You may not be trying to grow trophies but they (even both) are tracking like trophies do. For a Tulsa climate, the model predicts a maximum average annual gain of 1.89 lbs/annum. Both of those fish above are tracking in the neighborhood of that. Tulsa, I think, is a little warmer than your location and so your growth is just outstanding.
On 3.22.24 the model predicts for an LMB that is 1.38 lbs on 9.10.24 growth to 1.88 lbs on 3.22.25. Adjusting for the difference (0.04 lbs on 3.22.25); I estimate the annual rate of growth for your first LMB to be 1.74 lbs per year.
For the second fish ... the model predicts for an LMB that is 2.13 lbs on 9.29.24 growth to 2.49 lbs on 3.22.25. Adjusting for the difference (0.09 lbs on 3.22.25); I estimate the annual rate of growth for your second LMB to be 2.39 lbs per year.
That second fish is sure a beauty. I question whether you should cull any of the fish your are frequently catching. They have the genes you want carried on in terms of catchability on artificial bait. You should try making a day of catching LMB on live bait to see if you can catch more samples of the harder to catch fish that have not yet been in your creel just to get a better census of what else is in there. You might consider keeping records of whether a tagged fish has ever been caught on artificial bait. With regard to catchability, fish you don't seem to be able to catch on artificials might be axed depending on how you want to control traits for progeny.
I am trying to remember, Seems like you stocked 70 LMB/AC in June of 23. Is that correct? Can you remember how many, the date, and the length of the fingerlings?
It isn't what we don't know that gives us trouble, it's what we know that ain't so - Will Rogers
