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Joined: Apr 2018
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OP
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 27 |
I’m fishing a 130 acre lake that was drained completely back in “13”. It was restocked with bream,shad and crappie as well as F1Bass. Bass have done well. This is a private lake and I’m lucky enough to be about the only one to fish it!! There are others but I put more time on the water than all the rest put together. I’ve kept records on my catch that contains weight, length and locations. I’ve also tagged over 100 that are 5lbs and over. I’ve caught several numerous times. All that said the company that originally stocked it has recommended that it should have another round of “new” fish. I think I’m understanding there suggesting that the offspring do not get as big as the original fish. Is that correct? I’ve got a lot of data from what I’ve collected from my records I’ve kept if anyone is interested. Thanks for reading!
Htbboats
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,752 Likes: 33
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,752 Likes: 33 |
Please share the data.
In a lake that size, most likely need to shock it and do a survey.
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 2,247 Likes: 548
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 2,247 Likes: 548 |
Mark, there's a LOT of variables involved in this. The data you have on tagged fish, especially recatch, if you have date, length and weight from each time you have that fish, some questions can be answered about growth rate but I can also provide info that indicates tagged fish, LMB and BCP in particular, showed a slower growth rate after tagging because of what KDWP believes to be a continued stress factor of the tag itself. Maybe Lusk or some of the others a bit more in tune to the F1 can elaborate on some of this, but I think there are many, many items that need to be confirmed before assumptions are made.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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The more info available the better the chances that the right decision will be made.
The first fish to go into a new system (brand new or renovated) will have the best growth rate because there is limited competition for the available food. As new fish are added through reproduction or otherwise the competition for food increases and growth rates slow. These are population dynamics (whole system) not individual fish growth rates. As a general concept newly stocked waters (stocked in normal numbers) have lots of room for fish growth but in 18 to 24 mths reach carrying capacity due to reproduction and growth.
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Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 34
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Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 34 |
Any details on what they mean by "new" fish? It is possible you need to have additional baitfish added after 6 years. Agree with the others that I would have a survey completed before just adding additional fish.
2.5 acres with LMB, RES, BG and CC
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Joined: Apr 2018
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OP
Joined: Apr 2018
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There’s not much I’d rather do than talk about the info I’ve gathered! To state some history on the lake: Roughly 35 years old Don’t think it has / was ever harvested right Was 1st completely drained in 2011/12 due to a stand pipe issue At about 1/2 full, Jan/Feb of “13” it was stocked with whatIm told was about 165,000 bream and shad. 2/25/13. 5200 Black crappie, 6/4/13 5200 F1,s Started tagging on 7/19/18. Have tagged 140, 5 lbs and up Have caught 11 two times, 3, one time and 1, 4 times Was 1st told after a year or so to start taking out some bass but only ones under 3 lbs. Hardly anyone was fishing for crappie or bream The lake was shocked n about “17” and they felt like there were to many crappie and bream. Crappie at that time were about 7/8 inches. Bream 4/5. Was then told not to take any bass hoping they would harvest the bream/ crappie Shocked again, by a different company on 8/20/19 , was then told to take out especially the small bass, 1300lbs a year! Hard for me to catch that many small bass! All the crappie and bream that was caught All of this has hardly been scratched ! I’ve taken an average of 10 bass in each length to get these numbers: 2lbs bass are 17.17 long 3 lbs bass. 18.41 4. 19.46 5. 20.5 6. 21.9 7. 22 8. 22.6 9. 23.3 These are fish from this year
This is a chart of what I caught in each length for 2018/19
2018 2019 1lb. 178 — 53 2lb. 52. — 111 3Lb 49. — 69 4lb. 46. — 77 5lb. 26. — 54 6lb. 10. — 31 7lb. 3. — 15 8lb. 2. — 7 9lb. 0. — 6 Numbers for 1lbs in “19”. Might be skewed a bit. I was taking out all small fish and unless it was obvious over 1lb I did not count it
I could go into this info in more detail I guess and if you have question I’d be glad to answer what I can. If you’d like to look at this lake on Google Maps Pro go to: 35. 41.138 88. 35.698
Thanks for the interest!
Last edited by Mark Hopper; 12/16/19 05:23 PM.
Htbboats
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Joined: Apr 2018
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OP
Joined: Apr 2018
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One thing I left out. Is the average size fish in “18” was 2.93 and in “19”. 4.12 Also since I’ve got to see the lake dry I’ve got pics and gps points on anything interesting
Last edited by Mark Hopper; 12/16/19 03:56 PM.
Htbboats
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,055 Likes: 277
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Moderator Lunker
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My first question is what would restocking do? What "problem" would be solved? Has a shock survey been done? What species do they say need to be restocked?
95% of the eggs laid never make it to their first birthday. They get eaten and that's just nature at work. The same will happen to any small fish that are stocked.
It could be that the problem to be solved involves the fish sellers bank account.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 27
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OP
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 27 |
It’s been shocked a couple times but by different companies, getting different recommendations. The company suggesting to restock more bass as I understand it is because the offspring of the original bass will not get as big. Is that true?
Htbboats
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,499 Likes: 267
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Sounds like a lot of differing stocking history/advice. You need survey data in addition to your creel data , plus your visual observations (baitfish , water clarity fish condition etc.). Then you can decided on what , if any fish to stock.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
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Mark, the offspring from the original bass should do just as well as the store bought ones. That assumes that the fish monger isn't stocking some select bass from big sows.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 27
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OP
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 27 |
Thanks for all the input! Hope all of you have a Merry Christmas!
Htbboats
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