Want to remove some BG to fillet up for deer season...Have a couple of friends that are going to come over some night in the next week to fish and help fillet..
My BG growth seems to be coming along nicely since starting a feeding program and adding the LMB is June...I am still seeing several small BG on the edges and surface at night with a flash light, but nothing like I was...
I have no real way but to guess what the population is...I see what appears to be a pretty good population during feeding...They always seem to be hungry and would eat twice if not more of the amount of food I feed if I could afford it...
So the question is am I safe to pull 50? 75? 100?
Will do my best to sex and remove females and put back mature males...But for some reason sexing them this time of year is not as easy as earlier...
What is the most common size class that you catch?
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
There's a thread in the archives on how to tell M from F on the BG. On adult fish, for me it's pretty durn easy no matter what time of year. But them I can't even begin to estimate how many BG I've seen.
Easiest way for me is overall look, opecular tab, then scale tips. But's it's a whole package look, sort of trying to know what an elephant looks like while you are blindfolded. The whole picture tells a quick story. If in doubt, look at the scales. If in doubt after that, toss it back in the pond.
With live bait, probably 6 inchers... Seeing and catching larger for sure, but as soon as the live bait hits the water it is cleaned or you have a fish...
Haven't kept the best notes on size and RW...Hopefully I can slow down long enough to start that next year...I can say that I am very impressed with the way things have went this year from what I started with...
I am pretty confident on my sexing ability, but not a professional.. That confidence comes form those articles and help from members of this forum...
Large BG is the basic goal for the pond...That might be taking a back seat to the health of it though...Many of you have seen my wonder green paint spill!!!! GRRRRRRRR!!!!!
Don't plan to over fish or fillet fish every time it is fished either...If I can get a meal for my family once or twice a month and enough fish for deer camp once a year I will ultimately be happy...We normally have a group of 20-25 for our Friday fish fry...
I'd pull some of those six inchers, as well as any smaller BG out. Not as much fun to fillet as a larger specimen, but just as tasty.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
Will definitely pull out and fillet anything that we can get even a knife through...Even if it is just a bite size morsel...
We will have some salmon, catfish, crappie and maybe some lake perch to cook up too so I am not just relying on the BG for food...
Ultimately just trying to get a little more balance in the pond without know if it is out of balance...Come one guys, you are suppose to know exactly how much biomass is in my pond and give me a # to remove to achieve the perfect pond!!!! LOL
No problem. if you could send me a sample of water from your pond, I will apply my top secret, proprietary process, that enables me to analyze your water and tell you how many pounds of biomass are present, how that biomass breaks down according to species, relative weight of each fish present, male/female ratio of each species, and what each fish would prefer to see by way of bait on your hook.
Sure it's expensive....but can you really put a price on having the absolute bestest pond in the entire neighborhood??
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
Awesome, the sample as well as check are in the mail...Can I pay extra for a one day turn around... Would like to get this figured out ASAP so I can get this pond in tip top shape!!!
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
I think I want to thin them down but I really don't know what I have.. I want to cut back on the feed and have a more naturally balanced pond.. I am not convinced that the amount of fish I have is not adding to my nutrient overload...
As I mentioned early on in this adventure, not the most patient person in the world...
I hear you, but I think "balanced" is, at best, a temporary condition.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
If you try for that 1658 day old BG that my analysis shows hangs out in the southeast corner of the pond, remember that it greatly prefers earth worms dug from the exact center of the compost pile.
You'll recognize it when you catch it....it's missing a scale behind the right pectoral fin.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
I read in the archives about taking 6 to 8 or inch BG or smaller and leaving anything over 8 inch for breeding and or for just plain fun fishing! I like others believe that if you get to be trophy size 9 + plus inches then we will let you go to breed and be caught again another day.
Here is a almsot 10 inch male BG. Notice his ear tab and how long it is and U shaped. A females from what I understand and have read is not near as long and kind of makes a msaller u. Which I have noticed in my pond now that I am looking that them closer. You can tell the difference pretty easy.
Last edited by RC51; 10/18/1309:55 AM.
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!!
I read in the archives about taking 6 to 8 or inch BG or smaller and leaving anything over 8 inch for breeding and or for just plain fun fishing! I like others believe that if you get to be trophy size 9 + plus inches then we will let you go to breed and be caught again another day.
Here is a almsot 10 inch male BG. Notice his ear tab and how long it is and U shaped. A females from what I understand and have read is not near as long and kind of makes a msaller u. Which I have noticed in my pond now that I am looking that them closer. You can tell the difference pretty easy.
It's easy until the cuckolds show up!
Very nice Coppernose, RC!
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
RC51, my first thought is that both the BG in the pics are male. While the 2nd picture has less obvious male characteristics than your other picture, I'd give that one a 2nd look to determine the sex.
RC51, my first thought is that both the BG in the pics are male. While the 2nd picture has less obvious male characteristics than your other picture, I'd give that one a 2nd look to determine the sex.
I agree...I see male characteristics there also.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
I think the eartab, while smaller than the fish in the first photo, is still on the large side for a female. It's hard to tell in this photo, but I think I see some black tipped scales on the shoulders of this fish also.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
