I have one (1!) self feed trained LMB in our pond. It has grown way faster than the rest of its LMB cohorts, and always has a saggy belly.
That said, I hope to never catch it, or at least to recognize and identify this individual if I do catch it, so that I can release it to remain the "pet" that it is. Last week I removed two 9" or 10" bass, and then didn't see the pellet eater for a few days and thought maybe I'd had it for bass tacos.
Joy! It's back bolting to the surface for Endurance pellets among all the sunfish individuals and YP gobbling pellets and mealworms. It just might be that watching all the many sunfish get yanked from the water, never to return, has taught it hook avoidance. One can only hope.
So, yes, I like my feed trained bass. Haha. Not the info you are looking for, but hopefully amusing, if not informative.
I suppose "Bend" is the one in Oregon?
