Imlay City Fish Farm (Imlay City Michigan) claims to be selling redear sunfish. Has anyone ever bought any of these or ask them where they get them as raised in-house or from another fish farm such as in Arkansas? 3"-4" and 5"-6". It would be very interesting if these fish were pumpkinseeds.
Thanks for that link Bill. I checked the road time from there to my door, and it's about 2 and half hours. At Stoney Creek hatchery , they put the fish in oxygen infused bags and they do just fine for the one hour drive back home. Even in the warmer weather they survive a one hour ride with no casualties.
I'll first try calling Stoney Creek to see if they can get some for me as they are only an hour away.
The biologist there told be that some people from the upper peninsula came down for some trout and those trout survived an 8 hour ride back in the same type of O2 infused bags in 5 gallon buckets. It was early spring so the temps helped for that long of a trip without aerators. I would think that a 2 and half hour trip, the the RES would be fine if done early in the year when spring temps make transporting less stressful. As well, bring more buckets and have less of them put in each.
I'd like to get about 25 to start and see how they do. How prolific are they? Is there a chance they could overpopulate the pond? How will the other fish do with the introduction of 25 of these? Can someone give me the possible downside to introducing them.
I do like the idea of interrupting the black grub disease at it's source and would not like to see the perch get peppered with them as I've seen in some ponds and even in some shallower lakes. The two I had on the perch the other day were the first I've seen on any fish in the pond. Getting ahead of what could be a problem seems like the right thing to do.
The pond is .6 acre and has about 200 to 300 HBG, and about 200 YP, and have no idea how many bass, but the eagles and owls like them, a boy scout caught one and released it that was just shy of 23 inches and weighed 7 lbs on an old de-liar. I did not see that fish but was told about it from the prior owner of the property. I've caught a few different year classes of LMB, and the largest I've caught was 18", but I was fishing for the HBG when I caught it.
I noted that their prices at Imlay city on HBG and YP are the same pricing at Stoney Creek hatchery, so they may have the same supplier.
I'll make some calls and post the results. Thanks again.
Duct taped one feeder that had a leak allowing some rain water to seep into feed. Not a sexy fix, but important. HSB still feeding really well, I suspect rainbow trout are too. No sign of CNBG near feeders or shallows.
Heard but didn't see a bald eagle, good to know they are hanging around. A few stupid cormorants were looking for dinner.
My new pond is completely full and starting to overflow out the pipe in just under a year, although one of the wettest years we've had in a long time, I found the ice to be thick enough to walk on comfortably, so I took a chainsaw and cleared and piled up a bunch of smaller trees and brush along some of the edges where it filled up and flooded them before I could get them cleared, thought I would have more time but the pond filled up fast, 30 ft deep in a small area but pro 5 acres of 25 ft of depth. Also cut down several trees about 6" in dia about 18" above the water about 20ft from shore to use to fasten my base down on for my wood duck houses, purchased 2 of the pre-made houses that several on here appeared to have luck with and then built two more out of scrap 10" pvc pipe I had laying around. gonna see how they work, wish I had them completed as its still hard enough to go out and install them this morning but don't have the posts and bases welded together yet, and it will probably be too soft after today, will have to install them out of the boat, does anyone know when they need to be out by here in central MO? I know the geese are flying north fast these last few weeks, TIA
All the really good ideas I've ever had came to me while I was milking a cow.
Can some of you farmers tell me how much one of these should cost? I'm thinking bout a spring project. Cabin fever has me wanting to be outside. And it hasnt even been a bad winter.
I will walk the ponds edge most every time I am at the pond while looking for Otter and or Beaver signs. I watched the Osprey circle above the pond then looked away only to see when looking back he was flying off with another Bg or res in the 5 to 6" range. I also had my first sighting of a Cormorant on the pond this year. He was lucky he left before I was able to set up my Cormorant deterrent. As I walked the shoreline I flipped a jig with crawfish trailer. I stuck one that straightened out the hook on this 1/4" jig. I was shocked when she got off and I learned she had bent the hook. I think it's a big deal when a lmb bends a jig hook. She hit it pretty hard but was on for only a few seconds before straightening the hook.
Last edited by TGW1; 02/17/2008:12 AM.
Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.
Pat, THATS FUNNY but true. I was using a Ducket Cranking rod that is pretty limber. When using braded line with no streach it makes a good combo. But you are right about I should have backed off the drag some more.
Last edited by TGW1; 02/17/2008:43 AM.
Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.
Zep, I am sure you are please to find the dead otter. My experience tells me there is most likely another close by. I hope that's not the case for you. And cormorants, I hate those darn birds. They can really reduce fish numbers too. I saw that first hand ! Rumors are TP&W brought some otters in a few years back, I'm not sure why. I would hope there was a good reason for that if that's the case.
Last edited by TGW1; 02/17/2003:23 PM.
Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.
Since the last 15 days have been exceptionally hot to be February (today it was 66 °F at 2 pm) I decided to put the feeder back and try to fish some LMB. The water is still quite cold (about 50° F on the surface) and I had to make many launches and probe several spots without success, but then in the middle of some branches in the water I felt a very light, almost imperceptible bite and it came out this beautiful fish. Can you tell me, just looking at the photo of the urogenital area, if it is male or female? I would say female, but only because the belly seems full of eggs.
My experience tells me there is most likely another close by.
I agree Tracy....traps are re-set!
Originally Posted By: TGW1
Rumors are TP&W brought some otters in a few years back. I would hope there was a good reason for that if that's the case.
Not sure, but I wouldn't doubt it, they did in Nebraska...but most people see them as cute little happy animals...heck I did too until they started destroying my fish population. I'm just happy we can legally trap/shoot/kill those "cuties" no matter what PETA thinks!
55 BH in the traps Sunday. 98 today. 88 in one trap next to brush along the dam. Three traps are set there now. The fish truck is coming Thursday so I'll be adding LMB to snack on the thousands of BH that will surely hatch this year. Yes, there are some LMB that washed in with the BH but I dont think there are very many. Not enough to slow down the BH I know! Threw a cast net also Sunday and only caught GSH.
How are you going to know unless you try!
NW TX 2ac main pond fed from 1100ac watershed going through 2 2+ac sediment ponds. 1st filled 10/2018 900BG, 200RES, 200HBG, 100CC and 23# FHM...."Free" BH, GSF GSH, LMB & ??? 75LMB 3/2020 I subscribe!
Duck tape worked, no more leaks into my feeder! Not a permanent fix, but if it lasts this season I'd be delighted.
My bride & I put out 150 lb of AquaMax MVP in three feeders -- they finally had some at feed store. Dock feeder still has some eager biters, but other two are fairly quiet. Still no sign of CNBG, it's all LMB, RBT, and HSB.
Saw eagle, couple of ducks, and four blasted cormorants.
Frank, my cnbg have feed fairly aggressively daily this winter. Most likely due to a mild winter other than for maybe a two week period during Feb. Every pond/lake is different. Do you think all the predictors are having an effect on your cnbg feeding at the feeders? Or did you stop feeding and they have not come back to feeding station at this time? And Blasted cormorants, that's what I would do!
Zep, opps that's a beaver my bad
Last edited by TGW1; 02/18/2008:36 AM.
Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.
