Forums36
Topics40,942
Posts557,765
Members18,481
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
0 members (),
635
guests, and
256
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,097 Likes: 18
Lunker
|
OP
Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,097 Likes: 18 |
Having fun during the evening I saw an overabundance of LMB in the 4-8" range in my 1/3 AC pond. I proceeded to toss 40 over my shoulder (in 2 hours fishing time)while releasing 3 larger lmb, 3 res, and approx 10 cnbg. I was using the smallest yellow rooster tail in my arsenal The sizes seem odd, I know the 8" fish are last years hatch, and this years brood are the smaller ones, but how old are these fish? Can they possibly be 1 year old? p.s. do NOT look at the TREES on the DAM, "I" didn't do that !!! any age input would be welcome...E
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,490 Likes: 265
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,490 Likes: 265 |
A very WAG is they are older than that. I have aged LMB that size at 3 years old from a LMB crowded pond. A FS buddy has aged similar fish at 5 years from a real crowded LMB pond. In the same pond he caught a 5 lb LMB also at 5 years. For some reason the big fish managed to jump the size gap.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,097 Likes: 18
Lunker
|
OP
Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,097 Likes: 18 |
Eric, you're probably right, but the pond appeared void of life last April. I put in 3 adult lbm and 5 CC in April 2007. On my my next trip out in July, I added 100 BG, 100 RES, 100 CC, and 2 lbs shiners at that time. While swimming in July 2007 with a mask and fins, lmb 4-6" were visible. The lmb sizes I see now just don't make sense. Unless I'm catching the same adults per trip, something's fishy I just wish I had my scale to check the RW's at the time...I threw them back in, hopefully I can weigh one next week as I visit the completed new pond. To add more to the puzzle, I tried lures and worms in the pond prior to introducing a few fish, never had a nibble. Can lmb grow 12 inches in a year?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,049 Likes: 276
Moderator Lunker
|
Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,049 Likes: 276 |
I don't think those fish are really too stunted. The head looks in proportion with the body.
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
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,963 Likes: 276
Moderator Lunker
|
Moderator Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,963 Likes: 276 |
Agree with DD - those two bass would be average or above average condition in my pond.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,490 Likes: 265
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,490 Likes: 265 |
This is what makes things interesting. To be clear those fish do not look "stunted" but I would bet the RW is low. The pond also looks clear (as in not particularly fertile) and no supp feeding and low forage as per your post above. With those conditions in an existing pond you normally don't get from 2in to 12in in one year. This is especially the case where there are multiple year classes of LMB present. It is possible that the fish you are talking about are the few you put in or they are the best growers out of the 8in year class. However if they were the best growers of the 8in yr class they should not have a low relative weight at this time unless they just finished spawning (15 to 30% weight loss) at one year. I have seen plenty of 3 yr old fish that look just like No. 2 above. My best WAG is there were a few survivor LMB in there to start with.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,049 Likes: 276
Moderator Lunker
|
Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,049 Likes: 276 |
Russell, they can go from 2 to 12 inches but they have to hustle if they are not feed trained pigs. No way to know exactly how old they are without otolith analysis.
Eric, survivor fish or even bass heavy pond fish that I see don't even look that good. I am next to a bass heavy pond with loads of 8 to ten inch LMB and an occasional whopper CNBG. Gin clear water with a lot of FA. On occasion I see a 14 inch bucketmouth.
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
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,097 Likes: 18
Lunker
|
OP
Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,097 Likes: 18 |
I sure like the different ideas, something weird is up with the pond, that's for sure. I know there were no BG or RES originally, something would have nibbled a baited worm, right? My stinkin records are at work (ahhahaha), but I stocked 100 of each at 1-2", the largest BG caught go approx. 4-5" bg, RES maybe 6" max. RES are definitely larger/stockier. I also catch little ones at 2-3"
Like ewest says, there is good visibility indicating a poor bloom/quality, but there are fish everywhere indicating good reproduction.
I have both a BG & LMB RW calculator, I will take a few measurements next time out..."if" I can find my scale in the barn, it's so cluttered with the move, life is fun !
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
|
|