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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 163
Lunker
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OP
Lunker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 163 |
I never actually went away, just haven't posted in a while. Here is some background on my pond, and an update... We bought our property in July of 2005 -- approximately 45 acres with a 10-12 acre lake North of Honey Grove in Fannin County, NE Texas. The property was part of a larger farm and the lake had been impounded about 37 years earlier. It was used primarily for watering cattle and irrigating the surrounding fields, and the deepest point I've measured is about 22 feet. When we purchased, the water was pretty murky from the cattle. I had fished a little bit around the shore before I bought, and noticed that there were a lot of bass, but they were small. One of the first things I did was pay for an electroshock survey and water test. The results: 1. Visibility of 12 inches 2. pH, alkalinity, and hardness OK 3. No forage fish except for a handful of GSF 4. Weighed and measured 62 bass during the survey 5. Population peak at 9 inches 6. Relative weight averaged 82% 7. Only existing forage was other bass and insects In October of 2005, we stocked the following: 1. 3000 3"-5" CBG 2. 50lbs. of golden shiners 3. 50lbs. of fathead minnows From July through December of 2005, we culled 309 LMB under 12". In the Spring of 2006 I started running three Aquapro ADF-75 feeders. I've been feeding Purina Gamefish Chow from day one. I usually feed once a day in March and April, bump it up to twice a day in May, June, July, and August, then take it back to once a day when it cools off a little in September and October. The last couple of years, the CBG have started feeding immediately (day one) when I start the feeders in March. We didn't fish as much in 2006, and only culled 108 LMB under 12". I also discovered some monster crappie in the pond that year, but they were few and far between. I suspect any crappie fry and YOY were devoured by the LMB. This year also brought a terrible drought to North Texas, and the lake reached its lowest point, down from 12 acres to about 9 acres. I also started running another Aquapro ADF-75 that year, putting me at four feeders. In 2007 we were able to get out to "The Farm" a bit more. We kept the four feeders running and noticed some really big CBG! We also noticed that we were releasing a lot more LMB than we used to -- about every other bass was over 12", as opposed to maybe one in eight the previous two years. We ended up culling 290 LMB under 12" that year. In 2008, I decided it was time to "take the next step" as far as forage. I had Todd Overton stock approximately 6000 threadfin shad, and about 50 lbs. of talapia. I kept running the four feeders and the CBG and LMB continued to grow. We found ourselves releasing two out of every three LMB that we caught, and we still culled 151 LMB under 12". One of my daughters caught a new lake record LMB. It was only about 4 lbs. but it dawned on me that we never really tried to catch big bass -- we spent all of our time trying to catch cull bass to keep up with the management plan! Another friend lost a likely lake record 5 pound LMB when it attacked a CBG he was bringing in on his 3 wt. fly rod. In September of 2008 we realized our dream (well, my dream) and started building (well, someone else actually built it) a beautiful little cedar cabin on the property. 2009 has brought about the completion of the cabin -- a huge relief for my wife and three daughters. The plastic portable toilet with the zip-up poop bag in the barn wasn't cutting it. They needed indoor plumbing! Fishing has continued to improve, and Todd stocked another 60 pounds of talapia in May. A good number of shad made it through the winter and the population seems strong this summer. When the feeders go off now, its like a school of piranha on a baby cow! A friend caught an 11.5" CBG and my oldest daughter caught a new lake record 5 pound LMB a couple weeks ago. We now release about 80% of the LMB we catch, as they are well over 12", and the 3-4 pound LMB are relatively common. I know that there are bigger bass in the pond, and I plan to start fishing for them soon! I've also become addicted to duck hunting, and we are fortunate to get a very good number of ducks on the lake during hunting season. We've also "popped" four beaver that were doing some serious damage to the trees around the lake. I think we still have a couple more to go... Sorry for the long, drawn-out story, but its been a while since I posted and I wanted to share my "slice of heaven" with the forum. As always, comments/suggestions/recommendations are appreciated. If I'm doing something wrong in your view, let me know -- you won't hurt my feelings... Here are a few pics from the four years we've owned the property: Pond at its lowest point in 2006 Pond at full capacity in 2009 Nice CBG "Say hello to my little friend" Cabin and picnic area Old bathroom New bathroom Can't wait for duck season! Wetland on the front of the property -- a future project! Sunrise on the lake
Carl Spackler: "This place got a pool?" Ty Webb: "Pool and a pond. Pond would be good for you..."
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1 |
Great photos!
Is that beaver sleeping?
Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 644
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 644 |
12 ac pond in NW Missouri. 28' max depth at full pool. Fish Present: LMB, BG, RES, YP, CC, WB, HSB, WE, BCP, WCP, GSH.
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,948 Likes: 9
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,948 Likes: 9 |
Dan, Pondboss moderator's get to hunt right?
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,655 Likes: 1
Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,655 Likes: 1 |
Can Heaven really be that good?
"I love living. I have some problems with my life, but living is the best thing they've come up with so far." � Neil Simon,
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,974 Likes: 277
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,974 Likes: 277 |
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 743
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 743 |
Great photos!
Is that beaver sleeping? For a long, long time.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 743
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 743 |
"Nice" is not the proper term for that CNBG. I think "toad" would be more appropriate. Or perhaps "hawg," or "beast."
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 743
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 743 |
its like a school of piranha on a baby cow! [/quote]
This is perhaps my favorite quote on this site, ever. Though I have to ask how you know what a school of piranha on a baby cow looks like?
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,934 Likes: 2
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,934 Likes: 2 |
Whoa...Wow! Very, very nice Fishman. Some great photos, too. Fav's = poo bags, cedar cabin, incredible sunrise shot. Eclectic mix. Tell me more about the cabin.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,795 Likes: 14
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,795 Likes: 14 |
Whoa...Wow! Very, very nice Fishman. Some great photos, too. Fav's = poo bags, cedar cabin, incredible sunrise shot. Eclectic mix. Tell me more about the cabin. I have to vote the "old bathroom" one of the better pics too. Great stuff all around Fishman. Nice place and fishery. Awesome really. Nice job.
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,505
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,505 |
Fishman, thats an awesome project ya got going on!!!
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2 |
Great post and pictures! I love the mixed bag of ducks and the cabin looks great.
It is very rewarding when all the hard work pays off and it sounds like it really is!
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,538 Likes: 844
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,538 Likes: 844 |
Thanks for the pics and the history. Priceless! Fav pics is old toilet followed by the ducks.
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 259
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 259 |
That sunrise is a beautiful shot.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099 Likes: 23
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099 Likes: 23 |
Sunrise picture is another candidate magazine cover shot!
the pooh-bags would be a fun "Human Habitat" article! Priceless!
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,086
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,086 |
Great story and pics.As for what your doing wrong,you havent invited us for barbaque yet.And be careful,a lot of us live close enough to come.
I subscribe Some days you get the dog,and some days he gets you.Every dog has his day,and sometimes he has two!
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,615 Likes: 5
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,615 Likes: 5 |
Great stuff Dan and stop being such a stranger! You story has a Pond Boss article written all over it.
Love the Tuff Shed cabin. Any inside photos? (besides the bathroom).
JHAP ~~~~~~~~~~ "My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." ...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,239
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,239 |
Fishman great pic's. Great looking place you have. What county is your pond in?
The pic of the old bathroom is priceless.
Last edited by rockytopper; 07/29/09 11:42 AM.
The road goes on forever and the party nevers end...............................................
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,587
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,587 |
Thanks for posting. We all enjoy the stories and photos.
Subscribe to Pond Boss MagazineFrom Bob Lusk: Dr. Dave Willis passed away January 13, 2014. He continues to be a key part of our Pond Boss family...and always will be.
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,365
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,365 |
Looks like he has a headache.
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,750 Likes: 295
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,750 Likes: 295 |
The little girl's face in the poo-bag photo is just great.
Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:" "She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135 |
Great looking place and a beautiful pond. I guess the kid's are happy with the new bathroom.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 163
Lunker
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OP
Lunker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 163 |
Whoa...Wow! Very, very nice Fishman. Some great photos, too. Fav's = poo bags, cedar cabin, incredible sunrise shot. Eclectic mix. Tell me more about the cabin. Believe it or not, Tuff-Shed built the cabin to dry-in. It took them about 7 days -- they were delayed a day or two because of rain. My neighbor, a contractor who did all of the finish-out, watched them every step of the way and was very impressed. The cabin is 24'x36' with an 8' porch for a total of 925 square feet. It is 2 BR / 1 Bath with a kitchen and living room. One smaller BR has a queen bed, and the larger BR has two sets of bunks. We have full HVAC and an aerobic septic system. We made a few upgrades, including cedar siding and 9 foot ceilings. The neighbor who did the finish-out also did an amazing job. Again, a few upgrades -- ceiling fans on the front porch, outdoor speakers, a huge cedar beam at the peak of the ceiling in the main room, and pine interior doors. We're still working on furnishing and decorating (its my man-cave, so I'm in charge of this part), but here are a few pics: View from the front: Front porch: View from the front porch -- trees blocking the view of the pond have since been trimmed: Kitchen: Looking towards front door from kitchen to give an idea of the trim: Living room area: Small buck I shot in my food plot:
Carl Spackler: "This place got a pool?" Ty Webb: "Pool and a pond. Pond would be good for you..."
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,435
Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,435 |
Dan, great work! You should be very proud.
Just do it...
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