On Dec. 3, 2005, I began an experiment to assess 1) the growth, 2) the aggressiveness, and 3) the sustainability of the Georgia Giant (renamed Texas Georgia Giant (TGG by Deb) as offered by Ken�s Fish Hatchery in Georgia. The experiment has now completed just under 18 months and has reached the point where some conclusions can be made. I�ll offer my conclusions up front with subsequent text supporting the conclusions.
Conclusions:
1. Superior growth
2. Superior aggressiveness
3. Not sustainable with HSB as the primary predator
Growth:
� The Data: The primary metric used to assess growth was the ave length of the fish taken from a sample size of 5 with the lowest and highest numbers thrown out and the remaining 3 fish averaged. Twelve such measurements were performed representing 60 fish over the 18 month period. At the 18 month point, the ave. fish came out 9.75 inches.
� My comment: My standard for a nice BG is at least 10 inches. The TGG�s have reached that length very early in their second growing season. In comparable ponds, I have not seen 10 inch CNBG until generally the third growing season. Native 10 inch BG are not often found in my ponds. My conclusion is that the TGG growth is indeed superior to that of other BG in my ponds.
Aggressiveness:
� The Data: The primary metric used to assess aggressiveness was an invented �Aggressiveness Factor� which represented the score of each type of fish during a 10 cast session using the same flies and at virtually the same times. Based on over 200 casts spread over the 18 month period, in all kinds of weather conditions, the TGG consistently scored higher than CNBG and native BG. The TGG proved to be 25% more aggressive than CNBG and 50% more aggressive than native BG.
� My comment: The TGG is a super fun fish to catch on just about any tackle but a 10 inch TGG on a 3 wt fly rod is absolute, pure fun. The TGG does not hit typical poppers (e.g. Miss Prissy), in my pond, but prefers Gambusia imitation flies. The fish can be caught over and over again with very minimal conditioning observed.
Sustainability:
� The Data: This metric, out of necessity, is largely a subjective measure. Trapping and fishing the TGG pond over the 18 month period provided some insight into the sustainability, but at this point it remains an open question. After one year, small Fx offspring began showing up in increasing numbers. Based on trapping results, I concluded that the HSB was a failure as the primary predator. That coupled with the fact that the HSB were completely hook shy made them of no value to me. This spring, when several 5 inch Fx offspring showed up, I decided to �fire� the HSB, remove as many of them as I can, and move to the LMB as the primary predator.
� My comment: I believe that if things were left unchanged, i.e. HSB continued as the predator, the small pond would have become overpopulated with Fx offspring and also have an uncatchable predator in the HSB�both of those items are not acceptable to me. I�m confident that the LMB will solve both problems, but they themselves will also tend toward overpopulation. In order to keep a balance and minimize conditioning, LMB will have to be removed regularly. For me, that does not present a problem, rather a fun situation, but for some that may not be the case. Clearly, in the absence of management and with HSB as the predator, the TGG pond would be overpopulated with Fx offspring by the end of the second growing season.
Before labeling this as just another fish story, please view my website which contains all the data and pictures supporting the experiment.
http://www.meadowlarkponds.com/TGG.htm
