Forums36
Topics40,963
Posts557,995
Members18,504
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,314 Likes: 300
Moderator
|
OP
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,314 Likes: 300 |
Made another trip to "Lake Beirut" today, and again noticed sunken belly's on all the bass I caught. I culled and cleaned around 30 last week, and all their belly's were empty.
The bottom end of my lake is very clear, and I saw tons of CNBG, Tilapia, and the banks were covered in baby frogs jumping into the lake. The bass were cruising, and blowing up on the baby frogs. It was incredible to watch.
So, should I be worried, or has the heat just slowed their metabolism down? The fish I caught today, seemed healthy other than the belly deal, so any thoughts?
Thanks, Al
AL
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,539 Likes: 845
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,539 Likes: 845 |
Maybe the prey isn't the correct size for the LMB to eat?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,055 Likes: 277
Moderator Lunker
|
Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,055 Likes: 277 |
I found the same thing last weekend on BG.
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: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,314 Likes: 300
Moderator
|
OP
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,314 Likes: 300 |
That was my thought also. Visually, there seems to be plenty of 2-4" available.
I just added a bream pond to my place, and plan to start self stocking this winter. This whole thing just baffles me.
I did add 100 Blue Cats this summer, and have spent the last few months running Egrets off the water, but the only big change has been the loss of cover due to the drought here in TX.
In the past, thousands of fry swam freely through the weeds, but that vegetation has disappeared due to the falling water level.
I'll keep culling, and refocus on forage fish this Spring and see how it goes.
Thanks as always.
AL
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,499 Likes: 267
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,499 Likes: 267 |
What size is the pond/lake ? A lot (high %) of LMB with empty stomachs is telling you that there is a problem and its not the heat. LMB eat up to their terminal max heat just in lower amounts (they will die from heat before they starve). What size were the LMB ?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,314 Likes: 300
Moderator
|
OP
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,314 Likes: 300 |
Normal pool is around 13 acres. Right now, it's probably a little more than half of that.
We're culling everything below 14", and can usually fill an ice chest. The biggest we caught is 10, and have caught multiple in the 6-8 lb range. The fish we culled last week were 1 to 3 lbs, with 2 over 8 thrown back.
The lake is around 8 years old.
The more I think about it, they must just be underfed. I'm guessing we should be eating more fish. We add 1000 CNBG, and 80 lbs of Tilapia a year, but that doesn't seem to be keeping up with the bass population.
AL
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,318 Likes: 6
Ambassador Lunker
|
Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,318 Likes: 6 |
That's a lot of big bass to feed and a lot of small ones that want to be big too!! 8 and 10 pound bass need a LOT of food. I bet you are right when you say you don't have enough. You have a LOT of eating machines in that there pond!! Remember bass can eat 1/3 their length! So if you have bass that are 24 to 26 inches long they need food that is 8 to 10 inches long. Or a bunch of 4 inch long fish that they have a hard time catching and can't keep their weight on because of it!
Last edited by RC51; 09/21/11 02:13 PM.
The only difference between a rut and a Grave is the depth. So get up get out of that rut and get moving!! Time to work!!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,499 Likes: 267
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,499 Likes: 267 |
If those 100+ Blue Cats don't get eaten by the LMB they will IMO make matters much worse as to lack of forage.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,314 Likes: 300
Moderator
|
OP
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,314 Likes: 300 |
ewest, I agree.
I'm pretty sure now, I've pampered these fish to death. Current plan is to fish/cull the lake hard for the next few months, then: 1) Fertilize next Spring. 2) Establish my Bream pond for feeder fish. The dam backs up to my big lake, so I can pipe the fish directly into the lake. 3) Stock my Tilapia, and add Threadfin Shad if the water is right.
I spent to much time manicuring the lake, and not enough time fishing it. The guys at the fire station should love me soon. We'll be eating fish every week.
Again guys, thanks so much.
AL
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,499 Likes: 267
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,499 Likes: 267 |
If you can’t catch enough then get one of the guys here to electrofish out a bunch. I have found that to be better as you don't end-up taking all the aggressive fish out and leave the non-biters.
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
|
|