Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss Ice Fishing - Finally!

Very True - fish are tools for management depending on one's goals.

I'll have to sneak TJ in for some pyrotechnic magic that just might cull 1000's....

Firetiger 1/8 oz slender spoon tipped with small FHM

My son, August, popping some nice YP and BG in the trophy pond, which is serving the purpose for which I created it - reliable bite for solid panfish. Male BG and female YP fishery - I've finally got it going in the direction originally envisioned. The last YP was a Nebraska Master Angler status fish, 13.5"! Great times on the micro pond!

Don't even need a fish in the picture to make the statement true.

Excellent fish and son, TJ--good work!

Spectacular on all fronts....

+1! Lots of reasons to smile!

How do you like the ion, TJ?

Thanks guys - yes, Tony, the ION has been an amazing investment. I loved my 4 stroke Strike Lite, but the ION blows it away in speed, weight, portability [it's much shorter] and obviously no more oil/gas/maintenance issues.

TJ,

Is your son aware that from now on he will be dissappointed fishing in other waters?

Last ice fishing post of the season! Made it out twice last week - Monday still had 7" solid ice and hit it with a few buddies, but by Wednesday night my solo adventure was a little sketchy - ice was deteriorating fast due to the 50s - but still had 3" and an indomitable will! 100% open water as of Saturday. Finally popped my annual 14" YP on my last trip, and the WE are starting to push 17-18". Rex's HBCP were hitting all night - and averaged 13-14". Thanks for sharing the adventure.

What a great year you've already had TJ. The hits just kept coming.

Maybe next year.

What an adventure!

REALLY nice pig YP there TJ!!!!

Each year I catch at least one 14"+ YP from the main pond, this year didn't happen until my LAST HOUR fishing for the season. Felt like it was meant to be - very surreal experience.

TJ - I am very curious to learn how much longer your 14" YP will live. Try and monitor this for us. Do you have any idea how old they are at 14"??

Dang Cody, you askin a ? is about as rare as me catchin a fish.

More nice fish TJ! That YP looks to be real close to 15. What's your pond record?

Good question - caught the first 14" fish 3 years ago, each Winter I pop one or two more in the 14" range. This girl here was actually 14.5 or more - just didn't get that great a photo I wanted to get her back in ASAP.

I'm assuming these are original fish stocked as 3-4" age 0 in September 2008. I know I have some limited recruitment - but again, it's pretty limited.

Record YP is 14.5 ish...my goal is 15+. Maybe next Winter.

Those aren't huge walleye by any means, in fact, not really even respectable size - but watching them grow SLOWLY year after year from 4-6" to this size [15-17"] is a real achievement for me, especially in such a small pond where all the regional Game and Parks experts claim WE and YP cannot be grown! I love posting these photos and helping to rewrite the wisdom regarding NE fishery management possibilities. Raises the hackle of some old school state fishery managers out there, which makes it even more fun for me.

Very good question? Esshup was counting YP in his cages till his hands froze off, so maybe a few more weeks to hit Indiana.

Insert snickers here__________

If in 2009 those YP were one year old then Apr 2016 puts them at 8yrs old. This is very near at the maximum age that I see pellet fed YP that are on the fast growth rate pace. You may have difficulty getting these current YP year class to 9 or 10 yrs. YP feeding on natural foods seem to live longer than those eating pellets. Cecil and I have difficulty consistently getting YP to the 15"-16" mark. YP at 14" are fairly common for us. I am interested to see how the all female YP perform for you.