Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Removed some LMB from a clients pond yesterday

He hasn't removed any LMB from the 2 ac pond this year, so I brought a fishing rod and reel when I dropped off his fish food. I'll let you guys figure out the WR's if you are curious.

I just removed the LMB that bit, the BG and YP all were returned to the pond. I bet I caught 30 YP all around 12" A single Stubby Steves pellet, on a #6 Owner Mosquito Hook and 8# test line. No weight, no bobber. I had a 20+ mph wind at my back so casting was pretty easy.

#1 15.5" 2.2#
#2 16" 2.6#
#3 16.5" 2.4#
#4 13" 1.45#
#5 14" 2.0#
#6 12.5" 1.25#
#7 6" .08#

Total 15.98#,

Fish 1-6 went under the knife, #7 was scavenger food. I have 4 more that are in a holding tank that are slated for another pond, those will be measured and weighed as they go in to that pond. I bet these 4 fish total around 4#. Those were caught on a TFO Fly Rod and a "Game Changer" fly that was purchased at Tailwaters in Dallas. This particular fly is about 4" long.

That sounds like you put in a pretty good day at work!

I was there less than 2 hours, and that includes all the time spent talking. I gave him a packet of Stubby Steve's after he saw me catching the fish and his comment was "That's cheating". LOL

Throw out half a handful of food. look for the biggest swirl, throw the Stubby Steve's where the swirl was. If the line twitches, set the hook, I have yet to see a Stubby Steve's pellet swim on it's own.

In your business, doesn't talking to clients count as "work"? (How else are you going to determine their pond goals?)

I assume performing a fish evaluation (with your fly rod) and culling on his pond also counts as "work".

Stocking the culled bass in the next client's pond also counts as "work".

I spent the day banging out an "expert response rebuttal" for a lawsuit on a contractor that did $250,000 in damages on one of our projects. Had to re-read everything six times to make sure every word was absolutely correct. Get to revise it again tomorrow with the lawyer! It was a lot more fun to just vicariously enjoy your work day a little!

P.S. Please don't tell me about the time you had an entire load of fish die due to an accident blocking the highway to the client's pond, or the time you stepped off a ledge while seining a pond for a client and almost drowned when your chest waders filled up. Type those up on a day that you need to vent some spleen and I will also commiserate on that day.

Scott, not trying to hijack your thread, but Game Changers by Blane Chocklett are cool flies. The original ones, like the pic above, shed water which makes them easier to cast.

Three flies that work well in ponds, are any of the Game Changers, Enrico Puglisi's minnow series, and glo bugs painted brown with a marker. We do use Stubby's because they do have a higher catch rate than glo bugs, but having a few glo bugs around ain't a bad thing.

Thanks Al. I have a box of Georges flies and was tempted to try some of them, but I never tried this fly before and wanted to give it a shot. Some of Georges creations that I have will never see the water.

George's flies

https://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92618#Post92618


Lady G's $ Gill

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=002223;p=1




Pellet fly

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=003981;p=1#000006