pool without major obstructions or snags, below the Beaver Reservoir dam.
Thanks guys and Bocomo I am starting to keep them bass out as well as you suggested. I already see small 4 inch bass in my pond so I know I have new ones coming up as well. It's hard to keep the 4 pound LMB tho and not throw him back, but I've come to the conclusion I am going to have to so I can get back on track. I do have a couple of areas that could use more cover I will be looking into that as well.
Anthropic your HSB will be great!! What I can say is this. When they were smaller like 15 inches I could catch them on beetle spins and small meps, but now nothing seems to work but the real deal bluegill. Either way when they hook up it's a BLAST!!!
RC
The only difference between a rut and a Grave is the depth. So get up get out of that rut and get moving!! Time to work!!
RC....how do you rig up the live bluegill and what size hook (and style of hook) are you using? I am guessing something that gives the BG the ability to swim around a lot. I would be interested to know. Sounds kind of like fishing with shiners on a bobber in Florida (from what i have read). thanks. BM61.
Thanks guys and Bocomo I am starting to keep them bass out as well as you suggested. I already see small 4 inch bass in my pond so I know I have new ones coming up as well. It's hard to keep the 4 pound LMB tho and not throw him back, but I've come to the conclusion I am going to have to so I can get back on track.
Man, I hear you on this one. Taking out the skinny big ones is one of the hardest things I've had to do at my pond. I really have to grit my teeth and close my eyes before I toss them behind the dam.
RC....how do you rig up the live bluegill and what size hook (and style of hook) are you using? I am guessing something that gives the BG the ability to swim around a lot. I would be interested to know. Sounds kind of like fishing with shiners on a bobber in Florida (from what i have read). thanks. BM61.
I'm not RC but I fish like this a lot. I use a circle hook under the dorsal fin or up through the jaw. No weight, no bobber. If you haven't used circle hooks before, check out a Youtube video on them before you head out -- you have to resist the urge to set the hook. Just let them run and let the line tighten.
RC's dandy HSB of 24" was stocked in 2012 which makes it 7 yrs old going on 8 years old in 2019. Keep us advised as the the growing of your hybrid striped bass. Here is RC's great bit of wisdom for catching any fish ""One thing I have noticed is that these fish see and eat a certain bait (type of food) day after day after day after day and if you can mimic that or use the real thing your fishing will be much better that's for sure!""
Last edited by Bill Cody; 04/11/1911:09 AM.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
RC....how do you rig up the live bluegill and what size hook (and style of hook) are you using? I am guessing something that gives the BG the ability to swim around a lot. I would be interested to know. Sounds kind of like fishing with shiners on a bobber in Florida (from what i have read). thanks. BM61.
I'm not RC but I fish like this a lot. I use a circle hook under the dorsal fin or up through the jaw. No weight, no bobber. If you haven't used circle hooks before, check out a Youtube video on them before you head out -- you have to resist the urge to set the hook. Just let them run and let the line tighten.
Excellent advice - especially when live bait fishing for your pond trophies. I�ve witnessed too many gut hooked monsters live lining nose hooked GSH or BG. Yes, some of them were my fault!
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
Yup that's exactly how I rig mine!! I sometimes use a bobber but a lot of times just chunk the bluegill out and kinda keep a very little tight line on him so you can see him kinda struggle and the fish cant resist. lol I always keep my button pressed as well so when the fish does take it he can go, go, go, I count to about 5 and set the hook. In my pond being only an acre I cant let them run to long lol or they will be all up into something. Good luck guys. I'll be trying again this weekend I'll let you know if I get anymore!
RC
Last edited by RC51; 04/12/1909:06 AM.
The only difference between a rut and a Grave is the depth. So get up get out of that rut and get moving!! Time to work!!
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