So I was needing a way to get out on the pond. I bought an Old Town canoe Discovery 169 for $200 today. Not a scratch on it. Looks brand new. I know absolutely nothing about buying boats. How bad did I screw up?
Last edited by Bill D.; 06/01/1508:08 PM. Reason: Clarification
That is damn fantastic my friend! Catch a BCP and eat it for me! I like my fish sandwich on a lightly toasted bun with a thin slice of vidalia onion, pepperjack cheese, crisp lettuce and homemade tarter suace!
So I was needing a way to get out on the pond. I bought an Old Town canoe Discovery 169 for $200 today. Not a scratch on it. Looks brand new. I know absolutely nothing about buying boats. How bad did I screw up?
Bill, Wear a flotation device (jacket). Canoes are not known to be stable like a Jon boat is...at least till you get used to it...
BillD. Interesting fish in those pictures. Your unknown minnow could be a young golden shiner. We should get a confirmation from CJ for these fish. Sunfish might be a RES or Hybrid? It likely came in with the BG you stocked. We will have to probably wait until they get larger for a better identification.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 06/02/1509:55 AM.
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I often observe my BG leaving the nest, most often due to a cold front passing through. I don't know what your temps are today, but it was almost chilly down here this afternoon. Combine that with a cool rain, and I think it would be enough to send them back out deeper for a bit. I'm betting they'll be back when it warms up a degree or two.
Once the males commit to the nest, I think they are less likely to be driven off....but not guaranteed.
You were spot on Sparkie. Warmed up today and about 75% of the nests had males on them tonight.
BillD. Interesting fish in those pictures. Your unknown minnow could be a young golden shiner. We should get a confirmation from CJ for these fish. Sunfish might be a RES or Hybrid? It likely came in with the BG you stocked. We will have to probably wait until they get larger for a better identification.
More info.... the fish farm I got my YP, PS and FHM from also sell RES and GSH....Hmmmm
Bill, I been a canoe enthusiast for a long time. Have had plenty and tho I prefer aluminum because of their lighter weight what you got should be fine for your pond. That canoe has a lot of room and weight capacity and is pretty stable. If you were to buy a new one it would crank ya a bit over a grand. Excellent buy !! I sold a 17' aluminum off brand in 1984 for $175 and that guy got a fair deal. Enjoy the toy but get used to it in warm weather.
Do nature a favor, spay/neuter your pets and any weird friends or relatives.
A friend of mine sold his canoe and bought one made from Kevlar I think. He said it was 50% the weight of his old one, and has a lifetime no-leak warranty. If he poked a hole in the bottom, they'd repair it at no cost. It wasn't cheap tho.......
Update...I see SF spawning beds in the shallower areas. The visibilty is only about 24 inches so I suspect there are some deeper ones as well. Lots of FHM are spawning in burrows they have made under flat rocks.
I don't know whether my YP spawned as the visibility was so low it was immpossible to see if there were egg strands. I also don't know if the SMB (3 year old fish) spawned. Guess I will wait and see.
So the forage base is growing great! I may be forced to stock LMB next spring to keep up if the SMB and YP didn't spawn. Heck I may have to stock the LMB even if the SMB and YP spawned. My forage base is skyrocketing and I don't want stunted SF.
Edit: ....and I know a lot of you forum gray beards warned me of SF over population but, heck it was an experiment!....hmmm maybe should have stocked more YP last fall...next time!
The SF apparently have accepted the pond expansion. Nests are covering the spawning shelf I built for them in the new east bay in about 2 feet of water.
Interesting development. I changed the timer on the aerator from 1.5 hours to 4.5 hours last night. So now 1:00 to 5:30 AM run. Tonight, the toadpoles were in clumps around the pond instead of all spread out, I did not see male BG on nests and feeding when I tossed the pellets was way down. Is it possible I dropped the overall pond temp enough to cause this? Should I have changed the aerator run time more slowly?
"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.
"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.
No, you probably didn't screw up. Your water temps dropped after the rain, and the fish moved off. They'll be back.
"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.
Gosh dangit Sparkie, Off, On, back again, gone again!! Must be driving them nuts! Plan is to move the giant dirt piles around the pond this week, weather permitting. That should scare the heck out of them. I am starting to feel like the father that keeps flashing the porch light when his daughter just got home from her first date! Ain't never gonna get that first kiss with me around!
My fish must be experiencing the same frustrations as yours Bill. The BCP are still full of eggs. They should have been done a couple of weeks ago but are just now going on bed.
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I may be forced to stock LMB next spring to keep up if the SMB and YP didn't spawn. 
Heck I may have to stock the LMB even if the SMB and YP spawned. My forage base is skyrocketing and I don't want stunted SF.
