Yo PBF,
Been a spell, missed yooz guys. Hope everyone had a great Holiday week. Read Nate's post RE starting the new fishing thread, didn't see one started yet, so I thought I'd kick things off with a plump 12.5" YP from my pond Tuesday, 1-2-2013. Here we go, 2013!
That fish is still on my bucket list.
Lets see another pic of it this time in hot oil! Good going bro.
Not enough ice here to even think of going out on the pond.
That's a killer YP...always wanted to catch some of those through the ice.
Off topic question: Is the 2013 pic thread diverging? There appears to be two 2013 threads materializing, which one are we supposed to post photos in? Assuming of course, that the ice will hold my weight, and I still remember how to catch fish?
Oops I didn't see the other thread. If I need to move this I can
TJ, that is a dark and pretty perch! Congrats. Also, just the small amount of the pond property I can see in that picture shows that you likely have some darn nice habitat (both pond and upland).
Oops I didn't see the other thread. If I need to move this I can
TJ/George, I merged both threads into this one.
That's a killer YP...always wanted to catch some of those through the ice.
Off topic question: Is the 2013 pic thread diverging? There appears to be two 2013 threads materializing, which one are we supposed to post photos in? Assuming of course, that the ice will hold my weight, and I still remember how to catch fish?
Before I posted last night I searched active topics thoroughly for "Fishing 2013" topic but didn't find one, so I started this. I'm still looking - and I'm coming up empty. Sorry to start up something that existed elsewhere guys. Guess I'm rusty.
......NE Gold!!!!.........Nice
OK, I'll be the first of the year to hijack the thread.
Here's my favorite "George" fishing pic. Every time I see it on his den wall I stop and look at it.
Now back to 2013 catches.
Which one is George? The smoker? Looks relaxing...fly casting with a pipe full!
George
Why not continue the tradition? I'd be happy to move my photo anywhere, like I said, I never saw a fishing 2013 thread started. Anyhow, please keep it up, don't let me unintentionally interfere.
Are we all on the right thread now?
It looked right from the main page.
Anyways, that is one YELLOW perch. I'm not sure I've ever pulled one out of my pond that was that crazy yellow. Mostly white, green, and orange (that's going from memory, so you know there's some distortion).
Great YP - my experience is they often get that or near that color under ice cover and in clear water. I think the darkened underwater conditions bring out the color.
My water clarity went from 30" in September/October to 80-90" now. At first ice I could see my rock piles in 8'+ depth - really cool to see. I just wish I could figure out the pattern on my main pond...fish move a ton under the ice, probably due to lack of structure. One can sit and wait, or move every 20-30 min to find fish. Frustrating for such a small BOW, especially as I know those 12" YP caught in 2010 should be well over 14"+ now.
Really nice YP. Obviously, something is working!
I'm amazed at the colors on that thing.......I've been back for a week and still have yet to get to my pond.After seeing that thing come hell or high water I'm going fishing tomorrow
So the two threads are merged right?
Here you go. Hard to believe she's 6 already.
Very nice YP and BG!
As requested from catmando in another thread, here's my first bass of 2013 from New Year's day. Struck a blue/chrome Bandit deep diver in about 8ft of water.
Excellent, stargazer. Thanks for sharing!
Got out for a little while late this afternoon.....nothing special, but it sure felt good....first iced fish in two years.
Nice pile of gills! Never iced fish but sounds like a blast.
Sprkplug scores again! Man, you're a fishing machine!
Here we go, 2013!
I'm impressed with this fish on several levels. When I grew up, we were told that yellow perch weren't a viable option in SE Nebraska. We were also told that they wouldn't grow big around here.
Well, this fish blows those notions "out of the water", so to speak.
Keep up the good work, TJ.
Got out for a little while late this afternoon.....nothing special, but it sure felt good....first iced fish in two years.
Well done...and I don't see a single GSF trait. Different pond?
..and I don't see a single GSF trait. Different pond?
Good point. What's the scoop? Will we be seeing ice fishing pictures of BG X RES hybrids?
[quote=teehjaeh57]I'm impressed with this fish on several levels. When I grew up, we were told that yellow perch weren't a viable option in SE Nebraska. We were also told that they wouldn't grow big around here.
Well, this fish blows those notions "out of the water", so to speak.
Keep up the good work, TJ.
Anything will grow big over time, as long as it's not crowded and well fed! YP are very active in cold water. It's one of few fish species that keeps me busy during the winter months. I can see them doing very well in Nebraska.
Sprkplug, how thick was the ice?
..and I don't see a single GSF trait. Different pond?
Good point. What's the scoop? Will we be seeing ice fishing pictures of BG X RES hybrids?
No GSF genes here...these fish came from pond #6, which is ummanaged and unfed. I wanted to hit the HBG pond, but the shallow water diffusers have about 1/3 of it open, and my nerve is not what it used to be!
That's why I was fishing the big pond...you can't tell it from the photo, but I'm fishing from a Jonboat that always sets on the shore of #6...I shoved it out on the ice as a safety platform. In essence, my lack of confidence in the ice dictated my location.
The BG x RES hybrids come primarily from pond #3, I'll see if I can hit it today.
I had about 2" right offshore, with an inch of that being good ice, and the rest junk. Out in deeper water, I had an inch of junk on top of 2.5" of good clear ice...probably could've walked it, but I fish alone so I stayed in the jonboat....may be braver today.
Tony please post some BRES photos as soon as the ice allows...I bet they are beautiful in clear cold water. If you go out in the john boat don't forget to tie off to someone on the shore or you'll be stuck out there - albeit dry. Who has the guts to step on surrounding ice that just gave way to the boat? Not me. They'd have to ferry food and water to me until the Spring thaw.
TJ, I did the same thing and used an ice spud to propel the boat along on the surface of the ice while standing in the stern. Worked great and I was catching fish when nobody else could get out on the ice. I was roughly 500 feet from shore to get to the good spot.
TJ, I will make an effort to catch a few BG x RES and post some photos. I tried for some today, but couldn't reach the spot I intended to fish, that being deep water about 50' off the dam.
Yeah, I learned that rope thing a few years ago myself....kinda sticks with a fellow after you experience it once. I tied off to a tree both days this weekend. And Scott's right about propelling the boat, except I no longer stand up and push off with my spud...... it works great until you get up a good head of steam and hit some snow on the ice...that's like slamming on the disc brakes for a jonboat,and you fly over the bench seat and crash into the bottom of the boat, damaging a lot of equipment....some of it anatomical in nature.
(That's why I couldn't reach the hybrid spot...too much snow on the thin ice.)
Well, these aren't very big, and they're not the prettiest fish in the world, but it was sure fun to tangle with some Iowa 'gills.
I had the privilege of using a new ice fishing bucket system. All those pockets, bells, whistles....
Anyway, both fish ran around 8 3/4 inches.
Well, these aren't very big, and they're not the prettiest fish in the world, but it was sure fun to tangle with some Iowa 'gills.
I had the privilege of using a new ice fishing bucket system. All those pockets, bells, whistles....
Anyway, both fish ran around 8 3/4 inches.
Aahhhh........I love it when my stress level melts quicker than the ice.....
Did you borrow those from me?
Did you borrow those from me?
No, if I did they would have been much bigger!
These were two of the four I got next to that one tree in about two minutes. My one and only "flurry".
Are you showing us a new flossing technique?
Condello and I had a good day, lots of BG up to 9.5" and a few decent BC. Beautiful day, light winds, not a cloud in the sky and mid 30s and fished with a bunch of great guys on brand new water.
I was bummed all day for missing out this morning, but feel good you guys got on to some fish.
And love the hat Bruce!
Nice fish guys!!
I am headed to Wyoming fishing this weekend, ought to be fun!!
Bruce, give me more details on that bucket....looks sweet.
Scott and Tony, for very thin ice, my brothers and I have an old flat bottom we used to each grab one side of to displace our weight and then scurry out to our ice fishing spots and then hop in to fish...2 inches of ice no problem for us with that technique, but its been a few years for it...
I havent been near puter for a few days, but now finally have my first ice fishing report. GREAT FISH this year so far! Except TJ you get an F for not posting any pics with your last fishing report update...as far as this post is concerned no photos and it simply didnt happen, you were dreaming....
Nice channels Nate! Were you targeting those fish, or were they incidental catches?
Ya'all will be able to fish open water after this weekend - they are calling for highs in the 50's with lows barely hitting the high 30's and some rain. I'm guessing a LOT warmer the further South you go.
(Trying to practice my Southern talking here.....)
Ya'all will be able to fish open water after this weekend - they are calling for highs in the 50's with lows barely hitting the high 30's and some rain. I'm guessing a LOT warmer the further South you go.
(Trying to practice my Southern talking here.....)
Noooooooooooooo!
Upper 30s, lower 40s for highs this week with freezing temps overnights, then it drops back down to the 20s over the weekend. Ice could get sketchy at places...
Ya'all will be able to fish open water after this weekend - they are calling for highs in the 50's with lows barely hitting the high 30's and some rain. I'm guessing a LOT warmer the further South you go.
(Trying to practice my Southern talking here.....)
Some local forecasts are calling for highs near 60 for this weekend. We are in our usual January thaw, except, their ain't nothing to thaw
This photo is plumb awesome....
Monday afternoon LMB by the stick
n8ly!!!! That spot-photography really creates suspense!
Dwight, were you out with the stick or was it retirees only?
Dwight, were you out with the stick or was it retirees only?
Retirees only....
HaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHAAAAAAAAAAAA and it's your pond!
This could get interesting you know!
HaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHAAAAAAAAAAAA and it's your pond!
Someone has to work to pay for all this stuff.
What was that Bass taken on? Good fish by the way.
Small FH on tiny jig is the normal rig for ice-fishing out here.
Caught my first of the year Saturday afternoon.
Your first shave or your first panfish?
Way to go Omaha! How was the bite.....many takers?
Your first shave or your first panfish?
I have shaved at least twice this year already. And I've landed so many 4" panfish over the years, if I knew how to clean such a small lepomis I'd never go hungry.
Way to go Omaha! How was the bite.....many takers?
This was at Bruce's place and it was the first time I've fished the ice there so I can't say whether it was a typical bite or not. This was my first of only two fish caught by myself, but I'm far from an experienced hardwater angler. I did get to experience "sight fishing", which was very cool. And occasionally frustrating. Using your hut to make it dark above a drilled hole, on clear water you can see your jig all the way to the pond bottom. You literally see the fish find your jig. Getting them to take it was a learning experience. I quickly learned what very subtle movements did and what didn't work. Saw an enormous LMB and CC swim right by it and another beautifully colored LMB almost taste it, but ultimately leave me shaking my head wondering what I did wrong. Anyway, we could have gone to a public lake and pulled up our limit of 6" BG, but couldn't pass up Bruce's invite. It paid off for my buddy who pulled up a gorgeous 15" crappie, including other very good fish. So all in all, a very solid first outing of the year. Got to break in some new equipment and learn a little more about this strange style of catching fish.
On another note, this is a unique year for ice for some reason. We had a local kid who nearly lost his life when he fell through the ice on a local lake. It was a unique area of the lake where current created a small pocket of thin ice. He fell through up to his chin and caught his foot on some submerged timber (9 foot depth), enabling him to catch himself on the ice above. The current pushed his feet up so you can imagine what would've happened if his feet hadn't found that timber. I've fished with this young man before, he's got tons of experience even at a young age (senior in high school). Scary to think what could have happened. So stay safe. Stay close to someone and be prepared for anything.
If you don't have a set of ice picks around your neck when walking on the ice, get yourself a set asap. Might want to get an extra set and give them to the young man who went for a swim.
If you don't have a set of ice picks around your neck when walking on the ice, get yourself a set asap. Might want to get an extra set and give them to the young man who went for a swim.
Good call Scott.
Here's his actual account...
Just wanted to let everybody know of some unsafe ice out at branched oak back in area 7 and 8 where the creek channel runs through, myself along with two other buddies went out there earlier this morning to fish that channel and as we were walking out we were on an easy SOLID 10"+, Notice further up ahead some foot tracks and marks where somebody had pulled a sled onto the spot we wanted to fish so I figured great we'll go investigate that. Not thinking anything of it, I was walking towards the spots that had been fished previously and before I knew it the ice below me gave way and I was in frigid water up to my neck, Lucky enough I fell in near a sunken tree and my left foot managed to land on what must have been one of the branched and that single branch held me up from falling in completely above my head. Surprisingly enough even though in shock I was able to keep calm and hold my arms onto the edge of the ice and not freak out and kick my feet everywhere. I tried my best to calm down, sprawled my arms over the edge of the ice and tried lifting myself up and rolling onto the ice to spread out my body weight. First try just made the hole I fell into bigger but the second try I managed to get onto of the ice where I rolled away from the unsafe ice. Literally five feet away from where I fell in had 10" of ice, where I fell in had a mere 1" of ice. I noticed when I had fell in and was holding myself on the edge of the ice that there was a current pushing my legs up against the underside of the ice as well, Had to be why it was so weak and thin there, The creek channel must have had current running through it or something. Either way I thank god I made it out safely and thank god my left foot managed to land on that tree limb so I didn't fall above my head, lord knows how differentely things could have been if I had fell above my head.
Anyways, Just wanted to let everybody know to avoid that area, If I were you I'd avoid that area completely. We got back to the parking lot and there were three guys getting ready to go fish where I just fell through and I even mentioned to them that I just fell through and it didn't seem to faze them, they continued getting their gear ready and coats on to head out there. Ah well, Probably saw we were just a bunch of high school kids and thought it was a bunch of BS. That split second when the ice gave through underneath me I honestly thought I was going to die, It was definitely one of, if not the most scariest thing that has ever happened to me.
all said and done it was however a great learning experience, taught me to never trust the ice even when it's super solid and 10".. which happen to be my mistake, I had no doubt in my mind the ice wasn't safe with it being so solid and thick the entire time we were walking. Never doing that again, I will be wearing a life vest underneath my coat every single time from this day forward no matter if the ice is 4" or 14". Not worth the risk. luckily all I was carrying was my hand auger as well, which I somehow managed to throw ontop of the ice as I was falling in, thank god I wasn't pulling my sled behind me with 10 rod/reel combos and two vexilars and countess other things!
Stay safe out there guys, and even if you think the ice is safe still be on alert and very cautious. I definitely learned my lesson.
Glad he's ok. He was fishing with two buddies...how the heck do they figure into the story? Sounds like he was pretty much on his own here?
Almost like he lit off an M-200 at 2AM and then turned around to his buddies to see nobody there!
Glad he's ok. He was fishing with two buddies...how the heck do they figure into the story? Sounds like he was pretty much on his own here?
On Facebook he mentioned he was 40 some feet ahead of them going to the spot they'd all agreed on. Maybe they saw him go through and couldn't bring themselves to chance it. I think I'd have a tough time not risking it myself if I saw one of my friends/family go in. I'd almost rather go with him then live with the "what if" the rest of my life.
I've got 2 or 3 pair of these. I wear a pair of them around my neck when I'm out on the ice.
http://www.amazon.com/FISHING-EAGLE-CLAW-SAFETY-PICKS/dp/B00649UBFA
Glad he's ok. He was fishing with two buddies...how the heck do they figure into the story? Sounds like he was pretty much on his own here?
On Facebook he mentioned he was 40 some feet ahead of them going to the spot they'd all agreed on. Maybe they saw him go through and couldn't bring themselves to chance it. I think I'd have a tough time not risking it myself if I saw one of my friends/family go in. I'd almost rather go with him then live with the "what if" the rest of my life.
I've been involved in a couple of ice rescues - one on the Platte River with heavy current. You don't think about it, you simply react. Smart to keep 25-50' of rope in the sled for such emergencies.
I don't recall ever hearing of so many guys going through this early in the season, at least here in Indiana. I've ice fished for a long time, but my ice this year just looks strange....I'm not sure how to explain it.
Yeah sight fishing is both informational, as well as maddeningly frustrating. I'll be so engrossed in trying to tempt that fish that I find myself holding my breath. It's quite the learning experience, in regards to presentation tactics and the ability of a BG to suck in your bait and spit it back out in a nanosecond.....
Last year was unique in the way that the ice was only safe for such a short time. I think people are so anxious this year because we feel last year was such a waste, maybe they’re a little overly apprehensive and not considering safety as much as they should.
More from yesterday.
Looks like everybody had a blast.
I don't know if I'd trust the ice around here. I've only seen one person on the ice at the local lake, and the main body of water there still hasn't froze.
Now that's fishin'...... those Texans better step up their game...
Looks like everybody had a blast.
I don't know if I'd trust the ice around here. I've only seen one person on the ice at the local lake, and the main body of water there still hasn't froze.
Yesterday morning's local news reports were grim. Two young gentlemen drowned after the ice they were on gave way. Cries for help were heard, and responded to, but it was too late
Another gal in a different situation was rescued after an hour in the frigid waters. She was holding onto a chunk of ice, and the Fire Department was able to break thru in one of their crafts and pluck her out. Really Cool!!!
We have "NO" safe Ice, at all, around here!
Now that's fishin'...... those Texans better step up their game...
I would but every time you all post anther picture, I throw another blanket on. I'm freezing just seeing those!
Looks like all of you are having a great time, and that's what it's all about.
Yesterday morning's local news reports were grim. Two young gentlemen drowned after the ice they were on gave way. Cries for help were heard, and responded to, but it was too late
.... That's terrible. Being from Dallas I don't know diddly about ice fishing, but if those two young men would have had those emergency ice spikes would they have most likely have made it out alive?
Wow Nate that looks like more fun than the law should allow!
Good work Nate, that's quite a harvest. What species were caught? BG, BCP, any YP?
Dwight!! Please more info on the pike, Looks like it was fun and one to be harvested, Was it an old male??
N8ly, Awsome pile of fish, makes a guys jeoulous!
Looks like some great hardwater action!
The NP is 30" and still prowls the pond.
Lets see, $500 per fisherman X 17......
The NP is 30" and still prowls the pond, with all parts in tact.
More Fish Caught Yesterday
Cant believe you live so close N8 and have that kind of ice? My ice has been crap from the beginning.. I did manage to walk out and take my Texas Hunters down i got from you (doing a little modifying). Just going out to them was very scary and i stuck my fingers through the ice where their poles are prolly 3-4 but it was cracking and making a racket so i scooted off quickly *puckered*
Dwight, how'd the NP fin get so boogered up?
Popping ice is the sign of quality ice. I know what you mean though, it's hard to get used to. As long as it's clear, you're safe on 3". Fished on less than 2, won't do it again, though.
Getting caught twice in the same day, maybe.
the ice was only safe till noon
Hey nate, what county were you in? I'm thinking of going up to the rent's place next weekend, northern illinois between rockford and the chi suburbs.
I know it is obviously not safe right now, but they have some seriously cold nights and below freezing days between now and then.
In your sage opinion, think it will be safe?
Thanks
Skinny
OK, bear with me with on this.
How do you Northern guys deal with ice transitions when relating to fishing? Can you fish during limited ice, or does the solid ice mean it's time to go fishing? I have to admit I really never thought about it until all the ice fishing posts started coming in. It seems like right now is a great time for you all, and I was just curious.
I can see where having 4 or 5 feet of thin ice around the bank would make fishing difficult at best.
Once you have full ice, you can theoretically fish anywhere on your pond similar to using a boat on open water. So you can take the time to locate the fish.
In partial ice-over situations, you might not be able to get to where the fish are....
for me, it's always when the pond/lake is locked up shore to shore. Where i fish in in what's called the chain of lakes in northern illinois, so in some cases those are very large lakes, or channels that are off of the fox river. In those cases, the whole lake doesn't need to be locked up, just the particular channel you are fishing in. i have been within, say, 20 yards of open water before, and so long as the ice beneath you is 3-4" thick, you are okay. just dont get to close to that edge....
but, i live pretty far south for ice, and have to make a 6 hour trip for hard water, so when i go is usually dead of the winter, and never really have to worry about "transitional" periods.
I hope i at least marginally addressed what you are asking.
Speaking as an ice angler, the absolute worst conditions you can have is when the ice is too thin to get out on, but it covers the entire surface preventing shore casting.... And here in south central Indiana those conditions present themselves very frequently. Hence fishing out of the Jonboat.
Last year was my best winter fishing period ever, and I never got out on the ice one time. I differentiate between ice fishing, and cold water fishing....cold water fishing can be more difficult sometimes, but like I'm constantly preaching over at BBG.....you won't catch em' sitting on the couch and hoping for safe ice, or worse yet, waiting for spring......get out and give it a try. I learned a great deal about my ponds AND my fish last year, and I think I'm a better angler now because of it. Shoot, I fished this morning....unsafe ice covers all of my ponds except where the diffusers have it open, and I was able to catch fish while the guys on the ice forums are crying about the warmup, and praying for next week's cooler temps.
More to your question Al...I don't stop fishing between open water and safe ice...too much opportunity there. And you're right about the thin ice around the edges. A lot of ice anglers will "walk the plank" from shore, using a 2 x 10 to reach out to thicker ice....works pretty good in the morning, but you better be sure to come off before the temps rise....otherwise the plank becomes a raft......
Late ice is my least favorite time. One never knows if you should be out there. Fish bite well this time of the year here, so it is tempting to get out on the ice too late. I would be to nervous using the board to get out/off. I just wait until the ice is a good four inches at the start of the year to walk on. My theory is that no fish is worth a dunking in 32 degree water.
Yep, fishing skinny ice can be a nerve wracking endeavour....now envision a place further south where good ice exists for a couple weeks at most, and skinny ice makes up the bulk of the winter....
Do you fish it, or do you wait for spring,? Use the plank and the Jonboat, or watch In-Fishermen ice fishing reruns on the tube?
I've sat in a boat parked on top of 1.5" of ice many many times....but I've never seen ice thicker than 6"....ever.
This is winter fishing in the southern half of Indiana. And the stick is right in that no fish is worth getting wet over..... but it can be a long time till spring!
I learned a great deal about my ponds AND my fish last year, and I think I'm a better angler now because of it.
this is probably what i like most about hitting my dad's pond in the winter. With the aquaview and the vexilar, and simply the drop-weight, you can spot where all the structure is, find the deep wells, etc. and, you can spot where it is that your fish like to hang out, how they react to different vertical presentations, etc.
My theory is that no fish is worth a dunking in 32 degree water.
truer words are rarely spoken. I took some stupid risks in my day, and even though i have never dunked, i regret having gotten close to it.
yes, to the question at hand, it is very possible to fish "transitional" waters. a few years back, before i discovered this forum, my friends and I just dragged my dad's paddleboat out a few yards, drilled holes around it and fished. We set up an extension ladder to walk back and forth from the boat to the pier, and we had a few wooden planks leading from the boat out to the open water. It was a great combo of ice fishing, cold water fishing, and engineering.
stay safe.
-skinny
First fish of 2013 for my big guy!
Great photo bigharge! Congrats on a job well done!
That is an awesome fish and even more awesome memory!
Way to go Bigharge - what a great memory, thanks for sharing! It's strange somehow to see open water in the background - we've been locked up for three weeks here now, but I'm not complaining.
Yo Mike, good to see you posting again - how you been, amigo?
Hit local lake stocked by Bruce Condello a few years back, and had a great bite going on BG up to 9" and YP up to 12" on teardrop/waxie and jig spoon/minnows - thanks Brucile!
That's some good lookin' ice TJ.....nice and clear.
Yep, 6-7" still after warm last two days and some rain. I was very happy to see it's still safe.
Ok guys, thanks for the info. I've fished tournaments out of bass boats, and broke through ice while moving, but never thought it was fun. I can see a little better now why you enjoy it so much.
I'm not ready to swap 106 degree summers for 6 degree winters, but I can certainly see the appeal. I went to my farm today to check my brood pond after the big rains, and it was a flip flop day here.
Thanks again.
Make some friends up north and simply give ice fishing a try.....
My ice is gone, but just about an hour north will prob be safe in a couple days again...
Dude whose kid caught that trout in Texas...Awesome!!
TJ are the yellow perch reproducing in that lake?
Make some friends up north and simply give ice fishing a try.....
Do Northern Guys like cupcakes? I'm always packing. And, I've still got Cheetos let over from the failed Mayan calendar doomsday event.
Make some friends up north and simply give ice fishing a try.....
Do Northern Guys like cupcakes? I'm always packing. And, I've still got Cheetos let over from the failed Mayan calendar doomsday event.
Cheetos and cupcakes are on my favorite list. We just don't have any ice, or snow, and the grass is starting to regain it's greenish color.
Most of the Orchards around here never even opened for business last year. Repeat???
Yo Fire, you already have friends up North! Head on up, ice is solid and we have plenty of good ponds to fish!
Make some friends up north and simply give ice fishing a try.....
My ice is gone, but just about an hour north will prob be safe in a couple days again...
Dude whose kid caught that trout in Texas...Awesome!!
TJ are the yellow perch reproducing in that lake?
Yes, YP reproduce all over SE NE, wherever they are stocked it seems as long as the water quality is decent and fishery isn't dominated by high density LMB. My hatchery guy actually gets them to spawn in his concrete holding tanks - lay strands on the aeration hoses, if you can believe it. Crazy...
Dude whose kid caught that trout in Texas...Awesome!!
[quote=n8ly]
Haha, yeah wou would think you could catch 2-3 lb rainbows in West Texas. That's my 4 yr old showing off the first catch at our new place. Special thanks to Todd Overton for suggesting them to me when I was stocking my fingerlings. Has given the kids something to catch from day 1, and they are loving it out here. They really are a blast to catch, will hit all sorts of artificials and put up a great acrobatic fight. Going to miss them come April when it warms up.
Yo Fire, you already have friends up North! Head on up, ice is solid and we have plenty of good ponds to fish!
Thanks! I know we pick and poke at each other with the Texas vs the world stuff, but it's all in good fun. I had never thought about the weather window of solid ice you guys get, but I have to admit it looks like a blast.
If I'm ever that way, I'll certainly look you up. Right now an Eldora Speedway roadtrip is right at top of my northern bucket list. Dirt racing, greasy french fries, and TS choking an innocent race official would be a dream trip.
Nate...thanks for the info. Last i heard, on friday, there were a few inches solid left under piles of slush, and open around the shorelines. It should be good to go for my trip up, but i'm walking on an extension ladder with a life line tied to shore when i first test it out, just to be safe.
Hey tj, good to hear from you too. I havent been posting because i never get up to dads pond anymore, so i have nothing to report. I got a big fancy pants promotion, and unlike my old position, it doesnt require frequent trips up to milwaukee or sheboygan, much to my shagrin, that means less weekends on dads pond.
Last time was my ice trip last year, i think... aside from the drought, with water ridiculously low, nothing really major to report anyway.
Pike still bite strong, still cull them out whenever they are caught. No known evidence of breeding with them yet. (Waiting to see them show up in minnow traps, or for a 14 incher to hit a beetlespin or something).
Fewer bass & crappie biting from what i hear from dads creel data...and he retired this year, so he has more fishing time than usual. More warmouth, though, which is fun on an ultralight, and apparently some tiny little walleyein were pickeda up, ive never seen them, other than the one or 2 somebody bucketed in a few years ago.
2 summers ago, we laid into some 3-4 lb lmb, which i posted, so i guess that counts as evidence of stunting being remedied.
Dad says somebody pulled an 8 lb lunker off the bottom this year...i'll believe it when i see the pics, i guess.
Anyway, this is a fishing thread, not an "update on mikes pond" thread, so ill end it there. If i get my tip ups out on saturday, and anything hit them, ill post pics.
Thanks
-skinny
Congrats on the promotion amigo. Missed you on here...who cares if you're fishing your Dad's place with regularity - your presence is valuable! Stick around!
Headed out to a sandpit along the Platte River tomorrow - worried about ice integrity as sandpits are spring fed and we're coming off rain and a 50 degree Friday. We have only fished it once before, middle of Summer on a 100+ day, and to cool off we speed trolled cranks down the middle of channel in 30' depth without hope of catching anything. We ended up with 8 suspended BCP from 15-17.5". Biggest crappies I've ever seen, and we swore we'd come back someday and try them through the ice. So, tomorrow is the day.
I am typically the point man, with auger, as I'm the lightest by 50 lbs of my buddies, and the others follow with vexis to check for depth and fish. I'll be tied off tomorrow with 50' rope behind me, just in case. I hope I don't need to be rescued.
After the last 2 days of weather here, and the rain that's coming down there's no safe ice left around here.
Bring extra clothes and boots in case you go for a swim.
Make some friends up north and simply give ice fishing a try.....
My ice is gone, but just about an hour north will prob be safe in a couple days again...
Dude whose kid caught that trout in Texas...Awesome!!
TJ are the yellow perch reproducing in that lake?
Hey Nate, got some good friends up Norte but y'all gotta come come down here and fish with us....I hate ICE!!!
I would NEVER walk on 8 inch ice - heck, I've walked on 8 FOOT ice and don't need three years to grow a one pound fish..
George
Tj..be careful, bud. Make sure you let us know you made it back.
I know some people on here are up by my dad's pond (north central/east IL, east of rockford, west of gurnee). Any updates on what ice survived the warmup is appreciated.
As far as the conversation of pro or anti ice...i ice fished a couple of times with the boyscouts as a kid, and never really understood it, loved spring &in summer fishing too much to just sit on a bucket and freeze.
Then, in my 20s i was introduced to chasing tip ups. On my dad's predator-heavy pond nothing beats the excitement of sprinting across the lake to wrestle a fish by hand. If you have northerly friends, i cant more highly recommend trying it at least once.
Concerning the promotion....yeah, its nice...but i left one department for 8 months or so, and then the company restructured, and i think theyve put me right back into my old job (i find out in a week or 2). I get to keep the pay raise, which is awesome, got the experience of being out of the corporate structure and into one of the smaller business units, and im back to the beginning.
Just when i thought i was out, they pull me back in.
Skinny
Well George, you and I have something in common....I don't need three years to grow a one pound fish either!!
I saw on the news that somebody ended up in the drink in lindenhurst, il yesterday. Fire recue got him out, he was only on 4 ft of water, and survived.
A) be careful, everyone. Lindenhurst is pretty far north of chicago, in an area traditionally known for reliably safe ice.
B) if there was enough ice to get him out to 4' of water, then next weekend should be a go. Yes, i understand i just used tragedy to justify my risk-taking....
I read the other day that a daily average of 23 degrees creates 0.38 inches (averaged from a statistically relevant sample of small waters) of ice on a 2" base layer each day. Does that sound accurate to anyone who keeps that kind of data from their pond?
Mike
George I'm gonna try to make Texas in 2013!!!!!
1 lb fish taste sooo good, I can only imagine how a young one lber will taste!!!!
George I'm gonna try to make Texas in 2013!!!!!
1 lb fish taste sooo good, I can only imagine how a young one lber will taste!!!!
Nate, you are going to get a huge Texas welcome - I got friends!!!
Between the two of us we can cull a hundred +/- 8 inch CNBG in an hour but can't harass my 10+ inch OTS CNBG..
One of our friends needs help to cull all Florida LMB under 10 (?) lbs....from his 11 acre lake - guess who?
Oh - fly rods only and we don't fish with worms or live bait - never have - don't need to..
Lookin' forward to seein' some of you guys - been a long time since PB Conference I...
G/
Well George, you and I have something in common....I don't need three years to grow a one pound fish either!!
Or as long of a growing season..
George I'm gonna try to make Texas in 2013!!!!!
1 lb fish taste sooo good, I can only imagine how a young one lber will taste!!!!
Ahem, it's 2013 now.......
I'm back - poor day. Ice was 12" and clear, solid - but clarity was a mere 12-14". Raised several fish, couldn't get many to commit. Did notice a bunch of 2" gizzard shad frozen in the ice, so now I know why those crappie were so huge, and also why the fishing was tough. Abundant forage sometimes means a horrible bite.
Abundant forage sometimes means a horrible bite.
Truth.
At least you got out and made an effort TJ. I sat in the house and watched it rain/snow/sleet/rain most of the day. Ponds are high and muddy.
Isn't it frustrating when they'll rise a few feet but still not commit!
Overcast here then it turned to sleet/freezing rain then finally snow. Ended up with about 1/2" on the ground. Pond is 60% ice free and the local lake is covered with rotten black ice.
Almost 60°F yesterday, barely got a few degrees above freezing today.
32 hours of work this weekend alone on top of a 60 hour week leaves no time too fish.. But plenty of money to plan a fishing trip this spring lol
Yeah, frustrating - especially since I know what size of fish exist in the lake. Oh well...I'm fortunate to even get out - sounds like everyone East of IA has no ice to speak of, even JKB in Michigan. I don't recall a year like that, ever...and I thought last Winter was too warm. We're lucky to have the ice.
Welp finally off work, and looks like my pond is iced back over hopefully it thaws off enough for me to throw a worm in..
He did not want too sit still.. Also this was the first fish caught with my vermicomposting worms.. European nightcrawler Eisenia Hortensis
Wowza, good job BGK! Impressive fish, especially considering the conditions in which they were caught - he's almost 11"!
Put those on
www.bigbluegill.com please!!! Unbelievable fish!
I completely agree. I'm trying hard to match BG that nice.
And he caught it on a nightcrawler?!?!
That BG is a very good example of a male BG in winter colors. It is a dandy fish.
Man Bruce I have to admit I don't spend enough time on your site and I really have no idea why.. Love that site.. Also anytime I load a fish you wanna share you have permissions to do what you like with them.. Maybe some day ill get some CSBG genes in the mix then they'll actually be part yours
That BG is a very good example of a male BG in winter colors. It is a dandy fish.
Real nice fish!
Did you notice the Cuddle in the first pic? Really Cute!
And he caught it on a nightcrawler?!?!
Not any nightcrawler.. I'm raising these worms because they are they perfect BG worm tough skin, short, fat and SUPPOSEDLY can live up to 30 mins on a hook and they really wiggle..
What's the temperature tolerances of the Euro NC?
I don't know but when I was researching them one of there qualities was ability to live long on a hook through the ice.. That could of obviously been a sales ploy but i was gonna give them a shot anyways.. They seemed to last about twice as long as a regular worm on the hook today.. Not 30 mins maybe 10, but the skin is very tough so they stay on the Hook excellent..
Nicely done Bremerpond! Gotta go 38"+!
Great pond management tool!
At LL, 2 for the Pondboss Moderators meeting. We took a break to fish a little. Here is my first bass of the day. That's Mike Otto's finger blocking part of the picture.
Dwight that is a nice NP. Nice LMB CS.
Good looking bigmouth there..
C'mon Cold Weather!!! Wed and Thursday I'm taking Doug Stange with InFisherman TV out to film a few ice fishing segments...He wants big bluegills and were gonna talk pond management. The segments will air late fall and next winter...I will for sure post some pics hopefully by the weekend!!
Hope you get the ice Nate...what little I had left disappeared today....cold front coming, don't think it will do me any good but will cross my fingers for you.......
In-Fisherman getting interested in pond management now? looking forward to some pics...
Stange is the MAN!!! Wish I was closer you could bring him to my house so I could act like a teenage girl at a bieber concert..
Fished the main pond Saturday with a couple buddies. Had warm weather all week - and Saturday was up to 50. Ice was deteriorating fast around the edges, North side of the pond was actually opened up and a ring of water surrounded us by the end of the day. Main ice was 7" when we arrived, 4" when we left! Apparently we left with not much time to spare.
Historically I've had issues finding a reliable bite on my pond - it's notorious as a light ice bite fishery and fish are constantly moving due to my intentional lack of structure - but I wanted to try and change my luck this year. Also, I've had many questions I was hoping to address this Winter through ice fishing: Where are the YP which were up to 13" in Winter 2011 - Was my WE stocking in Fall of 2011 successful - How's the winter condition of my SMB and HBC? Had a great time and learned some things by the time we left the pond:
Started out the day with a 8"+ CSBG - that's a large fish for my pond. We caught dozens more throughout the day, but they were all in the 4-6" range - as I suspected.
Managed a few RES, this was the largest at around 7". Population is strong, but improved frequency of larger fish [9"+] would be nice.
The SMB hit jigging spoons most of the day - few fish between 8-12", 6 were up to 17.5". I was surprised at their size, and WR looked pretty strong.
The HBC also loved the jigging spoons, and we saw a dozen fish ranging from 11" - 13.5". I was hoping for a 15"er I suspect is swimming.
To be continued on next post....
Continued....
I was hoping to pop that large WE taken in the Spring through the ice this season, no luck thus far. However, a couple of my fish from the Fall 2011 showed up, and it was good to see. Stocked at 5-6", both were 11" albeit pretty skinny. When their gape allows, I expect them to turn the corner pretty quickly.
Stocked 300 YP in the Fall of 2008 at 4-6", and Winter of 2011 turned up many fish up to 12.5 - 13". I thought my now I'd have a nice class of jumbos, but instead haven't been able to find those fish since. Was stoked when 5 rogue YP were caught Saturday, the largest just over 13", two others at 12.5" and all were bruisers with high WR. They also loved the jigging spoons tipped with small FHM.
The only species that eluded us was the Wiper - but I doubt we'd have been able to land one with our UL rigs. Best day on the ice in a long time, and best day at our place ever - wish my PB bros were with me!
All fish look great TJ.. And looked like a good time I've been contemplating fishing all day and I think you just pushed me over the edge..
Agreed, also lot's of smiles those pics.
Dang TJ, you killed 'em. Great looking fish!!
Phenomenal catches....all fish looked good, but those smallies were just plain awesome!
Awesome. My expectations are high now.
Man, those smallies and crappie look especially good.
Outstanding looking fish, bud! Sounds like a great day and like you got off that ice none too soon!
WOW! Nice work, TJ! Those smallies look super healthy!
Great report!
I can't recall...what was the biggest WE you caught in your pond? I never got one more that 15/16" tops, and it was not fat, from my pond.
Caught 1 6" Male BG
WOW! Nice work, TJ! Those smallies look super healthy!
Great report!
I can't recall...what was the biggest WE you caught in your pond? I never got one more that 15/16" tops, and it was not fat, from my pond.
Summer of 2011 a friend bucket stocked three dink WE - approx 13" - believe he caught from area BOW. I knew it wouldn't do any harm, but I never thought I'd see them again, either. I caught one of the three in mid June estimated mid 3# range and just under 22":
She was pretty fat this late in the season - and SE Nebraska WE spawned super early last year - in late February - due to the record setting heat from January onward. I don't want to believe that's a gravid female 4 months after the spawn - rather she simply figured out how to leverage BG and GSH at the feeder...to further justify my hopes she was caught on the break into 16' depth right in front of the feeder. So, that's the largest thus far - and I don't anticipate my stocked fish from last year to ever attain that size. I stocked 100 Fall 2011 and I'd be happy with 15-18" fish. I think I'll continue supplemental WE stocking every other year so I have fillets for the family. We love WE, followed closely by YP. Gotta tell you, I never would have believed a fishery in Southeast NE could ever feature these species. Testament to Pond Boss forum expertise - as I've said many, many times.
At LL, 2 for the Pondboss Moderators meeting. We took a break to fish a little. Here is my first bass of the day. That's Mike Otto's finger blocking part of the picture.
Good job, Chris! Whomever manages that fishery must subscribe to Pond Boss.
Did any mods go for a zipline ride? Where are the photos?
Ok, I remember you posting that crazy sized WE before. I hope you've got a few more of 'em. Might need to eat one up!
so, ice fishing pro tip...when on a 6 hour dive north, at 8pm in springfield, IL, dont run over the crap that the garbage truck ahead of you just dropped. you will blow out a tire, and destroy your lower control arm.
all auto shops in springfield close at 8, so nobody can make your trip a reality.
http://nooooooooooooooo.com/at least i was only an hour from home. limped back using the donut on the frontage road. packed the ice gear back into the garage. ....perhaps i'll get to go second week of february..wish me luck, guys.
skinny
That sucks skinny. Love the dire situation button though.
Yeah, frustrating - especially since I know what size of fish exist in the lake. Oh well...I'm fortunate to even get out - sounds like everyone East of IA has no ice to speak of, even JKB in Michigan. I don't recall a year like that, ever...and I thought last Winter was too warm. We're lucky to have the ice.
We're getting it now! Single digit lows and wind! Not much snow accumulation, but the wind is making for poor visibilities with the really fine snow. A couple weeks of this, and we'll have some ice.
The 3/4 acre pond behind my apt. is starting to freeze after a couple days of this. Ground is still too warm, and tiled runoff is keeping it open.
February is usually our coldest and nastiest month around here. See what happens.
Love the dire situation button though.
i wasnt a fan of episodes 1-3. when i saw that scene at the end, though, it sealed the deal, what a pathetic "nooooo" cry for darth vader to have. Why would a guy like george lucas, with the budget he had, allow something like that into his finale? Oh yeah, because he was gonna sell the company to disney for gazillions.
since then on, whenever anything turns comically bad, i turn to the NOOOOOOOOOO website. It makes me feel better to know that someone else has worse judgement than I do.
However, i dont have gazillions, so maybe i shouldn't judge.
So cool Nate! Can't wait to watch! How's the grey suit work for you? I had mine for a recent trip to the heart of Minnesota and couldn't have been more comfortable.
Wow Nate - that's a dream come true. Pretty amazing, I'm pumped for you!
The grey suit I couldnt be happier with as well!!
TJ, it was pretty stinkin awesome!! I prob sound like an idiot, but did so much talking hopefully they can edit it out and piece it together to make me look smart....
I'm in awe.............like usual,
dude I love Stange how do you find these connections..
I just spent the last 2 days fishing with Doug Stange and we were able to film 2 very awesome shows for InFisherman TV!!! They will air late this year in Nov/December so be on the looko Was a very very cool experience and we were able to talk alot about pond management for one of the shows!...I think Doug's eyes were opened to a whole new world of fisheries- PONDS.... it was his first time filming in Illinois!
Hey Nate - great job my friend!
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!
It was 78 degrees here yesterday!
I'm bustin' my suspenders - I now have two good friends that fish with Doug Stainge - my buddy Steve Alexander hosted Doug for a TV show recently - no hard water tho
Loc: NE Texas
Chief Editor Doug Stange and I fished together in early March of last year at one of our lakes north of Sulphur Springs. The show airs this week on the Outdoor Channel; which is channel 605 on Direct TV. The title is In Fisherman and the description is Winter Tactics. We are the middle segment of the show. We caught several fish and a couple of big fish; and one on camera. I wish I could tell you when it airs next, but if you DVR the series it will pop up.
_________________________
Steve Alexander
www.privatewaterfishing.com
George I saw that post on TFF this morning. I'll definitely watch Nate and Steve's episodes. Nice to see private water's come into play.
George I saw that post on TFF this morning. I'll definitely watch Nate and Steve's episodes. Nice to see private water's come into play.
Al, tape that show for me this week - I don't get that channel - I knew about it but was shot North of Sulphur Springs - must have been our neighbor's lake...
G/
Great testimony of the quality of fish that can be raised in ponds. Good job all you guys. Be proud and thanks from all of us for sharing the information.
Conference calls while ice fishing....that's just awesome. The perch look great also, always wanted to catch those through the ice.
Not a bad view from your office at all TJ.
Sweet! Interesting coloration on the last two fish.
Another warm Saturday, the ice was pretty sketchy and melting all around us, but the crappie bite was on, and a few more species showed up, tpo.
Popped 20 or so HBC, and I caught my first ever Nebraska Master Angler BC, and first MA of any species from my pond. Most fish ran from 12-14" like these:
And here is the mack daddy!
Caught 5-6 SMB, largest around 16"
3 YP to 12.5"
Also caught 3 WE - all we've caught have been 11" so far. Photo here is the largest of the 2011 stockers caught yet - just over 14" - happy to see!
My goal Saturday was to catch more WE and an MA YP. At least happy to see a larger WE and the MA HBC was a bonus!
Fish on!
TJ, you always have the most beautiful fish. Congrats on the BC award. I looked it up, cool state program.
Awesome! We fished Czechland today....meh.
It's a state program that awards a certificate for a fish, in Nebraska's opinion, which attains trophy status. I am not into certificates or awards, but many of us still use this system as a standard to exceed. NE requirements are below - and after reviewing, apparently I've busted the HSB mark several times [I thought it was 28"], the YP mark a few times [thought it was 14"], and am pretty close to the SMB, RES and BG in my pond. Cool!
Bass - Largemouth 20 in. 5 lbs.
Bass - Smallmouth 18 in. 3 lbs.
Bass - Spotted 18 in. 3 lbs.
Bass - Rock 11 in. 1 lb.
Bass - Striped 32 in. 10 lbs.
Bass - Striper hybrid 24 in. 8 lbs.
Bass - White 17 in. 2.5 lbs.
Bluegill 10 in. 1 lb.
Bullhead 15 in. 2 lbs.
Catfish - Blue 40 in. 30 lbs.
Catfish - Channel 30 in. 12 lbs.
Catfish - Flathead 32 in. 15 lbs.
Crappie 15 in. 2 lbs.
Muskie/Tiger Muskie 40 in. 15 lbs.
Perch - Yellow 13 in. 1.25 lbs.
Perch - White 12 in. 1 lb.
Northern Pike 36 in. 10 lbs.
Sauger 21 in. 3 lbs.
Saugeye 23 in. 5 lbs.
Sunfish 10 in. 1 lb.
Trout - Brook 14 in. 1 lb.
Trout - Brown 22 in. 4 lbs.
Trout - Rainbow 23 in. 5 lbs.
Walleye 28 in. 8 lbs
Go to Wanahoo...buddy fished it Friday and Saturday and iced plenty of BG and CP
Go to Wanahoo...buddy fished it Friday and Saturday and iced plenty of BG and CP
That was Plan B. Not my decision.
TJ, you always have the most beautiful fish. Congrats on the BC award. I looked it up, cool state program.
Thanks Fire...get your butt up here, few more weeks of ice left, if the long range forecast is correct.
It's a state program that awards a certificate for a fish, in Nebraska's opinion, which attains trophy status. I am not into certificates or awards, but many of us still use this system as a standard to exceed. NE requirements are below - and after reviewing, apparently I've busted the HSB mark several times [I thought it was 28"], the YP mark a few times [thought it was 14"], and am pretty close to the SMB, RES and BG in my pond. Cool!
Bass - Largemouth 20 in. 5 lbs.
Bass - Smallmouth 18 in. 3 lbs.
Bass - Spotted 18 in. 3 lbs.
Bass - Rock 11 in. 1 lb.
Bass - Striped 32 in. 10 lbs.
Bass - Striper hybrid 24 in. 8 lbs.
Bass - White 17 in. 2.5 lbs.
Bluegill 10 in. 1 lb.
Bullhead 15 in. 2 lbs.
Catfish - Blue 40 in. 30 lbs.
Catfish - Channel 30 in. 12 lbs.
Catfish - Flathead 32 in. 15 lbs.
Crappie 15 in. 2 lbs.
Muskie/Tiger Muskie 40 in. 15 lbs.
Perch - Yellow 13 in. 1.25 lbs.
Perch - White 12 in. 1 lb.
Northern Pike 36 in. 10 lbs.
Sauger 21 in. 3 lbs.
Saugeye 23 in. 5 lbs.
Sunfish 10 in. 1 lb.
Trout - Brook 14 in. 1 lb.
Trout - Brown 22 in. 4 lbs.
Trout - Rainbow 23 in. 5 lbs.
Walleye 28 in. 8 lbs
Cool program.. Where did you find out about this and does anyone know if Illinois has anything like this..
I'm not really into certificates either, basically because I can't win/achieve any lol but these seem like something I can achieve right up my alley..
It's a state program that awards a certificate for a fish, in Nebraska's opinion, which attains trophy status. I am not into certificates or awards, but many of us still use this system as a standard to exceed. NE requirements are below - and after reviewing, apparently I've busted the HSB mark several times [I thought it was 28"], the YP mark a few times [thought it was 14"], and am pretty close to the SMB, RES and BG in my pond. Cool!
Bass - Largemouth 20 in. 5 lbs.
Bass - Smallmouth 18 in. 3 lbs.
Bass - Spotted 18 in. 3 lbs.
Bass - Rock 11 in. 1 lb.
Bass - Striped 32 in. 10 lbs.
Bass - Striper hybrid 24 in. 8 lbs.
Bass - White 17 in. 2.5 lbs.
Bluegill 10 in. 1 lb.
Bullhead 15 in. 2 lbs.
Catfish - Blue 40 in. 30 lbs.
Catfish - Channel 30 in. 12 lbs.
Catfish - Flathead 32 in. 15 lbs.
Crappie 15 in. 2 lbs.
Muskie/Tiger Muskie 40 in. 15 lbs.
Perch - Yellow 13 in. 1.25 lbs.
Perch - White 12 in. 1 lb.
Northern Pike 36 in. 10 lbs.
Sauger 21 in. 3 lbs.
Saugeye 23 in. 5 lbs.
Sunfish 10 in. 1 lb.
Trout - Brook 14 in. 1 lb.
Trout - Brown 22 in. 4 lbs.
Trout - Rainbow 23 in. 5 lbs.
Walleye 28 in. 8 lbs
Cool program.. Where did you find out about this and does anyone know if Illinois has anything like this..
I'm not really into certificates either, basically because I can't win/achieve any lol but these seem like something I can achieve right up my alley..
After a little research I found the Illinois info sounds pretty cool I'm gonna give it a shot thanks for that little bit of info TJ
BGK, does Illinois make any exceptions for fish on an artificial feeding program? In Indiana, fed fish are not eligible for record status, but I THINK they are still accepted for the Fish of The Year program.
It says has to be caught on Illinois waters.. But nothing about private or fed.. I know quite a few illinois records are held by privately owned farm ponds..
TJ, you are really doing some great things at your pond! Congratulations!!
Very nice Nate. Everybody looked like they were having a large time.
Looking Good and COLD!!!
Smiles all around are a good sign that everyone is having a blast!!
Well done Nate - nothing beats a multi-species day of trophy fish and happy friends...except for HOT GOURMET FOOD ON THE ICE! My buddies get a granola bar flattened in the bottom of my bucket, and all the waxies they can manage to keep down.
I gotta know...what was on the menu in that one pic? Looks like something in a pot - was it a fish chowder made fresh on the ice? I did brats and burgers once...not sure I've ever eaten anything that tasted better on that 10 degree day.
Man alive, n8ly!!!
Was that all from your lake?
TJ,
First off your fish at your pond rock! we need to be talking about steps to take right now to make sure it stays rockin well into the future.... i have some thoughts for you to consider, for another thread another day.....
Second, you are exactly right on the stew in the pot.....Its fish chowder and the main ingredients are super fresh 1 walleye, 1 bass, 1 crappie, and 2 bluegill....also we had marinated venison loin, venison burgers, polish sausage and sauer kraut! Feasting is every bit as important as fishing!!
Sunil,
That was indeed all from my lake and those pics dont even scratch the surface....check
nates fishing blog later this week cause I am gonna post all the pics that people promised to email me from their cameras.... I barely got any pics, everyone pretty much had camera's with em....
Sauerkraut is great...provided one isn't fishing in tents a little later on
n8ly:
What sized BOW did those Walleye come from?
TH, Do I see some black spots on one of those SMB?
Hey Scott
Yes, it was weird - I noticed a few black spots on the bottom of the SMB we caught this weekend. No clue what that is, otherwise they appeared very healthy. Anyone have a clue? I don't think it's black spot - from other photos I see they are much larger and much darker spots.
TJ:
The black spot that I see on some local fish are about 1/32" in dia, and there could be a few or many on the fish.
I see those little black spots on many of my smallies. I don't think it's anything serious.
It's an angler that has risen above the status of Master Baiter.
Wow Nate awesome fisheries!
Teehjaeh57 you've got some nice fish there!
I can't tell from the pictures very well but the black spot doesn't look like the trematode "black spot." Too big for those.
I think it's been discussed here and no one out there really knows what it is but it doesn't appear to be harmful to the fish. Could be anything from a virus to scar tissue to genetic. There was conjecture it's more common in bass that are subjected to lots of catch and release as in bass tournaments, but it's only conjecture.
I know I introduced a thread on it here but I suck at doing searches here so good luck finding it.
As far as the bulging eyes that could be several things including parasitic issues. If it's only a few fish and they seem to be healthy it might not be anything to worry about.
I've noticed my fish with high relative weights tend to have bulging eyes. It could be excessive carbs in their diets making them functional diabetics (according to Dr. Brown of Purdue he says too many carbs not only produce this but also excessive viseral fat. He says they are able to function fairly normally in contrast to mammals though.)
I've got pics somewhere around here of some large bass in a Bass Pro tank that have seriously bulging eyes that are otherwise healthy.
Thanks guys, again, only a couple of the 20 SMB I've caught this Winter had those small spots - maybe 2mm diamter, they almost looked like freckles - not raised or inflamed or anything that APPEARS harmful. Thanks for your reassurance Sunil, Scott and Cecil...you know how I feel about my SMB babies. I feel a sense of relief, but will keep you posted via photos on other fish and if it's increasing in frequency, etc.
Check out this ice we were fishing on yesterday. 12" so no problem, but sure looks sketchy.
WOW! Where was that? How big was the BOW?
Wow that's cool I can say I've honestly never seen that before..
Never seen that before, floating ice that refroze. Pretty cool. Mine was 6" honeycombed and melting fast - probably 3" when we left around 5. Even I would not venture out again after rain and 40s yesterday and another warm day today.
Esshup and Cecil,
All those fish came from the same body of water....30 acre lake...
WOW! Where was that? How big was the BOW?
260 acre lake near Prague, NE. Was only on a small section of the lake. The rest was pretty clear.
That ice is creepy! Never encountered that one before.
That lake has a real 'head cheese' look to it.
Gol dang it Sunil! Now I gotta add to the grocery list.
That lake has a real 'head cheese' look to it.
Sunil -- you are absolutely right! If just a few pieces were a little pink and dark red, mixed with those white pieces, it would look exactly like headcheese.
Yeesh! Now I gotta go get a block of headcheese out of the freezer to thaw for tomorrow! (I put four good size chunks in the freezer just after Christmas. I wasn't sure when I'd again find a good head to work with.)
Wanna come down for a visit? No fishin' -- just lots of ice on the ponds. But, lots of good eatn'.
Ymmm!
Reminds me of jello in a way.
Crazy day....skim ice on the ponds this morning, 63 degrees this afternoon, frogs hollering this evening.
Caught this guy before work. 10-1/4" x 21 ozs.
that pig looks like it could put a dent in a frog population, good lookin fish Sprk
His little tail is so cute.
Great one Sprk. What people wouldn't give to get out and wrestle one of those before work. You're a lucky man.
Ken, what is the word that native W.Va. people call head cheese. In my growing up in Ky.,it was called souse. My parents loved it but none of their 8 children liked it and we went to bed hungry many times. I never heard of head cheese till I moved to the flat lands.
FULL DISCLOSURE:
Today was a bust at Lake Fork. When 4 foot waves are filling up a 21' Ranger, it's time to get off the water and reload for another day.
My trophy of the day, a great slice of Coconut Pie. Apparently I misread the January fishing manual.
In one respect I would say you hit a homerun !
That is a serious piece of coconut cream pie. Now start on the treadmill.
Dave, I can't spell treedmell.
I got rid of mine. It was kinda old but was still low mileage.
Ken, what is the word that native W.Va. people call head cheese. In my growing up in Ky.,it was called souse. My parents loved it but none of their 8 children liked it and we went to bed hungry many times. I never heard of head cheese till I moved to the flat lands.
For most of us, it's a word we can't use on this forum!
No pig head boiling for you Todd? We ate the whole hog except for intestines, which many people around this area love.
Anyone make blood sausage?
No pig head boiling for you Todd? We ate the whole hog except for intestines, which many people around this area love.
Actually experienced some of Catmandoo's head cheese with Sunil and Rainman a couple of years ago. We were surprised that it actually pretty good. Definitely not what we had expected!
Here is Sunil seeing how much he could eat without using his hands. He gave it a game effort!
Todd, I have eaten it several times but have had all that I will eat.Here is a true story, maybe you like something better if you don't know what it is. Wivey great uncle said that during the depression that his family had eaten all the non laying chickens and a doctor friend told them he wanted to come for a visit. The doctor was very successful and had no idea how bad times were in the mountains. Great uncle said that all they had was a possum they had caught a few nights before but none of the family liked the taste so they caged it to give to someone who would eat it. Anyway they fried it up and doc sets down and grabs a front leg, eats it, then eats other front leg. Seeing he liked it they asked him if he wanted any more. He told them he was full as he had ate both wings.
Great story, kenc.
Truthfully, what catmandoo had prepared was Jellied Pig Knuckles.
The picture gives a somewhat incomplete impression of the events. We had eaten one dish of JPK already. When catmandoo brought out the second dish, Todd dared me to eat the JPK without the usage of my hands, or Triscuits. Todd was drunk.
I took the dare and set off inhaling the JPK.
I was about half-way done with the second dish when Todd realized that I was going to finish the whole dish.
He panicked and snatched this dish from before me. He ran into the bathroom, locked the door, and finish the last of our JPK.
He then passed out in the bathroom, with a fully belly, and goatee full of meat and gelatin.
I do like the JPF. Do you know what the native W.Va. people call headcheese? I am a curious type.
Great story, kenc.
Truthfully, what catmandoo had prepared was Jellied Pig Knuckles.
The picture gives a somewhat incomplete impression of the events. We had eaten one dish of JPK already. When catmandoo brought out the second dish, Todd dared me to eat the JPK without the usage of my hands, or Triscuits. Todd was drunk.
I took the dare and set off inhaling the JPK.
I was about half-way done with the second dish when Todd realized that I was going to finish the whole dish.
He panicked and snatched this dish from before me. He ran into the bathroom, locked the door, and finish the last of our JPK.
He then passed out in the bathroom, with a fully belly, and goatee full of meat and gelatin.
I was apparently drunk enough that I thought it was head cheese! Listen. I thought we had agreed not to talk about that whole "locked myself in the bathroom" thing. The pig meat and gelatin in my goatee was bad enough, but I could have lived with that! And you WERE going hog wild (pun fully intended) on the JPK - I had no other choice but to stage an intervention!
Sounds like two good friends having a great time. However I hope I don't see you guys on Springer.
Weekends at Sunil's pond usually lead to some sort of misadventure. One never knows where it'll end up!
Are we confusing the words "misadventure" and "gunplay"?
Are we confusing the words "misadventure" and "gunplay"?
Hey, it's all about perspective, baby!
Man am I jealous. Lost our good ice a couple of weeks ago. Only got to go twice so far this year. Had fun while it lasted though, caught 7 CC between 5&7 pounds. Several nice HBG, and a few LMB. Look like its over for this year. Those are some nice looking fish.
Steve, did you snap a photo or two?
I too think its over for this year which stinks really bad...
It was 5 degrees here last night.
On a side note, I've found the two worst things to get caught in your beard/goatee are ice cream and butter.
Both get rank in less than 30 minutes.
No pics n8ly. The way the temps look for the rest of Feb. I wont be doing any fishing until March, at the Dam on the Spoon.
On a side note, I've found the two worst things to get caught in your beard/goatee are ice cream and butter.
Both get rank in less than 30 minutes.
That's good advice right there!
Post more fish photos, you rednecks!
...
(takes one to know one)
This has turned into the 2013 Ramblin rambler thread. Everyone's just Ramblin on
On a side note, I've found the two worst things to get caught in your beard/goatee are ice cream and butter.
Both get rank in less than 30 minutes.
That's good advice right there!
3 day old Tuna with onions may also be a bad choice
It depends if the tuna is raw or not...
It is hard to fish when you spend most of your time either passed out or getting foodstocks from your beard.
This will likely be the last weekend of good ice here. Took the wife out for the first time this morning. A few fish caught, nothing to brag about. Best of all though, she enjoyed herself, which is saying something considering her disdain for the cold.
Omaha, that's a great pic.
That is an awesome pic!
Is the hat genuine Ice Armor issue also??
Can't say I've seen that in their catalog.
Sorry misspelled FRESH..
I meant were the wipers recently stocked whats the details on them..
Sorry misspelled FRESH..
I meant were the wipers recently stocked whats the details on them..
That's actually a yellow bass from public waters. They are an invasive species here and were removed.
I imagine a well intentioned bucket biologist thought they were wipers too.
Interesting. I thought it was a young HSB.
I hate it when a fish tries to imitate another species for nefarious purposes.
I had never seen a yellow bass until a couple of years ago. Then they appeared and seem to be thriving in some lakes. I expect larger fish must get a lot of them. Not sure what their long term effect will be.
Small size, high fecundity and aggressive. Bad news.
Iowa Report on Yellow BassParagraph 3 was interesting, and I didn't know that.
Biggest I've seen is less than 3/4 pound, but there are pics of guy's catching them at almost 3 pounds.
Good piece Fire. They're a nuisance, but they are easy to catch. Between our small group of friends we removed between 50-60 probably. They are small fillets, but they are just as good as white bass.
Yellow Bass and White Perch are really similar...the only thing that benefits from hoards of schooling fish like that are predators large enough to benefit. We have a good size reservoir [1,700 ac] near Lincoln called Branched Oak, and it has been overrun with white perch. The resulting fishery has few WE and HSB, but the ones caught are typically very large. The BC and FC fishing however is nearing epic status...I'd say it's one of the best FC fisheries in the world at this point due to all those WP. The best method for catching monster FC - Trolling cranks during daylight hours! Amazing...
Nice BG Josh, well done. Some really nice looking fish there.
And is BC black crappie or Blue Catfish?, or Bruce Condello?
Hit the pond Saturday, might have been our last day on the ice. Had another good day, probably 20 HBCP to 14", dozen YP to 13", 5 WE to 13", and SMB from 10-17", and early in the day we finally found some decent BG to 8.5", which is great for my pond. I was very happy to see the larger YP finally, we caught two Master angler fish and several chunky 8-12" fish. Did catch a 4" HBCP...first F2 from the ice...hmmmm - will they become a management issue moving forward??? I didn't do much fishing myself as photos will reveal, instead worked as guide punching holes, cooking brats and snapping pics - and that was ok by me!
Some beautiful fish there. Those big female YP are really nice.
Great looking fish TJ!
Nice BG Josh, well done. Some really nice looking fish there.
While we didn't measure every fish, those that we did were 10"+. Would be my first MA bluegills. And on that noodle rod, they were a blast!
And is BC black crappie or Blue Catfish?, or Bruce Condello?
FC - Flathead Catfish...did I use the wrong abbreviation? Is it FHC?
BC - Blue Catfish...did I mess that up, too?
According to the acronyms list, FHC = flathead catfish and BC = blue catfish. No FC.
I thought BC was black crappie.
Perhaps it's BCP, but that's a little too close to another abbreviation frequently used by one of our more renowned and loquacious left coast members and so I'm sure it wasn't chosen for the very reason that it would encourage him to share posts on his apparel preferences!
I thought BC was black crappie.
Perhaps it's BCP, but that's a little too close to another abbreviation frequently used by one of our more renowned and loquacious left coast members and so I'm sure it wasn't chosen for the very reason that it would encourage him to share posts on his apparel preferences!
I think BCP is black crappie.
The 'bad' BCP has 'Brazilian' in it.
As usual, beautiful fish TJ. Looks like good time had by all.
Thanks Al - was very happy to see larger YP showing up at long last - helps address some of my concerns. Now I can focus on increasing the population of YP and getting these to 14-15"+ size!
Those 13" female YP should be 14" maybe 14.5" next winter if you keep feeding them.
I hope so, they aren't getting any younger! I think those are age 5 or 6 YP, I think I read they can live up to 9-10 years? That estimate is longer than I would have suspected.
Life span trend of yellow perch is similar to other fish. Fast growing pellet raised fish tend to have shorter life spans compared to slow growing fish eating natural foods. I guess my pellet raised perch live to be 8 maybe 9 years.
Got to fish our big puddle this morning before a thunderstorm ran us in. Big weather rolling through right East TX right now.
They were hitting chartreuse square bills and rattle traps. Momma's CNBG was the best though. Using her right knuckles, George and I got 11" length. But, the CNBG looked like a 1960's British rock star. Thin, pale, and tall.
Excuse the pics, all I had was my phone. We caught almost an ice chest full.
Al, I want you or Robbie to have the next Private Water Texas State Bluegill flyrod record – it’s only 1.84 lbs...
I'm guessing an immature male but with no scale tipping - female?
Robbie out-fished you again...
With your over-crowded LMB lake, you have some monster CNBG!
Nice...looks like a great day.
Do you end up cleaning the LMB and what would you guess is the average weight/size of them?
FNC, we always clean them, and take them to the fire station. We have a freezer full, but I hate to just waste them.
We actually caught 2 that couldn't get the crank bait in their mouth, and that always amazes me when fish that small bite. Most were 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 pounds. I got to many LMB, and yes George, she did out fish me again.
She was wadered up because she was supposed to be helping me sink Christmas trees. It didn't seem to work out that way..
Sure looks like fun! That beats what I did this morning. Went and shot a round of Sporting Clays in 22°F temps.
Scott, we ate at Stacie's last night, just sayin'.
Me, Benelli's, and 22 degrees would not work at all. You're a tougher guy than me!
Scott, we ate at Stacie's last night, just sayin'.
Me, Benelli's, and 22 degrees would not work at all. You're a tougher guy than me!
Dang it, and I'm hungry now to boot!
O/U's work fine in the cold.
Had one pair where I broke the first bird and couldn't figure why the gun wasn't going off when I pulled the trigger for the second bird. I had trapped the trigger, and a quick release the trigger, pull the trigger got it before it went into the trees.
a thunderstorm ran us in. Big weather rolling through right East TX right now.
Al you done good! Wow!
We were laying french drains today until
the weather you speak about hit us too!
Scott, Did you go to the Back Forty in Bourbon? Great place.....my son got married there, and daughter had her reception in the hall.
Mike, yes. That's the place. The Meisters are good people. Did you know that all of the wood banquet hall with the exception of the ceiling was made from trees that was cut/milled on the property?
Nicely done Al - you need to tag that BG so you know every time you catch Morrissey or Bowie!
One question - what this "thunderstorm" business to which you refer?
TJ, you won the prize. Was wondering if anybody was going to get The Thin White Duke reference.
I've actually ordered tags, got a digital fish scale, and set up better documentation stuff I can carry in the Mule. Also working on some interesting iPad apps that will work in the field with no cell signal. Pretty kludgy right now but if the data is saved, that's all I need. Bits is bits.
We had big weather roll through yesterday, and then again this morning about 04:30. Big winds, thunder and lightning, and very fast hard rain. All my water looked like clay this morning from the runoff. Nothing like up north right now, but typical spring weather here and you don't want to be in a tin boat when it hits.
Scott, I am glad you think the Meisters are good people, my daughter married Larry's nephew! Small world, Larry also gave me some advice from experiences he had from his pond.
Caught my first brown trout yesterday.
NICE fish Omaha!!
Come on now, please tell me that you used a fly rod.
I have to figure out how to use standard tackle first!
Well done Josh - where was this? I will teach you to flycast this Spring...
Verdigre. Beautiful place. Crazy cold and windy yesterday though. I got some GoPro footage too. Interested to see how that turned out. Fishing was tough.
What did you use?
It's crazy windy here today - they're calling for gusts in the 50 mph range.
Got some new waders Josh? LOL - good job.
One question - what this "thunderstorm" business to which you refer?
Something that happens when it shouldn't or year around in the South. Anyways snow tomorrow!
A waxie on a single hook under a tiny bobber drifted down to holes we thought the fish might be held up in. It was a much different form of fishing than I'm used to. Was frustrating at times, but the fight from these gorgeous fish was worth it.
Got some new waders Josh? LOL - good job.
These were loaners, but I will be getting a pair very soon. Before spring for sure when I expect a phone call to put them to good use.
Finally got to hit the hard water. Went up friday night, and between the three of us, caught a ridiculous amount of medium bluegill, a few bass apiece, and there was one pike, 24", no pic, since Chris, knowing i wanted to kill it, decided that as soon as my back was turned to set it free to be caught again. (which also means I couldn't pull the mouth size, sorry guys).
Here's the catch of the weekend, 2.5lbs, on a medium shiner dead center of the pond, 2ft off the bottom.
feels good to have walked on water. All in all it was a great weekend.
Nice work amigo. Ice has been long gone here for some time, but we just might get another lockdown event this week due to some crazy low temps coming. Is that a photo of you or one of your boys?
I think I discovered what happened to all of the perch in my pond. This is a new record at 19.25 inches and 3.5 pounds. I stocked him almost four years ago. It was a fun day on the pond!
I am amazed at the vivid colors on the fish caught under ice. In the winter our fish are white coming out of the water. My water is green and most bodies of water are dark tannic but the fish looks like Casper.
Good looking fish, well done! Good to hear from you Brian, you need to pop in more often.
Nice work amigo. Ice has been long gone here for some time, but we just might get another lockdown event this week due to some crazy low temps coming. Is that a photo of you or one of your boys?
That's my grumpy mug. It looks like they will have one more good weekend of ice fishing up on the IL/WI border. That's it for me, though, I'm travelling for work next week.
All of you with ice still on your ponds, kill it for me.
-skinny
I am amazed at the vivid colors on the fish caught under ice. In the winter our fish are white coming out of the water. My water is green and most bodies of water are dark tannic but the fish looks like Casper.
I've found the same thing here in southern IL. Up north at my dad's place, everything is green and vivid. Down south at my mother in law's pond, it seems from thanksgiving to easter they are even whiter than I am, which is tough, since apparently the irish lost the ability to get a sun tan in their long, storied evolution.
Maybe it's the generations of whiskey in my family's gene pool, but I don't know why that happens with the fish.
-skinny
Good to finally see you, dude.
Good to finally see you, dude.
is this the first appearance of the not-so-skinnybass on the forums? I suppose I am usually the one with the camera...lol
Skinny,I am Irish also(wear sz 9 shoe) but our skin color is great for growing skin cancer.
First pic of skinny that I recall. Hey, you've just arrived in a kind of 'second dimension' so to speak, for all of us on the forum....we now know what you look like.
The the look of LMB that come up from ice covered clear water is awesome!
Irish is a state of mind.....
Wow, some of those fish are huge! How did you catch them?
At first glance it appeared as though everyone has their heads bowed in prayer with the exception of Nate hammering a slab of ribs and an eye on a ball game [or waitress on a ladder]! I know better than to post something that asinine and out of character for you.
First pic of skinny that I recall. Hey, you've just arrived in a kind of 'second dimension' so to speak, for all of us on the forum....we now know what you look like.
Hold on - you said my blood sample was mandatory for my ascent to the "second dimension"...let's try to remain consistent - and what did you do with my blood?
If life was as simple as fishing!
TJ,
Maryland was taking down Duke with prob 3 minutes to go when they snapped that pic....
whitefishin is a must on your list for next year... we drop down cameras 80-100' deet and watch the schools of whitefish swim by and try to coax them into biting jigging rapalas that look like gobies bouncing on the bottom.... 2-5 lbs and they taste awesome!!!
also the burbots are an occasional bonus...
its not rocket science on getting them and the guides up there will show you the spots and transport you out there for $75 per group of 4, if you have all your own gear....
Nate, what do you with the burbot?
Dwight, if you grow up in the mountains,you usually Irish or Scotish. As a rule,Irish men have small feet. John Wayne was Irish and wore a sz.8 1/2 shoe. I have no clue if it is true what women say about men with little feet(it is in my case).
First pic of skinny that I recall. Hey, you've just arrived in a kind of 'second dimension' so to speak, for all of us on the forum....we now know what you look like.
wow...the second dimension. Dont know if i should be honored or frightened.
On the topic of small feet...im 5'9", i wear a 10.5, but triple wide for my ridiculous hobbit feet. Sketchers and new balance are the only brands that make a comfortable shoe in my size, so for my work shoes, my formal shoes and my redwing boots, i wear a 12 with a bunch of extra space in the toe.
And yes, the fam has a history of skin cancer. Also, i hate the hot climate, the humidity and the abundant sunshine. i need to get out of st louis somehow, maybe back up to wisconsin eventually. I think we were made for more temperate climes.
-Skinny
dwight, we eat the burbot!! phee nom in el....
dwight, we eat the burbot!! phee nom in el....
burbot is a tasty fish.
Also...im completely jealous of your ice trip, nate. I might have to look into one like that in the future.
-skinny
Skinny,Ireland hasn't had much sunshine in the last few thousand years.
Finely done again Nate.
Anyone ever fished Lake Winnebago up there in Wisconsin?
Here's what's on the menu for tonight. Roughly 14" long. Since I don't trust the ice, I was fishing from shore in the open water from the diffuser. I could catch one on every cast if I let the silver/orange Little Cleo spoon sink to the bottom before starting the retrieve. This is the smallest one that I caught, most were around 16"-18". They were stocked as 1# fish in October.
Very nice Scott! Whaddya' mean you don't trust the ice?
( I fished open water today on our ponds)
NICE TROUT!! boy i wish i could have goldens in my pond. is see them in the river all the time its nice cause you allways know where they are at witch makes it easier to irritate em with a spinner.
NICE TROUT!! boy i wish i could have goldens in my pond. is see them in the river all the time its nice cause you allways know where they are at witch makes it easier to irritate em with a spinner.
Maybe I missed it elsewhere, but I'm curious why you can't have goldens in your pond. As far as I know, they are legal everywhere in PA, as long as they meet state disease test requirements.
The original gold mutant rainbow fish came from WV, but it was breeders in PA who propagated the goldens by breeding and interbreeding with regular rainbows to develop today's golden trout.
Generally, they are readily available in PA, WV, and VA.
If you have trouble finding goldens next season, send me a PM and I'll get you in touch with the agriculture/aquaculture in Harrisburg who can help you.
Ken G.
As i have said before we live in a old coal mining town so the ph of my spring is low 5.5 to 6 it varys when i addlime to raise the ph i do have acess to goldens the luarel hill trout farm in somerset pa have some pretty big ones I bouught some rainbow trout and tryed them before. and after stocking they died in 15 minutes while the brook trout did fine the rainbows were flying around the pond trying to getout the guy at the farm ssaid brooks can take a lower ph and the low ph was burning the gills of the bows.
Hmmm. Serious bummer. And, as I guess you have unfortunately found, it would require near constant attention, and a lot of lime every week to make it habitable.
Sorry to hear that.
FWIW, it was a Male. I wonder how much more color it would have had if I were feeding it the special food?
First day of March... 32 degrees, fishing in the snow before work. Managed 4 one pound class HBG...
Today's fish came on a 1/100oz jighead, with a 1" Finesse plastic from Custom Jigs and Spins...red. Tipped that with a couple of spikes, and hung it below a small slip float. 10' of water, fishing two feet off the bottom.
Typical sprkplug beauty!! You should post a pic of your rig sometime sprk
Ice out finally came today so I had to take my ulta light down to the pond to see if could snag my lost ice fishing pole, no luck on the pole but I did catch one YP and one SMB. Both looked very healthy.
Sorry, no pics this time but I really wasn't expecting to actually catch any fish. I spent most of the time dragging a jig with a curly tail across the bottom trying to snag the line from my ice fishing pole. Once I gave up on finding the pole I spent 10 minutes hopping the jig off the bottom, that's when I caught both fish.
cool how big were the fish. hope you find your pole a friend was fishing at a local lake with lots of carp in it and he wasn't catching anything so he walked away from the pole and as soon as he did a monster fish took the pole and all. now theres a poor fish draging around a fishing pole at the bottom of the lake.
SMPD, most of us old timers have fishing stuff decorating the bottom of a pond.
Shorty:
Don't feel bad. I fished a spinning rod and reel out of a lake after it was underwater for about 9 months. I looked for it for a long while, and didn't find it until the ice went off of the lake the next Spring. The guide wraps were turned white, but after giving the Penn 650SS a good take-apart cleaning, it still works as good as before it went for an extended bath.
I still haven't found my ice fishing rod but I did find two of these this morning.
I still haven't found my ice fishing rod but I did find two of these this morning.
NICE!
Shorty, a trick that has worked for me is to take a fish stringer with metal clips - open all clips and drag across bottom. One of the "hooks" will snag the line or in one case for me - the fishing rod.
Give it a shot - worked for me a couple of times....
G/
The wife caught this nice little smallie last Friday evening. I'll set her up with a crawdad on a 2/0 worm hook. I always let her use live bait since she says she only wants to go fishing if she knows she will catch something. Go figure....
All hail the awesome Smallmouth!!!
Absolutely beautiful fish!
I don't blame her. If I knew that I wouldn't catch anything..................
We went for a trip to beautiful Glazener Pond today, and Nicky did what she always does. She out fished us.
Very healthy HSB
Shhh, we were culling LMB and she didn't know.
Actually, we caught around 8 runt LMB that needed to go. Nicky loves her fish, so discretion was the rule of the day.
Went yesterday, took a 1/16 oz white jig head w/white tube body and a barbless hook.... skunked. But had my knee scoped late last week and it beat sitting in the house on a beautiful sunny day!
Shhh, we were culling LMB and she didn't know.
Actually, we caught around 8 runt LMB that needed to go. Nicky loves her fish, so discretion was the rule of the day.
Al and I were on a mission to take out as many male Florida LMB as we could but caught mostly females - rattle traps and crank baits not nearly effctive as Al's shock boat...
Want to get best Camelot Bell LMB spawn as possible.
They do have "catchability" genes - three caught and released since stocked.
Al and my "adult superisors" don't like watching us killin' fish...they are not happy with us...
G/
The last two months of crazy weather has made the fishing tough. This is the first decent fish in weeks.
OK, back to my HSB AND OTS CNBG....
Yesterday hit our pond for first fun fishin' since January and thought we would try somethng different - real flies....
One chewed up from OTS CNBG and HSB - new one for comparison...
Caught dozens or so of immature males and females - culled 5-8 inchers - never broke 10 inches tho - big boys must have lovin' on their minds...
The rest of the story - who woulda thunk HSB would jump all over those buggy little flies?
Those are some nice HSB George. I can't wait to add them to my pond.
It was extremely kind of Mrs G to let you catch some of her fish.
Nicky's smile is priceless.
Not so sure Al. She might have just let him hold it for a picture.
I knew I should not have given her that sweet little 4wt fly rod!!!
Talk about skill - she had a good teacher....
She beats you every time George !! BTW nice fish - HSB & OTS CNBG.
She is your better half George ! Just noticed the Texas coin in the pic - nice touch there!
You sure you did not pump-up those HSB with the portable O2 revival unit just before the pic - they sure are fat.
For my 2 cents - I still like that OTS CNBG best of all !!
For my 2 cents - I still like that OTS CNBG best of all !!
Me too - PERFECT CONFIRMATION!
Less than one year old and close to 9 inches!
Likely brothers and sisters of Allens and Brians OTS CNBG stockers if early/late spawners..
G/
2 feeders dead, and I wasn't happy so I decided to fish a little. Tried out my new fly rod, and caught a bunch of these.
Measuring from the Dr Slicks, I think the top one's about 9", and very thick. The bottom one's a little bigger, but thinner.
Oh, I ordered another Texas Hunter. I was stupid for cheaping my fish.
Are your bluegill already coming to the feed?
dustin
Now Al, are you holding Robbie's fish - and on George's Point?
Good job - waiting for that 2 pounder!
G/
Dustin, yes finally. I've just been hand throwing food until they started back feeding. That's how I know my feeders were hosed. Water was 66 today, so it's about time.
Robbie caught one runt today. She's not patient enough with a fly rod.
You get your order in while the sale was still on? (TH that is)
Yep. And momma got a slightly used $400 Moultree planter box.
The boys wanted to tangle with something a little larger than our usual HBG, so we hit the catfish pond this afternoon...
Gavin, with a 6.5 lb CC:
Gage, with a 1.5 lb HSB....these were stocked a year ago at 6-7". This one went over 13" today.
Great pics. Their smiles tell the whole story.
Pretty cool they can just ask you for something different and you can grant them that wish. Nicely done Sparky.
Nice smallie how much did it weigh?
I didn't weigh it, that smallie is just 12-1/2". That one was just 5-6" when I stocked them in late October of 2011.
That's looking good for you Shorty! Reason I asked about the glass shrimp earlier, is because I think that's what TJ has and thought maybe some made the trip.
I did get 700+ glass shrimp from TJ last fall but have not found any in my recent rake surveys or seen any of them in shallow water.
My rake surveys have turned up at lot of tadpoles, small GSH, YOY RES, damzel fly larvea, dragon fly larvea, a few large leeches, a few fingernail clams, at least one large FHM, one large leopard frog, and one walking stick, but no glass shrimp. Despite that I think they are still present in the pond.
Nice smallie! Its got potential to get thick.
Wow, Shortay! That's quite a rake survey!
Wow, Shortay! That's quite a rake survey!
Truth be told Sunil I am just keeping a small area clean for spawning, I have pea gravel and some rock piles in the shallow south corner of my dam, but it is the one place I have FA. I have been running well water into that corner and the FA seems to like it, not sure why but it does.
It was an impressive inventory of creatures.
Nice SMB. How about pics of the critters in the grass ?
Nice SMB. How about pics of the critters in the grass ?
I will see what I can do but the weather needs to turn nicer, temps are taking a big dip for next few days.
Shorty did you get all the sleet , freezing rain , snow and hail as per the Weather Channel ? Saw where Denver went from 70 to 16 overnight with high winds and 6-8 inches of snow. Flights cancelled and snow plowing deferred.
We are on the edge of the nasty stuff but it mostly missed us. We had temps around freezing this morning with a little bit of sleet on the windshield when I left this morning. I was hoping for more rain but we only had .58" of rain in the last 24 hours in our gauge, Lincoln had .90" Northwestern NE had highs in the teens yesterday while the southeast corner of the state had a high of 75. There was straight line wind damage in central NE yesterday with roofs getting torn off and power poles snapped.
Where were those fish caught, n8ly?
What do you mean "most people dream of a bass boat"?
My BIL has a really nice 19' Boston Whaler. His uncle gave it to him. (insert envy here) I wish I bought his Coastal Fisherman when he sold it. I did not even know it was for sale until it was gone. Some doctor scarfed it up, and this thing was loaded.
Nice boat!!!
Nate, you going to drag that down to Florida?
Sunil, those fish were caught in my lake. I have a super cool pond manager who uses my lake as a proving grounds for his crazy fish growing experiments...
Scott, the plan is to use the boat at my lake from April-September and down in Gulf Shores from October-March.....
Nate, that's going to be a blast!!!
Hammered the HSB today they are getting huge. Piece of crap photobucket ap never works so I can't load any pics..
You know what they say. "No pics........."
Hammered the HSB today they are getting huge. Piece of crap photobucket ap never works so I can't load any pics..
Try imgur.com. Very easy to use.
Nate not seeing the pics, not sure if anyone else is having that issue. My internet is slow this morning.
I have always thought about getting a center console myself when I was living in the Chitown area to fish the great lakes with. But I went with a full windshield.
I see the pictures now.
Lassig- I'm seeing all the pics....
Impressive fish Nate.
Nate, I'm finally seeing a lot more center consoles down here. They just make a lot of sense when more than 2 people want to fish comfortably.
Looks like a great day, congrats.
Man! n8ly, your lake is just jumping off!
I took 9 boys fishing this afternoon on my maiden voyage in my new boat. They had a blast!
Nice boat Nate - but don't like towers tho, but I am a fly fisherman - sweet water and salty.
Here's my center console Falcon Grande - best boat ever built!
Wouldn't hazerd a guess how many striped bass and SMB caught out of that boat.
Wish I had known you back then but you were in kneepants..
Sold it to my best fishin' buddy for ten bucks with promise to "pass it on".
Have fun with your new boat and establish a leagacy!
George
Just caught the first HSB of the season on a fly rod yesterday. It was just under 9lbs. I'm really scared about getting the larger ones in, now!
Hi Stacy, I could not get your pictures to come up on photo thread format, so I transfered to Fishn' 2013?
Hi Stacy – my HSB is not as big as yours, but do I ever have a story to tell:
The rest of the story:
Yesterday, the CNBG and HSB were feeding like crazy and we caught dozens of CNBG.
Mrs. G was experimenting with Stubby “scraps” since she had to give most of her new psllets away…
.. and I was experimenting with worms.
This morning the situation was reversed – fish were not feeding at all and just caught a couple or so on the original brown...so I had an idea to experiment – or innovate?
Put on a brown Stubby pellet with a white “scrap tail” on a #6 Mustad bait hook – cast into deeper water and hooked up a CNBG occasionally.
Put on a chartreaus “scrap tail” and got a strike or fish on every cast – even a couple of small HSB...
Something interesting about this set-up with tail tipped – kept the large pellet from sliding down hook shank and fouling the hook gape ….
G/
George - It is a great and creative idea for a pellet lure. Good work!
George, that boat rocks!!!!!!
Hey, Mr. Glazener! That story IS very interesting! I love your use of the worm "scraps" as tails. We did something a little similar for crappie fishing but the pellet is on the bottom instead of ontop like yours. We're going to have to try all these. Beautiful fish and photography! Thanks so much!
You know what they say. "No pics........."
There's pic they just won't load on photobucket.. I know what they say no pics didn't happen that's my line lol..
Great pic! I never get tired of smiles and fish.
Nice pic - even better SMB - very well conditioned !!
That one should be one of the SMB that I got from TJ that I pellet trained last year but it's been too cold this spring to be tossing pellets on a regular basis yet.
Caught a few this evening trying out a new rod. The male RES was almost 12", with the female 11"
Male RES
Gravid RES
Nice Gillcracker ( BG x RES hybrid)
Great fish Tony. What a setup you have.
Those are some awesome fish sprkplug!
Had to get out and test a recently put-back-together elbow the other day. Sunday did not give us ideal fishing conditions here, but we made the most of them. Hit up a lake we like to visit in our area because of its diversity. You never know what you’re going to catch. There were seven of us, four were kids. Not even a sniff the first hour we were out there. Kept at it I was rewarded with a big drum. On ML tackle, it was a pretty incredible fight.
Soon after, my buddy’s wife hooked into a very nice walleye. We thought it was on. Nope. Another hour passes and, besides a small yellow bullhead on a nightcrawler sitting on the bottom hoping for something else, not a bite or a nibble. The kids were getting restless so we started to load up the car. I promised my son if he actively fished for the next 15 minutes we’d hunt for some morels. Five minutes from officially calling it quits, all hell breaks loose. He’s hooked into something. His personal best largemouth bass.
And we found quite a few morels too.
Wow Omaha those are some beautiful fish!!! What kind of bait/lure were you using?
1/8 silver jig tipped with a fathead.
Smiles all around. Sounds like a great day, and I bet the drum was a blast on ML.
First time my dad fished and caught something in over ten years!! Sorry for the crummy photos. I was so bummed when I got back to the house and noticed it.
Thanks PondBoss for the helping create great memories. I haven't seen him this happy in a long time, ...and me too.
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Awesome smile!
It's hard not to look awesome with a cool beard like your dad has!
That is what it's all about.
It's hard not to look awesome with a cool beard like your dad has!
Sometimes people tease him and call him Colonel Sanders.
It's hard not to look awesome with a cool beard like your dad has!
I agree!
Good looking RBT too. Did he end up having it for dinner? You gotta get him out to the pond more often!
It's hard not to look awesome with a cool beard like your dad has!
I agree!
Good looking RBT too. Did he end up having it for dinner? You gotta get him out to the pond more often!
We will have the folks over for dinner and prepare it for him, that way the folks don't have to worry about cooking it. My mom has RA really bad, and can't use her hands much.
I wish he could go a couple times a week, but I am so glad he has gone at least once. He wants to go, just that at his age of 88 there aren't many days he is feeling up to it. He can't believe there is trout in his pond, he never would have even thought it possible. He originally dug out a spot of it for irrigation of his nursery stock back in the 50's. Hopefully the circumstances of the weather, the trout, and his health all work out so he can go trout fishing a few more times. He likes BG fishing with the flyrod, but is discouraged because he can't stand to do it. I've been working on that, we'll see. You should see him bragging about catching the trout to everyone he sees, it's great!!!
It's hard not to look awesome with a cool beard like your dad has!
I agree!
Good looking RBT too. Did he end up having it for dinner? You gotta get him out to the pond more often!
We will have the folks over for dinner and prepare it for him, that way the folks don't have to worry about cooking it. My mom has RA really bad, and can't use her hands much.
I wish he could go a couple times a week, but I am so glad he has gone at least once. He wants to go, just that at
his age of 88 there aren't many days he is feeling up to it. He can't believe there is trout in his pond, he never would have even thought it possible. He originally dug out a spot of it for irrigation of his nursery stock back in the 50's. Hopefully the circumstances of the weather, the trout, and his health all work out so he can go trout fishing a few more times. He likes BG fishing with the flyrod, but is discouraged because he can't stand to do it. I've been working on that, we'll see. You should see him bragging about catching the trout to everyone he sees, it's great!!!
Fish, get your Dad to practice fly casting sitting down - a lawn chair is perfect - good therapy for 88 year old bones.
I KNOW!!
Give him my very best regards and NEVER stop fishing
George
George, he could always fly fish with an ultra light spinning rod and a casting bubble.
George, he could always fly fish with an ultra light spinning rod and a casting bubble.
Oh no you don't. Don't start that again.
Fish, get your Dad to practice fly casting sitting down - a lawn chair is perfect - good therapy for 88 year old bones.
I KNOW!!
Give him my very best regards and NEVER stop fishing
George
Hey George, his name is George too.
It so happened that when he was fishing, he made the remark "boy, it sure would be nice to be able to flyfish". As he kept fishing, I walked over to the car and got out his old flyrod that he didn't know I had with us. His eyes lit up when I handed it to him.
I'm telling him that I want to learn how to use it in my small 12' canoe that I can't stand up in, can he show me how
....I got a short lesson. I'll need a lot more
Fish, get your Dad to practice fly casting sitting down - a lawn chair is perfect - good therapy for 88 year old bones.
I KNOW!!
Give him my very best regards and NEVER stop fishing
George
Hey George, his name is George too.
It so happened that when he was fishing, he made the remark "boy, it sure would be nice to be able to flyfish". As he kept fishing, I walked over to the car and got out his old flyrod that he didn't know I had with us. His eyes lit up when I handed it to him.
I'm telling him that I want to learn how to use it in my small 12' canoe that I can't stand up in, can he show me how ....I got a short lesson. I'll need a lot more OK, I have finally found a fishin' buddy that can help me keep you youngsters in line - Your Dad has forgotten more about fishing than most will ever know....
Fish - take him up on his lessons - push him hard .....my young PB friends are unrelenting...
Tell George Hi!
Started to harvest the RBT. I figure with the heat we are getting, they won't last much longer. The one here has been the biggest so far at 2.75# and 17".
Caught mostly on SS. Regular brown. They weren't interested in red.....today.
Thanks Ken. As I have said before, the PondBoss Forum has made it possible for me, all the info here past and present. It has made me aware of so much stuff that I never realized.
Word to Big Bird on that one, fnc.
beautiful rainbows.
How long ago did you stock them, and at what size? did you feed the pigs all winter?
Stocked in Oct'12. Did not feed them one bit until this spring. I wanted them to eat away at a unpredicted GSF spawn that I had. I bought 10-14" in size. Didn't get a chance to weigh and measure them when they went in, but they were probably around .6# and the majority in the 11-12" range.
FnC - By not feeding those trout they must have found something to eat. Nice pictures. Hopefully it was abunch of GSF. Apologizes to JHAP and his GSF membership.
Really Cool F-n-C!!!
I haven't had any luck with the red or white either... yet!
See what happens down the road.
I was able to set a new pond record for HBG this evening, but only by the skin of my teeth. This guy went 11" and 25.2 ozs....beating out the old record by only 1.2 ozs.
I had hoped for an increase of at least 2 oz increments, but I guess I'll take what I can get!
Very nice!
That's my goal right there. What a hog!
Happy Memorial Day, Mabros! This LMB was just over 4.5 lbs. Did not get a length. My kids on the left, and my niece and nephew on the right:
Nice! I always love the kid pics.
WOW that's got to be the fattest LMB I've ever seen in the area!
Great picture It doesn't get any better than fishing with family!
Way to go Sunil ! Nice LMB better children, A very good start. They have grown a lot since the Bassmasters pics.
I firmly believe that Sunil must be doing something illegal, immoral, or otherwise plain dishonest to have the fishery that he has. Could it be that he is spiking the food with artificial growth enhancements? Is it the Peroni? Whatever it is, he sure raises some great fish -- and I've got pictures to prove it.
Ken, not a single bullhead seen either!!! I can't believe we took them all out, but really, you just don't see any. Pure joy!
Cute kids. Killer bass. Cool pond. I like the stones at the water's edge.
Here's a little better picture of Tait's LMB (not sure what my boy was planning on doing to the LMB with his finger, but it doesn't look good):
Better that he point it at the fish than toward you ! My guess is he is thinking that there is another one yet to be caught (right down there).
Awesome fish, especially with kids holding it up! How many bullheads to you think that fish has eaten?
mnfish, well, good question. Before catmandoo and Todd33138 came up with their WV buddies, the number would have been high.
Now, I have not even seen a bullhead this year.
This LMB hangs right off the pier and tries to eat any small perch or BG that you catch.
I guess it is good that we got the bullheads out of your pond -- maybe!
Last year we had large gatherings at our place on Memorial Day weekend, and again on Father's Day, where those bullhead filets were fried and devoured faster than three of us could cook them in big outdoor pots.
I'm thinking maybe it is time to help your pond again. This time it would be to remove a bunch of those severely obese yellow perch that keep harassing our hooks when we fish your pond.
My YP population if off the hook!
Just look at that ear tab. 11" and beautiful. Caught at Bruce's yesterday.
Beautiful redear. I want some of these for my pond
Beautiful colors and Huge!
You need to quit using the red sharpie on those gill flaps !
He's a big boy alright......great catch.
Sprk bout time for you too post some hybridgills I'm starting to have withdrawals been awhile buddy..
We're catching a few over here......
Since this is Omaha's moment, I think he should post the photos of the big HBG he caught along with that RES.......
I'll set you up Tony. An 11" and a 10".
Another picture of the redear.
Heck no....I'm not putting my fish up against Bruce's.....his HBG would likely mop the floor with mine!
I don't know about that. You've grown some incredibly obese fish too.
Those are are some of the biggest hbg that I've ever seen!
That's a beautiful RES.
Is it just me or does he look pissed?
Omaha or the fish?
I only ask because Omaha, being the Narcoleptic that he is, used to have trouble keeping his eyes open when getting photographed.
Now, he seems to have adopted this hyper-serious, retro-active/inquisitive-reflective look.
The fish.
Omaha does look alert, and, although he's holding both HBG by the mouth, I notice he's got the RES firmly by the belly, fingers away from jaws.
Which is a good thing, because it can be hard to explain to your wife how a visit to a sick friend at the hospital resulted in the loss of a digit.
I've seen JHAP's pic and I'm not taking the chance that it's "photoshopped". Redears are mean, in the water and out.
I was drowsy when the day started. I don't sleep much. Being at Bruce's has a way of perking a guy up though.
That second hybrid, the super round one, was kind of an accident. Bruce was scooting the boat into some vegetation for a friend of ours with a fly rod. I was just killing time finding weed free water to drop my jig. Did not expect that to find it.
Who is El Gutbombo in the background? My Spanish friend?
Who is El Gutbombo in the background? My Spanish friend?
That's him!
I wondered about Gutbombo.
Hasn't anybody else been fishing this month!!? C'mon lets see some pics!
The fish are eating so well at my pond I can't hardly get a bite.. Even with stubby Steve's I think I'm gonna let the feeders run dry then wait a couple weeks to refill to see how the bite picks back up..
My cousin came over yesterday to teach me how to cast a fly-rod. We had 30+ mph winds and he taught me on what he said was a crappy set-up, saying if you can get the hang of it on this rod and dirty line, you got it made.
Well, I caught his truck twice, the dock a few times and a few up in the tree. He left me the fly-rod to practice with so later that evening when the winds died down, I went back out.
First cast caught a BG and followed with 7 more. I am TOTALLY hooked! (pun intended). Went to the tackle shop today and loaded up on flies!
What a great week, I became a first-time Grandpa on Monday and learned how to fly-fish.
Lovin Livin!
That fish looks like it'll be a brute some day, round dinner plate qualities and a solid helmet head already.. Hard too tell but looks like a female..
Oh and congrats on the granpappy status.
BGK, look at the scales above the fish's head, right behind the "helmet". If they're black tipped, it's should be a male.
That fish looks like it'll be a brute some day, round dinner plate qualities and a solid helmet head already.
Hoping, hoping
Oh and congrats on the granpappy status.
And thank you, very exciting time
One of TJ's babies. A personal best wiper for me at nearly 27" and estimated by Greg Grimes to be pushing 13 pounds.
Can't wait to hear what Sunil has to say about my facial expression.
HOLY......man that had to be a blast. VERY nice Omaha!!
Very nice fish !!!! No doubt now that 10+ lb HSB can be pond raised.
Very nice Hybrid Striped Bass - gives us all hope for double digit fish.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Very nice Josh!
What did you catch it on?
What did you catch it on?
That's the best part. Stubby Steves!
Not many pics, but this is how I spent my weekend...
Ended up cleaning probably 30 crappie with an 11" average..
Josh, very nice fish, varsity work landing that one!!
Congrats to TJ for growing such a nice set of fish!!
Can't wait to hear what Sunil has to say about my facial expression.
Is it a smile or a grunt from holding such a nice heavy fish!
Nice fish...
Glad someone posted another fish here. Its been over a month without any photos!!!
Can't wait to hear what Sunil has to say about my facial expression.
Is it a smile or a grunt from holding such a nice heavy fish!
Nice fish...
Glad someone posted another fish here. Its been over a month without any photos!!!
Combination of yelling, smiling and grimacing. And exhaustion.
HOLY HSB, NICE WIPER! (Sorry George
)
Josh, with that size and the fight he likely put on, did you release him? And if so, did it take much to get him going and/or any worries he won't survive?
Released and kicked off right away.
Whoa, that's a huge HSB. What tackle did you use? 20# line?
HOLY HSB, NICE WIPER! (Sorry George
)
........................................................
OK, now I can use White Purch, Yellow Purch, Goggle Eye Purch, Sand Bass, CopperNose Brim ....etc w/o suffering the wrath of the Society of American Fiheries Society?
Call 'em like you see 'em - that's one BEAUTIFUL fish!
George
Glad someone posted another fish here. Its been over a month without any photos!!!
Ok, you talked me into to it but it's nothing to brag about when looking at the HSB Omaha caught at TJ's place.
Ok, you talked me into to it but it's nothing to brag about when looking at the HSB Omaha caught at TJ's place.
Let not ambition mock thy worthy toil.
--Ecclesiastes
Any idea on the age of that fish?
Omaha, can I just say your entire face looks small behind that HOG of a fish!!!! ZOINKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to you and TJ, both!
Here's an HSB from my neighborhood retention pond coming it at 14". It was 9-10" at stocking time back in April:
Here's my first ever caught Channel Catfish at 12" plus, stocked at a thin 8-9" back in April:
AND, here's a smallmouth at about 13", thanks to a fine Tennessee Gentleman & Scholar!:
And BTW, that's not me in the first pic with the HSB. The guy with the fish is my brother, Sid.
The guy in the orange shirt is a GI MD who lives in the hood. We call him "Dr. Jellyfinger."
Is Dr. Jellyfinger a proctologist?
That's a pretty diverse neighborhood retention pond!
You'd never caught a channel cat before?
No. Never caught a CC. I've stocked them at my main pond for over (5) years now and have never caught one, or seen one swimming. I saw one single one caught by a buddy when I was there, and a picture of one that 'wivell' caught when I wasn't there.
I have (6) species of 'catchable' fish in this pond....LMB, SMB, HSB, CC, BG, and YP.
Doc J is a gastro-intestinal guy, but why split hairs???
No. Never caught a CC. I've stocked them at my main pond for over (5) years now and have never caught one, or seen one swimming. I saw one single one caught by a buddy when I was there, and a picture of one that 'wivell' caught when I wasn't there.
That's crazy man! I bet when you finally do at your place the fish will be huge. Then you'll spend every summer targeting them.
One of TJ's babies. A personal best wiper for me at nearly 27" and estimated by Greg Grimes to be pushing 13 pounds.
Can't wait to hear what Sunil has to say about my facial expression.
That's the biggest HSB I've ever seen!!! Congratulations on the catch and TJ for raising the pig!!!
Sunil,
How big is the retention pond?
Those are some nice fish and growth rates! Do you feed the fish? and what did you think of the quality of the fish from zetts fish farm?
Thanks!
....a fine Tennessee Gentleman & Scholar!
The only person I know who fits that description is Jack Daniels.
Not many pics, but this is how I spent my weekend...
Ended up cleaning probably 30 crappie with an 11" average..
Looks like a painful sunburn in the making.
I believe that "Raccoon" Omaha may know about such things.
[quote=outdoorlivin247]I believe that "Raccoon" Omaha may know about such things.
I am slightly more comfortable with raccoon than I am scarecrow.
smallpond, the retention pond is 1/5 or 1/6 acre.
I do hand feed pellets most every day. HSB, BG, and CC are clearly hitting the feed.
I have not seen any of the (20) YP I put in there, but I know they are in there.
At my main pond, the YP do hit the feed (I believe), but I haven't seen any hit the feed in this retention pond.
I was happy with Zetts.
Looks like a painful sunburn in the making.
The boat has a bimini top, but it is pain with the trolling poles...Friday was a very nice day to fish because it was cool and overcast...Saturday, not so much...I spent most of the afternoon Saturday on the Houseboat cooking or just hanging in our floating island...
Man I love houseboat weekend!!!
Ok, you talked me into to it but it's nothing to brag about when looking at the HSB Omaha caught at TJ's place.
Let not ambition mock thy worthy toil.
--Ecclesiastes
Well stated, good Dr.
Love seeing these photos of my babies growing up. That SMB has flourished under Steve's care, and seems well on her way. The HSB came from Condello stock way back in 2009 - he donated his top 10% class. She's probably pushing her age limits yet doesn't exhibit any characteristics of declining I could determine. Easy 26-27" and well over 100 WR. Not bad for a small pond in SE Nebraska...thanks Pond Boss brothers for the guidance.
Josh, great HSB. Biggest I've seen out of a pond. Maybe TJ's adding Ensure to the water. That was a brute!
Here's a pic of Momma with a Silver Salmon. We've already decided to go back to Alaska next year, but we'll skip the Halibut deal. Dropping a 5 pound weight and waiting for a bite wasn't as much fun as actually "fishing". Brought back a lot of fish though.
We also hit SalmonStock for you hippies out there. 3 days of music, muddy campers, and good times. I actually had a stoned guy come up and say hi. He said he'd always wanted to meet Santa Claus. I told him to be good for the rest of the year or he'd get coal in his stocking. He said yes sir and moved on.
That's great Al! Looks like a great time!
I will be out chasing a few "silvers" and "pinks" here in a few weeks in the strait of Juan De Fuca.
SalmonStock??
"Scuse' me, while I hatch these fry"??..... That kind of thing?
SalmonStock??
"Scuse' me, while I hatch these fry"??..... That kind of thing?
Funny. Yep, bunch of Bluegrass and reggae bands singing about the love of Alaska, and their fears of mining ruining their state. I will add that there was no meat on a stick, so the festival lost points for me there. We always have meat on a stick around here.
Apparently there's some issue with the Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay and the destruction of spawning waters. I haven't researched it, so I haven't formed an educated opinion yet, but it does look pretty sketchy from a nature standpoint. Strip mining and head water's is a bad combo.
http://www.savebristolbay.org/A good friend of mine, and of Bob's, is a huge supporter of this cause.
Josh, that's it. I saw those round no Pebble Mine stickers on every truck, bicycle, store window, and baby forehead for 100 miles.
Dear Santa: All I want for Christmas is a HSB the size that Josh caught from TJ's pond to grow in my pond. And to be back in North Carolina fishing with my friends...
You should have stayed there. Heat index of 110 today.
Concert looks like a blast - gotta love rubbing shoulders with fringe groups who don't carry weapons but hackysacks! Bet they had lots of eggplant on a stick...but it's just not the same.
Good work Al, I'm calling for a full report on AK ASAP.
Pretty cool Al!
Sounds like ya had a Great Time!
TJ,
There is probably more hardware in that audience than you think
Alaska is on my list of places to eventually visit. In fact, it's the only one on my list!
Victor, continue to be a good boy and great things will come your way (NC was a blast).
Dave, got home this AM after an all night flight, and I could stick my fist between the sod and the sidewalk. After watering before we left, it had easily pulled away 3".
TJ, fringe wouldn't even begin to describe the crowd. Girls wearing tutus with rubber boots, guys wearing nuked $10 blue jeans with $400 Simms fishing jackets, grooming issues in full regalia, it was amazing.
And JKB, yes there was hardware.
I will add one more thing. I love my state, period. But if this thing had been here, there would have been fights, drunks laying in the grass, panhandlers, etc., non of that was here. We went by the fairgrounds the morning after, and there was not one piece of trash on the ground. These people can party uncontrollably in the most socially responsible way I've ever seen.
Here's a pic of Momma with a Silver Salmon. We've already decided to go back to Alaska next year, but we'll skip the Halibut deal. Dropping a 5 pound weight and waiting for a bite wasn't as much fun as actually "fishing". Brought back a lot of fish though.
We also hit SalmonStock for you hippies out there.
Al -- you are making life difficult!
You live a charmed life. I'm envious. Damn, I may just have to check out SalmonStock for next year.
I was at a several-day family reunion last week in northern Minnesota/Wisconsin. One of my crazy cousins, who loves the northwoods, was still ready to go "back home" to Houston where he said it was warm this time of year!
I'd much rather spend the summer where you are at, instead Texas or Oklahoma.
Have a safe trip back home. BUT-- POST MORE PICTURES before you head back south.
Ken
I actually had a stoned guy come up and say hi. He said he'd always wanted to meet Santa Claus. I told him to be good for the rest of the year or he'd get coal in his stocking. He said yes sir and moved on.
Just be glad you weren't in Nebraska, or some stone cold SOBER guy might've thrown a net over you and claimed he'd caught a sasquatch.
"Al -- you are making life difficult! "Ken, this guy lives 10 miles away from me - he has more fun than than anyone I know - he tortures me with his activities and fun stuff...
SalmonStock??
"Scuse' me, while I hatch these fry"??..... That kind of thing?
JH would approve. But I think I see a purple haze in that pic.
Last day of Summer before the kiddos head back to school - had a great time at the farm and posted some great fish!
16" tail-dancing SMB
25.5" wiper, estimate 120+ WR
Found a floating cage that disappeared last Fall during a major wind storm. I searched for weeks last Fall and Winter for this and only now found it yesterday on the East property line. No worse for wear, man I was pumped at the discovery!
Finished the day off with a homemade pizza on the Green Egg with a little Plum wood smoke and fresh Jalapenos from the garden - perfect!
Great pixs, TJ. That wiper is a brute. Cute kids and nice pizza - you got it goin' on!!!
Would be fun to be there when the teacher asks what everyone did over the summer. Well done TJ.
That HSB is amazing, and the smallie looks good also....the pizza looks flat out delicious!
Zoinks!!!!!!!!
Nice work, TJ!
On a side note, dang do your kids start school early!
Way to go TJ. That's what it's all about.
Guv, why don't we ever see any pictures of fish caught at your (purported) ponds?
Looks like an all around great day.
Congrats buddy.
Sunil, I own a camera but never carry it. Some people enjoy taking pictures. I'm just not one of them.
Re my ponds; It's kinda hard to get excited about a 1.5 acre, 17 ft deep, pond that is now about 3/8 acre, 4 ft deep and muddy. That's what a sustained drought does. We've had one rainy year about 3 or 4 years ago and it almost filled. The drought in my area has been going on for the last 8 years. I need a 6 inch rain that comes as a flood to revive things. We actually got 5 inches of rain about a month ago. But it came over a 3 day period of drizzle and light rain. My pond came up about 6 inches but is now lower than it was before the rain.
I had a major fish kill this year but, as usual, some survived. I've fished it a couple of times but it's hard to get excited about 6 inch BG and 9 inch lmb. 3 catfish made it through. I did catch about an 8 inch GSF a month ago but didn't have a camera. I seldom even bother fishing it.
My forage pond that used to be 1/4 acre and about 7 ft deep is now about 2 ft deep, less than 1/10 acre, and loaded with small BG. It's headed for a DO crash but I have no place to relocate them.
Our lake levels have dropped to the point where getting a boat in is kinda iffy. And, I have a couple of boats.
If the ponds ever fill, I'll take a picture. Until then, I'll live vicariously through you guys.
Dang Dave that was depressing.
For a guy as knowledgeable as you are
about the world of Ponds..it just don't seem right.
TJ, those pics sum up a perfect day at the pond! Makes all the work worth it. So happy for you bro.
Dang Dave that was depressing.
For a guy as knowledgeable as you are
about the world of Ponds..it just don't seem right.
Word to Big Bird on that!!
Very nice TJ ! Well done on all accounts except one. No after pics of the pizza plate or its consumption ( ? beer included)!
Dang Dave that was depressing.
For a guy as knowledgeable as you are
about the world of Ponds..it just don't seem right.
Depressing is right - el Guv deserves better!
TJ, those pics sum up a perfect day at the pond! Makes all the work worth it. So happy for you bro.
Thanks Vic...hope you are doing well, amigo! Post some fly fishing photos for us...
Very nice TJ ! Well done on all accounts except one. No after pics of the pizza plate or its consumption ( ? beer included)!
Of course, you're right - won't make that mistake again. You guys deserve authenticity, after all.
I would rather have pizza and beer !
Bobby, tell us about how you cooked up those fillets?
A little salmon fishing?!
Looks like you did some BIG salmon fishing! YUM.
Wow those are huge! Kings?
Also, I second Sunil's question...got me hungry!
Wow those are huge! Kings?
Also, I second Sunil's question...got me hungry!
Yep, Kings!
Good job Bobby. Show them to Cecil!
My brown sugar salmon.
Equal parts or to taste,
Brown sugar, spicy Brown Mustard, Soy sauce, Olive oil.
Marinade in zip lock for a little while,
Grill skin on, Place on grill meat side down first, once partially cooked flip and finish skin side down. I cook about 1/4 meat side down and 3/4 skin side down. Skin will stick to gril. Meat will lift right off the skin when done.
I save a little marinade clean to add on additional later or when plated if needed.
People that dont like salmon even say they like it...
worth a try ...
Our chain of lakes in Wisconsin seems to be getting really LMB heavy so I decided I would harvest the legal sized 14 inchers..
This is all the wife,
LMB seasoned with my home grown pepper seasoning, butter and garlic. Over a bed of Kale and Quinoa served with a side of vegitable Ceviche
I have a freezer full of both Salmon and LMB so this is just the begining...
That looks soooo good!!!!!!!!!!!
I am going to try your recipe. Nice fish!
nice salmon gone to have to try that recipe looking at this makes me want to go fishing very nice hsb also
Really nice James!
I lost my biggest HSB to the drought two summers ago in main pond but have 3 or 4 nice ones in little pond,
but not fishing for them until water cools down.
George
same here I lost my biggest hybrids last summer as well but the stocking ladder is growing a nice new crop.
way2go james!
what did you catch it on?
looks like you need to host the next north texas pond boss gathering!
4" white grubb without a weight
Nice HSB James. I use white grubs and white trick worms.
Say, is that Jame Holt, or some kind of Greek Adonis????
Mabro! You are letting your beer gut slide!!!!
"Trick worms" are made by Zoom company. They're a floating plastic worm lure.
Those are some sweet smallies!!!
Nice SMB.
I have caught the RES in our pond with just hook, bobber, and a redworm.
Try some Spikes/Maggots for those RES
Most of the RES I catch are taken while deadsticking with live bait.
Most of the RES I catch are taken while deadsticking with live bait.
On the bottom? or using a float?
Primarily on the bottom. I have taken some on a float setup with the bait suspended about 6-12" off bottom, but tend to catch more BG x RES hybrids with that method.
Split shot and hook? or just a jig head?
Does anyone have any tips on catching RES? I keep catching these when I throw a light jig head with a small chunk of nightcrawler...I have only caught one RES out of my pond this year.
In the warmer months when RES are not on their beds, finding structure, particularly woody structure in deeper water is key. I like to use a conical worm weight of 1/32-1/8 oz on 6 pound test tied above a high quality small swivel. I then attach a 18"-36" leader of 2 pound fluorocarbon to the swivel. From there I have a couple different set ups. I usually use a size 6-10 hook, usually a simple bronze bait holder, but will sometime use an octopus of the same size, depending on the bait used. For bait, I really like live crickets. In areas where there are grass shrimp, they are hard to beat as well. I have also used small red worms, wax worms and meal worms. On the longer leaders, I will sometimes use a float that you will find on a nightcrawler harness used for walleye fishing. Black is my preference, but sometimes a little flash helps, especially in dingy water. Bounce the rig right on the bottom as close to structure as you can...
The less weight the better in my opinion. If you're casting out any distance, I would probably use a splitshot and hook, rather than the jighead.
If I'm using a float to present the bait right off bottom, I might use a 1/64 jighead. I do prefer the horizontal presentation when suspended freely.
Thanks for the tips guys! It's definately time to try something a little different on my RES, some of them should be 8-9" now.
That's not a fish, that is a competition frisbee with a fish skin wrapped around it. That thing is a mutant!
That's not a fish, that is a competition frisbee with a fish skin wrapped around it. That thing is a mutant!
I was messing around with a SPRO rattle trap that I bought the other night and caught this 14-1/2" SMB. This is the biggest SMB I have caught out the pond so far. I assume that this is one of the orignal stockers I put in late October 2011.
Well done Steve - good body condition, too.
Fishing Season opened today – mid-June last time we fished our ponds.
Near surface water continues to be too hot to fish but just had to find out what kind of condition our fish,
so risked over-stressing. Saved nice HSB that had gone belly up with O2 live well system.
So that's where you've been. Nicky's fish look bigger. Again.
Is that her birthday rod?
So that's where you've been. Nicky's fish look bigger. Again.
Is that her birthday rod?
Yep, that's her birthday TFO BVK 6wt fly rod - quite a beauty! She got to take the plastic wrapper off the handle after catching a fish - in fact several fish!
Of course she out-fished me - AGAIN!
I tried to get her to cull that bass but wouldn't kill one of her babies - she's just like Robbie - they love their pets!
G/
Good work George. Congrats to Mrs. G - she always wins at fishing. Water looks good , fish do also - I like those CNBG !
What was the water temp George?
84.7 down from ~87 two weeks ago.
I normally stop fishing at 80+ but needed to check condition of fish.
Surface aeration is seldom mentioned on the forum but I believe essential for avoiding fish kills during record breaking drought and heat.
We currently run bottom diffuser system (I no longer call them aeration systems)during daylight hours and surface aeration during night hours.
IMO had I previously known about surface aeration, I could have avoided a major fish kill a couple of years ago.
84-85 won't hurt LMB and BG if they are handled correctly and not otherwise stressed. Good O2 levels and properly and quickly handling them is key. HSB need George's setup and don't handle the heat stress as well as LMB and BG. HSB do handle cold water stress much better.
Well done George and Mrs. G - nice looking fish. Glad you bent your rules a tad and got out casting.
So...what was/were the pattern/s that were most deadly?
Well done George and Mrs. G - nice looking fish. Glad you bent your rules a tad and got out casting.
So...what was/were the pattern/s that were most deadly?
The "pattern" was to devise a plan to cope with no wind. near full moon and spooky fish.
The occasion was for Mrs. G to test her new birthday fly rod.
Day break was calm and still but managed to catch a few nice CNBG - mostly males to about 8 inchs - since near full moon we speculated the big males had chased the smaller males off the beds and were guarding their "harem". CNBG caught on Stubbys.
I caught a couple of "cull" Florida LMB on a big Gurgler.
Went to small pond and the fish didn't want to play either so returned to main pond. I had turned off surface aerator so plugged it back up - you can't imagine the change in the calm water - big ripples clear to 2 acres of shore line - talk about circulation!
Turned the fish on big time - caught CNBG on every cast and couple of nice HSB and Mrs.G's nice Florida LMB on Stubbys.
All on fly tackle - strictly a fly fishing pond.
Thanks for asking,
George
Stocked these 10-01-12 at 6-8", caught this one this morning at 15" and I'm guessing at 1.5 lbs as I didn't have my scale with me but they were 1 lb 4 oz at 13".
Pond is healthy, fish appear healthy and growing well.
Once again, thanks to the PBF for helping me turn this BOW around to get it where it is today.
What a great way to start the day!!!
Lovin Livin at Croakers Creek!
PB Rocks!
Doubled in a year? Those great results, congrats.
Thanks, Al!
Considering my backwards stocking program last year (predator before forage) I'm pretty darned stoked!
George I was just thinking of you! You and your wife look great and so do your fish!
George I was just thinking of you! You and your wife look great and so do your fish!
Thanks James - yeah I was thinking of you recently and missing your big fish pictures.
Looks like from your photo you have a story to tell - suspense is killin' me!
Really nice Nate - been missing 'ya - love your fish pictures!
You must be setting records for your Hybrid Stripers - you are setting the bar pretty high.
Give us some HSB length and weights to shoot for.
'Ya done good!
We need Cheyenne and James to get on the ball and get their HSB photos posted for old time sake - fun stuff!
George
James and Nate, those are all brutes. Congrats to both of y'all.
James, I may need to put LB Lodge on my bucket list.
Great looking fish, Nate.
Nate are all those from your pond? Awesome fish. give us some weights
n8ly's pics look like they're from two different ponds.
Sort of a potpourri of potent potables....
Up early this morning ready to meet Al and head to Brian’s place for some fishing and seining when I got an urgent message that Al was grounded in Detroit – yeah Michigan not Deroit Texas – no airport there….
Since Al and I were all ready to hit the road we decided to make a quick trip to check both his and our ponds – so off we went in dark of night.
First stop at Al’s to check his brood pond – great shape and full of 5+ inch CNBG.
lake needs water bad!
Next stop to check our little pond – threw out some feed and feeding frenzy and Al caught a nice Hybrid Striper.
Neds water bad!
Next stop, our main pond – caught several nice CNBG but not size and numbers expected – Al did catch his first Grass Carp on the fly rod.
Needs water bad!
Great day – great fellowship topped off with a mojo Burger and fries at a favorite country café.
Thanks Al for being the designator driver – missed you Brian - we will connect on your project soon.
George
Nice fish guys!....awesome dynamics on that Coppernose, too.
Nice fish as always George!
My question is,
What the heck was Al doing in Detroit? That place creeps me out!
Saw on the news recently that the former Mayor of Detroit was pleading (seriously begging) the Judge for a "very light" sentence of 25 years!
I think they should scoot him off to Texas for his annual Flu Shot!
Back to fish!
Thanks guys, I am blessed with friends like Al and Brian that allow me to tag along and have fun with their ponds/lakes.
Ponds really in remarkable good shape in our N.E. Texas area in spite of record breaking summer heat wave. We were lucky going into summer with near full ponds in out case.
JKB, I am probably wrong about Detroit - Al is all over the country flying that big airplane, I can't keep up with him..
George
George was with Allen(Santa) all day, I was stuck in Detroit, turns out the aux pitot heater is a grounding item. And if the MSC goes out, it take the Aux Pitot Heater with it...
I missed most of a great day here in Texas, but now that I am back, we will rescheduled our outing, the good news is I got my black poly drip tube today!!
ewest thanks for posting that temp info, I was about to ask that question!
James I would love to hear about that trip and those fish!
26" 10.63# RW 127%
I threw out a couple handfuls of AM600 and after about 10 minutes a few CC started to feed right along the shore. The LMB, YP and a few BG were feeding in deeper water. I'd say there were about 10 of the CC that were sucking pellets off of the surface, so I grabbed a rod that was spooled with 12# test, an Owner #4 circle hook and a Chubby Stubby. It took a while, and I had to drag it so the line was going over a leaf that was floating on the surface of the pond to act as a bobber. I had to have the pellet right at the surface, as that's where they were keyed to slurping down the pellets.
It took a while to get him/her in, and the rest of them disappeared for the night. That's the first CC that I've been able to catch out of the pond this year. It was stocked in Spring 2009 as a 9"-12" fish, as it's adipose fin was clipped off.
For tomorrow. Too late to cook it tonight. Electric fillet knife works well on the larger fish!!
Congrats Scott! One more down!
Every CC I have seen caught out of your pond is just gorgeous!
Tonight capped off a tremendous week of after-dinner fishing for me. Over 150 fish caught, including these from tonight.
One of this year's stocker HBG....8", and 10.4 ozs. Wr of 155%!!
Took this girl also, just over one pound. She's got me somewhat confused., displays several RES markers, but looks like some BG may be in the mix also. Appears gravid, but may be an injury?
Very nice as always Tony. It seems like you just keep catching these brutes.
Her gut looks odd for sure.
I know that I will get into trouble for posting these flies that it took all summer for me to tie, but these old eyes and bony fingers can’t tie for everyone like they did in the past…
George
I tied these Mrs.G's $Gill pond Spinsters for a very special friend and mailed them to him.
Within 30 minutes of receipt these photos were in my Inbox!
George, they look great! I still have one that you gave me at the 2008 PB Conf.
Too pretty to use!!! It's in a little plastic box with an autographed card - sitting right here on my desk...
Randy, that was a lot of fun, wasn't it?
I miss Theo - he began the naming contest and Eric won it hands down and really got me in trouble tyin' flies for all contestants!!
Too pretty to use!!! It's in a little plastic box with an autographed card - sitting right here on my desk...
Thank you! I've vetoed any more of his flies in the cool packaging also. I've got the one's George gave me on my office wall.
He did give me a chartreuse grasshopper Saturday that will get some serious use though.
26" 10.63# RW 127%
I threw out a couple handfuls of AM600 and after about 10 minutes a few CC started to feed right along the shore. The LMB, YP and a few BG were feeding in deeper water. I'd say there were about 10 of the CC that were sucking pellets off of the surface, so I grabbed a rod that was spooled with 12# test, an Owner #4 circle hook and a Chubby Stubby. It took a while, and I had to drag it so the line was going over a leaf that was floating on the surface of the pond to act as a bobber. I had to have the pellet right at the surface, as that's where they were keyed to slurping down the pellets.
It took a while to get him/her in, and the rest of them disappeared for the night. That's the first CC that I've been able to catch out of the pond this year. It was stocked in Spring 2009 as a 9"-12" fish, as it's adipose fin was clipped off.
Scott, now if you really want to have some fun....
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Very nice BG bassmower.....no doubts concerning the sex of that one!
that was out of the pond that I have not got set up to feed yet that was the biggest tab I have ever seen on a BG caught more but I am having trouble with the size of the photos
Son Jeff, doing a little LMB cullin' today
That's a decent BG managment device George!
Here is one of my RES/GSH managment devices.
nice looking fish shorty and george
Nothing big to you but BIG to me!!!! Life at my pond is great right now!
Fantastic fish guys!!!! Impressive Bass's!
Very nice catch on your part also, James!! Looks tasty!
Here's one of JamesBryan's pics:
Note the friendly creeping into view behind the catfish...
Here's JamesBryan's walleye smorgasbord...
I bet that was good eating !!! Nice WE !
Popped a few 8" Male YP, a 14" SMB in good condition, a nice 8" RES, and a few WE up to 15" today - mainly on waxies. Ice was about 3.5 but we also received around 4" snow - this concerns me as it will significantly impede the ice growth. Hoping for some high winds to blow it off.
I didn't get too much fishing in today - dealing with couple breakoffs and when fish are mobile it takes me a lot time to move my gearbomb and get set up again [Vexilar, Aqua Vu 360, Eskimo 6-12' tent, etc.]. Just trying to get my toys organized and in working order for the impending ice season - I'm a little rusty.
Hey Sunil, thanks for putting up my pics. Someday I'm going to re-learn how to do that, til then I'll send them to you!
Ewest, they were wonderful. I have several more in the freezer for winter time blues.
TJ, nice catch!
All nice fish guys. Everybody's ponds seem to be producing well.
TJ, those aren't enough clothes. I look like Randy from A Christmas Story in weather like that.
Way to go TJ! Glad you made it out and scratched the itch.
Here at the Livingston ponds we're in that dreaded transition period between open water and safe ice. Unfortunately, being this far south means this unfishable circumstance can last quite awhile, as temps tend to fluctuate a lot.
I finally decided to just fish off of the swim platform in the HBG pond. It's not in a good location to hold fish, but I was hoping I could draw some in if I tried jigging aggressively. I simply kicked a hole in the 1/2" of ice and dropped down, feet dangling off the dock.
I drew something in alright, but it wasn't at all what I had in mind:
Catching that second-rate species almost depressed me enough to just pack it in immediately. But I hung around, unsuccessfully, for another hour.
Not a fish in sight:
I caught this in the pond saturday..
I caught this in the pond saturday..
Man...kudos to you for enduring such brutal fishing conditions...hope you didn't get sunburned!
...Catching that second-rate species almost depressed me enough to just pack it in immediately. But I hung around, unsuccessfully, for another hour...
Tony, sometimes I feel the same way.
yep, the big pond to the east of us...It was a nice day offshore. Caught lots a vermillion snapper, red snapper and seabass. Broke off a real mule of an amberjack after a 20 min fight....
Ill have to get back to fishing in the pond soon for an update...
Been fishing some in the last few weeks.
Caught 25 BG from 8" up on crickets; here is biggest one... Weighed .6lb and 9.75" (Sorry for the pic being upside down... I tried to rotate it in photobucket but the link still produces the original)
Caught a HSB on small trap; I caged 20 4-6" in Dec. and released at 6-8" in late March. I did not have my scale/tape with me but estimate 14" and near 2lb. Also hooked several on crickets fishing for BG but broke off most of them due to fishing with 4lb flourocarbon:
Jodi and I fished out about 8 lbs of LMB trying to get close to our annual goal of 15lb/year as part of the plan to allow the size of the LMB to grow and the population of BG to grow. Seems to be working as I now seem to have a good BG population in all size classes and the LMB are growing. This guy was estimated near 2lb and about 16" and is the biggest LMB we've ever caught and we see bigger. As usual, Jodi outfished me and caught 10 of the 13 LMB we caught that day. Besides catching a few nice ones, she also targeted and caught about 5 that were 6-8 in. on a 7" pumkinseed worm; don't know how she does it.
Love to see warm-weather pictures right about now!!!
Been fishing some in the last few weeks.
Caught 25 BG from 8" up on crickets; here is biggest one... Weighed .6lb and 9.75" (Sorry for the pic being upside down... I tried to rotate it in photobucket but the link still produces the original)
Caught a HSB on small trap; I caged 20 4-6" in Dec. and released at 6-8" in late March. I did not have my scale/tape with me but estimate 14" and near 2lb. Also hooked several on crickets fishing for BG but broke off most of them due to fishing with 4lb flourocarbon:
Jodi and I fished out about 8 lbs of LMB trying to get close to our annual goal of 15lb/year as part of the plan to allow the size of the LMB to grow and the population of BG to grow. Seems to be working as I now seem to have a good BG population in all size classes and the LMB are growing. This guy was estimated near 2lb and about 16" and is the biggest LMB we've ever caught and we see bigger. As usual, Jodi outfished me and caught 10 of the 13 LMB we caught that day. Besides catching a few nice ones, she also targeted and caught about 5 that were 6-8 in. on a 7" pumkinseed worm; don't know how she does it.
Well done DJ! Awesome!
That BG looks like all of mine caught in the last few months - a little on the pinched belly side. Maybe it's time to increase feeding times? I think my BG are being forced out of the feeding zones by HSB and SMB...I can't explain their deteriorating body conditions any other way.
Hey TJ, when humans go to a nursing home, they have ample food to eat correct? Yet many of them lose quite a bit of weight and even get shorter...
Me thinks your original bluegill may simply be getting older. Fish don't stay in their prime on the other side of the hill...
The real key to a sustained fishery in a pond is always having the next class right there to take their place.... Many ponds can grow the originals good, but the 2nd and 3rd and subsequent generations that follow typically don't ever compare to that first generation...
That's where pond mgmt practices need to focus on is growing the fish born in the pond or continually stocking and nurturing.... Nobody really likes too manage for the little guys though...
n8ly,
This may be a "loaded" question but how should the management for 2nd and 3rd classed differ from the original fish?
real quickly before i head out:
for a fish to grow large you have to make sure it stays alive and has more than enough food to eat from the moment it is born all the way through its life... most folks like to focus on feeding and managing for their bigger fish and then once those bigger fish live their life they are left with nothing much desirable...
could be a good discussion, hopefully others chime in... Ill be out for a few days..
Good point Nate! I agree with what you said. Many people don't think about the upcoming "crop".
Think "nursery". Cover for the little ones to hide in. Plenty of food lower on the food pyramid. If you are relying on angling to catch adult fish to look at their condition, do some angling for small fish to check them too.
While that BG in the picture looks good, to me it's eye looks a little bit big, and the body is a little bit thin. Possibly a "shooter" that only had regular amounts of food, not enough to let it grow to it's full potential. But then again, like Nate said, possibly a fish on it's downward slide due to age.
I know the fish in our ponds are like pets, but one point that is overlooked a lot is that fish harvest is a very important part of the management plan.
My take is DJ's fish is on the decline, maybe - after achieving his potential. I caught several fish like that at Richmond Mill - ones that were 1.5# but seem like they easily could have been 2# at one time. I'm not a biologist and am not sure why they were in that condition - lack of food or just aging process - but they had the same pinch belly condition.
In my main pond nearly ALL BG I'm catching now, regardless of size, are pinch bellied. It's got to be due to lack of food - which has never been an issue before - so I'm not sure what the issue might be. Maybe my rising classes of BG aren't pellet training? Maybe I'm not throwing enough food to escape the SMB and HSB? Maybe I should be including some feeding times earlier in the day when SMB and HSB aren't nearly as active feeders?
Just saying I have this issue population wide. DJ's fish is outstanding - just noticed the concave belly and thought - wow, that looks familiar!
How long have your BG looked that way TJ? Back in the warmer months also, or just the last few weeks?
I noticed it in my caged fish first - but I'm only feeding them every other day - but was super disappointed at their lack of weight gain - but blamed myself. I can't get out there every day living offsite as you know.
Then I started noticing it in fish caught around my dock - some very nice 9" BG which are huge for my pond were pinch bellied, then even smaller fish. This Winter it's even worse. Popped 2 BG over 10" with pinched bellies, but even the 4-6" BG too. Something going on...despite my harvest and feeding, these BG aren't getting enough nutrients.
TJ, my guess would be that you have too many BG and not enough predators keeping their numbers in check.
I agree. What sized food are you feeding?
Aren't GETTING enough nutrients, or aren't UTILIZING those same nutrients? Pretty slow metabolic rates right now.......fish may be lethargic and simply not feeding like they were?
BG condition probably a topic for another post elsewhere. Suffice it to say, BG population management is an obvious part of the issue - as it is for any SMB/BG fisheries - we all know that. However, with approx 200 HSB, 100 WE, 200 SMB, 100 HBCP and 300+ YP in a 2 acre pond, I'm not looking at predator density issues. In addition, I'm harvesting at least 2000 BG annually, which is an all time high. I reported earlier in 2013 the BG population has been impacted through increased predation through noticable differences in the visible population - I just dont see the numbers around the dock I used to, nor do I catch nearly as many as in the past either through angling or with cast nets or traps. BG population will always be a management issue in a SMB fishery - but it's not that simple.
Still, for some reason, despite lower populations, these fish are under nourished - a problem I didn't have when my population was significantly higher a year or two ago. It's clear these fish aren't deriving enough benefit from pellet program. However, I'm hesitant to pump more nutrients into the fishery just to improve the BG condition - not worth it. I have a .4 ac pond dedicated to trophy MBG and FYP and can get my fix there. I think I'll let the BG go and see the impact my WE have when they hit 18-20", and more SMB reach the 18" range. Those gapes should allow for predation of 4-5" BG, and that should improve the overall quality of the BG. If not, I'll have a rare predator heavy/prey heavy fishery and let it go.
Population management shouldn't be an issue with the caged fishes condition though.
TJ, monitor your water clarity. See if that correlates to the pinched stomach syndrome.
Aren't GETTING enough nutrients, or aren't UTILIZING those same nutrients? Pretty slow metabolic rates right now.......fish may be lethargic and simply not feeding like they were?
Tony, I think you are getting what I'm saying...I don't think it's as simple as BG population/predator dynamic - not when the population is actually lower than it's been historically, and predators have reached gape capabilities which allow for predation on larger BG than ever before. Those are two new factors working against that theory being the sole reason. Something
else is at play - and I suspect it has to do with feeding times and/or qty. of feed. SMB and HSB dominate the feeders when they launch - which is always 4 feedings 15 min apart over the last hour of daylight. I have noticed that I rarely see YP or BG feed during evenings any more, due to the heavy pressure of the HSB and SMB. I could likely address this issue by either adding a another feeder, or by including feeding times earlier in the evening or morning/afternoon I'd have much more BG action - and their body conditions would respond over time.
Scott - I feed 50/50 mix of 500 and 600 and water clarity seems to be following it's normal path over past several years.
TJ, What size BG are you targeting for culling? Also, when feeding your caged ones, how much do you feed and at what time intervals between putting feed over the cage? What I'm getting at, is are the caged fish being fed to satiation? I remember reading about the development of feed training LMB. In the R&D phase of the development of the LMB pellet, something peculiar was taken into consideration. Seems I remember that a LMB, and most other fish for that matter, when striking a pellet, only has so many strikes worth of energy, then the fish is fatigued, and a period of rest comes into play. This occurs whether or not the fish has eaten to satiation or not. Thus the pellet size was designed to get a good bite size, delivering X amount of nutrition into the stomach, before the feeding fish goes into siesta mode. I have witnessed this personally with hand feeding. The fish eat ravenously for a while, then stop. If I wait 20-30 minutes, they will again feed heavily for a while. It is my opinion, that what happens many times with auto feedings and hand feedings, that the manager feeds until the fish quit feeding. The manager says "Well that's it, let's set the timer for this"....and life goes on. All the while, the fish are getting rested for round 2?
I personally think that, in waters where the primary goal, IS NOT for BIG BLUEGILL, too much emphasis is put on removing BG. I read about establishing a forage base, with the use of FHM, and GSH. Personally, after doing the WE/SMB thing in my pond, I want as many small BG/GSF as I can get.I have stopped manual removal. Large numbers of small sunfish, will reproduce horrifically, taking the place of FHM and GSH.
According to Dave Willis and Bill Cody, my WE that reached 13 inches in less than a year, had to eat on average of .6 lbs. of forage. With an unknown # of CC, 400 plus WE, and 150 SMB,600+YP, and thousands of sunfish, that's a buttload of YOY.
TJ, how many YOY predators are in the pond now on a yearly basis? Could those YOY predators be utilizing the food that the YOY BG would be utilizing a few years ago?
To many predators competing for the same food that the bluegill is after. What kind of shape are your yellow perch in?
Drum role please! Caught my first trout on a hook since we started trying to turn this slough into a lake in 2008. 18" long and 3lb 8oz. I am getting it mounted for the wall!!
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Solid fish!!!! Well done, sir.
Nice fish Blair; congrats
Blair - Congrats on raising some nice fish. Is that fish from the water that was perpetually green with bloom in winter back several years ago?
Yes Bill it is the same lake. Since I put the vertex aeration it has a very light green bloom all winter without the DO2 crash that I used to have this time of year. I think this fish was stocked in the spring of 2012 at 5".
Great Christmas catch!!
And that smile is priceless, Solid work!!
Glad to see the results of your hard work.
Really cool Blair!
A magical moment, indeed!
Well done Blair! I'm smiling just from seeing the photo!
Thanks everyone. Life is good
I think I'd "catch & release" that trout. (release into the grease)
Congrats, Blair! Great looking fish!
15-1/2", my biggest SMB so far since stocking them in the fall of 2011.
Very nice Shorty.
I don't get it. You have that same white stuff in the background that TJ had.
Your beard is in the background?????
Shortaaay!!!!! What did you catch it on?
Shortaaay!!!!! What did you catch it on?
FHM on a tip up.
I also caught another 14-1/2" SMB, a couple of smaller SMB and this YP.
Is your pond fully frozen?
It looks spotty in the pics.
Congrats, Shorty! Those fish look amazing!
Sunil, the pond is frozen over but it was 60 degrees and very windy here yesterday. The 3" of snow that was on the pond two weeks ago has mostly melted and you can tell where I ran paths with the snow shovel to let daylight in. The ice does have uneven spots on it and standing water on top of it in places. Most of the pond has 5-6" of ice on it but there are a few holes that have opened up along the edges. I had 5-6 BF tadpoles get stranded in the standing water on the ice yesterday.
n8ly - what bait were you using to catch most of those big CC through the ice? Impressive group of fish by ice fishing.
Bill, if you look closely off to the side, you'll see the snuba gear. Justin was under the ice hand feeding them to get 'em to bite.
Bill,
the catfish would only hit a tiny stationary jig with 2 waxworms on it... either laying on the bottom or a couple inches off the bottom...
we have a hole that is 17-24' deep that the catfish lay in during the winter... seriously every catfish in the hole lake is in a 1/2 acre area. We put the camera down there and just watch how they react to the baits and presentations... they bite very surprisingly light....
Nate...awesome!
TJ wants WE. You want to show TJ the WE. You will dedicate yourself to putting TJ on many large WE. We will both be very happy.
TJ, we will have to go to Lake Erie to fulfill your wish....
I second what Nate says about going to Lake Erie for big Walleye. Here is a few that I caught out there this last year.
I have had days out there with multiple 28 and 29 inch fish. That 30 incher is always hard to come by and have only caught 4 during my life. 3 on Lake Erie and 1 in Canada.
I second what Nate says about going to Lake Erie for big Walleye. Here is a few that I caught out there this last year.
I have had days out there with multiple 28 and 29 inch fish. That 30 incher is always hard to come by and have only caught 4 during my life. 3 on Lake Erie and 1 in Canada.
I bet that thing is slap full of round gobies........
We are hooking up with Lassig next Summer...what do you say? Those are outstanding fish, I am so impressed.
Nate - I see WE in those photos, those aren't from your lake? I'll be there in a week, you realize, jigging all dang night if I have to! Josh can bring me hot cocoa to keep me thawed.
I am always up for a trip to Lake Erie, just I don't have a boat any more. All my fishing buds have boats and are completely rigged for the great lakes so mine wasn't getting used so sold it a couple of years ago. Plus the house, farm and pond are keeping me pretty busy.
You going to be in the neighborhood next week? I am just a little south of Herman's places. Only problem I will be in Charlotte, NC next week for work.
Josh can bring me hot cocoa to keep me thawed.
Forget that. I've still got the Abolut and the Stoli, waiting for their meeting with Fate.
TJ,
I'm not offended about your comment about my BG; I appreciate it as I never even noticed.
My BG population has grown significantly over the last year. I've gone from feeding about 8 seconds a day (using one feeder) to 28 seconds (using two feeders) and that still doesn't seem like enough. The feed was about 70% AM500 and and 30% AM400 mixed. I bought about 10 lbs of AM600 to "try" and found that even BG about 6 in. can eat that. So, in the spring, I plan to buy 50lb of AM600 and add that to the AM400, AM500 mix and increase feeding time.
The HSB appreciate the AM600 as well.
Dan
real quickly before i head out:
for a fish to grow large you have to make sure it stays alive and has more than enough food to eat from the moment it is born all the way through its life... most folks like to focus on feeding and managing for their bigger fish and then once those bigger fish live their life they are left with nothing much desirable...
could be a good discussion, hopefully others chime in... Ill be out for a few days..
So true. Its easy to grow the original stocker fish ! The trick is to manage all that follow. Food , water quality and harvest are key ingredients ! To do that you also need to know about each species life history and other traits.
BTW nice fish guys - all !
DJ that is a beautiful fish, and might be simply on the decline. If you aren't witnessing a large qty of fish with the concave or pinch belly - you're likely doing just fine! Sounds like you're feeding plenty, at least.
I, conversely, have a much more serious issue I'm contending with where all my BG are exhibiting that characteristic. Talked at length with Condello - he agreed different feeding times would help, as would more aggressive management practices [fyke net]. I'll never have a trophy panfish fishery, and that's not one of my goals, but I'd like to at least relieve the pinch belly syndrome this upcoming season.
