Two days ago I culled 2 dozen BG, HBG, and GSF ranging from 5" to 8.5" from our 1/4 acre pond. They were taking a prince nymph with a spiral copper wire tag trailer, and a nondescript tan colored nymph. What a blast on a 3 wt fly rod. A down side of using a light leader for small flies is that when a sizable LMB grabs a hooked sunfish and nearly immediately snaps the 2 pound tippet, I get to lose the fly, the sunfish, and the LMB. Fortunately the couple of big trout wait for me to fillet the sunfish and toss the carcasses back to them. It is really amusing and exciting to see the 6 pound rainbow and the 5 pound tiger trout attack the sunfish remains as they slowly spiral down through the water column. The RNBT arrives at rocket speed similar to the take of a salt water wahoo. The TT swirls a time or two around the sinking sunfish then grabs it, shaking it apart as he spins round and round, reminiscent of a shark attack. Video certainly would be entertaining.
Went for a snorkel with my fish.. Made a video of it.
Now you’ve got me wondering if I have that many fish in my pond? Ha!
9 yr old pond, 1 ac, 15' deep. RES, YP, GS, FHM (no longer), HBG (going away), SMB, and HSB (only one seen in 5 yrs) Restocked HSB (2020) Have seen one of these. I think that's about all I should put in my little pond. Otter attack in 2023
My part of Misery finally got some decent rainfall earlier in the week. 4" on 7/3 and another 2.5" on 7/4. Pond level rose right at 2'. Another 3"-4" would have put it over the spillway. It's been a little over two years since it's been at full pool.
I've now got the newly stocked LMB (5-6") hitting feed, which was my goal with stocking them. These little guys made me so proud when one of them tried to take down a 1" Optimal Hand Throw pellet. Brought a tear to my eye....
I still haven't seen my one huge HSB (his name is Wally). However, my niece's boyfriend was fishing there and claimed a huge HSB hit a topwater plug, but got broken off. So there's hope, but Wally may be wearing a lure in his mouth.
Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:" "She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."
Sunil, Where do you get your SMB? Couldn't find them last year (failed spawns) and Zetts says they MAY have some end of July. Schultz has been trying but did not get enough this year to sell. I can't find any in NY.
Retired40 --- Sunil said in his post above he had newly stocked LMB (LM bass) not smallies. Although Sunil does have some SMB in one of his ponds. Evidently they do not recruit very many young ones or he would be using some of his juvenile SMB for his stocking endeavor above... Smallies at times can be very hard to find someone who has new fingerlings or juveniles.. Better get them in the Fall because they when even they are available sell out fast due to annual shortages. . SMB some years do not produce a lot of hatchlings and they are a premium when available.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
Ret/40, as you mentioned, Zetts in Drifting PA did say they had a SMB spawn, but you have to reserve your order.
Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:" "She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."
