Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
Shotgun01, Dan H, Stipker, LunkerHunt23, Jeanjules
18,451 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics40,899
Posts557,082
Members18,451
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 28,414
ewest 21,474
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,110
Who's Online Now
9 members (Jared015, Freg, Justin W, LeighAnn, Donatello, Theo Gallus, Sunil, homewardbound, DenaTroyer), 778 guests, and 224 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,930
Likes: 2
R
RER Offline
Offline
R
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,930
Likes: 2
Originally Posted By: Lovnlivin
Not over the winter, but the rest of the year there's a GBH out there every day. I chase him off in the morning but he comes right back and is there again when I get home from work. I'm going to run some string this year to see if it helps,


I ran sting criss cross over my pond and even out away from the banks to stop them from flying in close and walking over.

I used a spool of heavy Mono. I took a latter and went up a tree tied it around it, climbed down walked around pond lettered up a tree on the other side and tied it off.

Works pretty good. they don't really see it until they are right on it and it freaks them out. I had one that would try to figure it out and avoid them. But when I spooked him off he would take off and panic trying to avoid them. He hit them onnce and it made him crash to the ground. It has not been back since. I also had an osprey diving from a roost in a tree. It blocked its flight path enough and it stopped visiting the pond. If they try to fly in at night it hits their wings as they don't really see it and it freaks them out too. I feel it has cut down on the larger bird visitation greatly.

The Mono across the air is not really noticeable. You have to be looking for it and the sun has to be at the right angle to see it. Other than that its nearly invisible.


Goofing off is a slang term for engaging in recreation or an idle pastime while obligations of work or society are neglected........... Wikipedia
RER #438438 02/23/16 09:20 AM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952
Likes: 184
P
Offline
P
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952
Likes: 184
I don't worry about the GBH at all .... Worst case they might eat some basslings, that would save me the trouble. There isn't anything in the shallows cept bass. Now cormorants are a different story altogether

Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,668
Likes: 57
T
Offline
T
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,668
Likes: 57
Originally Posted By: Pat Williamson
I don't worry about the GBH at all .... Worst case they might eat some basslings, that would save me the trouble. There isn't anything in the shallows cept bass. Now cormorants are a different story altogether

The cormorants have been at or around my pond ever since the Tp die off, as many as 80 as I tried to count them when they flew off, 50 the day before that. The Tp was a source of slow moving food for them. Two Bald Eagles showed up at that same time and I saw one of them again last week, looking for something to eat at the pond. I now keep my 5lb toy poodle close as we walk the pond because of the eagles. He (Charlie) love swimming in the pond, he even swam out to some duck decoys I had not picked up. I hate cormorants frown

Tracy


Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.


Tracy
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,414
Likes: 792
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,414
Likes: 792
Tracy, cormorants are bad. I didn't realize how bad until I did a fish survey on a 7/8 acre pond a year ago. It had 3-5 cormorants visiting daily. I didn't think they would do too much damage because the visibility was 12" or so due to a thick phytoplankton bloom.

I was wrong.

80% of the fish that I sampled showed that they escaped from a cormorant. It didn't matter what species, all had marks on them from the birds. Scales removed, scrapes, fins torn, etc.


www.hoosierpondpros.com


http://www.pondboss.com/subscribe.asp?c=4
3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,668
Likes: 57
T
Offline
T
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,668
Likes: 57
essup, I hate them and they know it, they here me coming and take off before it get a chance to do anything other than cuss and shake my hand at them. I catch an occasional cnbg with marks of where the dam birds nicked at them. inthink they pray on the TFS for the most part, I found about 100 4" Tfs floating after I ran that big group off. But I also found two 8" HSB floating also. I really don't know what else to do about them. I don't think they can get the lmb as easy as they can get the TFS in the pond, but I can't be for certain.

Tracy


Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.


Tracy
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952
Likes: 184
P
Offline
P
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952
Likes: 184
Tracy
Get up early and go "duck" hunting with a 12 ga . Be sure to hide well as they have incredible eyesight. Try to set up near where you see them swimming around, let them land as they are real awkward to get up in the air, they circle around giving you a chance at them. Few days of this might deter them .... Might. Good luck

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,930
Likes: 2
R
RER Offline
Offline
R
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,930
Likes: 2
If you seening ones with scars, imagine how many you don't see in their bellies.


Goofing off is a slang term for engaging in recreation or an idle pastime while obligations of work or society are neglected........... Wikipedia
RER #438896 02/26/16 01:23 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,414
Likes: 792
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,414
Likes: 792
Tracy, a friend down there has a permit from TP&W to shoot them. He has a number of ponds on his place, from 70+ to 1/2 acre in size. His pride and joy is a 35 ac trophy bass pond. He averages around 200 cormorants per year.


www.hoosierpondpros.com


http://www.pondboss.com/subscribe.asp?c=4
3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,668
Likes: 57
T
Offline
T
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,668
Likes: 57
esshup, I may have to pull out the 50 cal. and take a prone position from the hill top. Sniper stile with the 50 cal would shake a few feathers off them

Tracy


Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.


Tracy
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,511
OP Offline
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,511
At this point I am very thankful I have just one GBH and that I haven't seen any cormorants.

What a menace!


Keith - Still Lovin Livin

https://youtu.be/o-R41Rfx0k0
(a short video tribute to the PB members we met on our 5 week fishing adventure)

Formerly: 2ac LMB,HSB,BG,HBG,RES
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 288
Moderator
Offline
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 288
We are lucky enough to be blessed with GBH, Great White Egrets, and cormorants here at our place. My take on them is that GBH are the smartest of the three, the GWE are seasonal so they're not as big a problem, and the cormorants are crafty, fish eating machines, and just a general pain in the rear on any BOW. I do have a permit for the cormorants so at least removal via lead is an option with those.

We also have Bald Eagles, and an occasional Osprey, and they're allowed to eat as they want. They're just too majestic to run off, and migrating ducks seem to be their preferred diet.

This is the third year in a row we've had a pair of Canadian geese (we named them Carol and Darryl) show up in late January after most of the others have already migrated, and they have been amazing to watch. They are very protective of the big puddle, and aggressively chase GBH, other geese, and cormorants off "their" water. They do nest, but I'll give those eggs to members Sid or Highflyer, and they can raise them with Sid's other birds. Once the female's egg filled nest is disturbed, they remain another week or two and then just disappear for the year. These geese do earn their keep while they're here, so we leave them alone, but we don't let them hatch their eggs under any circumstances. When the male is alone, stays in a specific area, and starts getting chatty when approached, we know the female is nesting, so we start looking for her in earnest.

It's probably not the smartest thing to do, but we do enjoy watching the 2 of them protect the pond from fish eaters for the month or so they are here. I've sure made worse decisions in my life.


AL

Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,511
OP Offline
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,511
That's great info, Al!

I had two of the same Canadian geese as you speak of and now know why they were doing what they were doing, and acting the way they were acting! I'll know this year to keep a closer eye on their activity(s). As you mentioned, I now know they were also protecting the pond (their territory).

Thanks for sharing!

Last edited by Lovnlivin; 02/27/16 10:22 AM.

Keith - Still Lovin Livin

https://youtu.be/o-R41Rfx0k0
(a short video tribute to the PB members we met on our 5 week fishing adventure)

Formerly: 2ac LMB,HSB,BG,HBG,RES
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,892
Likes: 144
C
Offline
C
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,892
Likes: 144
The kids were super excited today! Ice out was on wednesday and Friday was nice so they wet some lines. The worm and hook only was bouncing on the bottom a little bit and in came a perch! They only caught 2 on Friday before supper. Then today they tried again and the fish were a little more cautious. We switched from worms to stubby steve pellets and got 2 perch and a goldfish. The one perch was nice, and fat, probably ready to lay eggs. The other one was smaller.

The perch went in last spring, they stocked in a range of mostly 4-6" and most closer to the 4-5" mark. There probably was a stray 6 or 7" in there. I'm assuming one of the larger ones did a great job of cleaning the pellets off the bottom or eating the FHM. I don't see any minnows at all yet. There are supposedly GSH and FHM but the perch may have taken out most of them. There are crayfish but they went in during the late summer and probably won't have young till this spring.

So great to feel that solid, stout, thick-torsoed perch in my hand!

The water must have warmed considerably since ice out was Wednesday and we did have some 60 degree days. Today was above and sunny in the afternoon. Water temps on the east and the west side of the pond was both 49 degrees.

I have limbs out on all four sides of the pond and we'll see where the eggs go. I'm guessing they will drop them tonight, or very soon judging on water temps and how they looked (ready to pop!)

Many thank to Bill Cody for helping me get them in the pond and teaching me about their ancestors from Lake Erie. You hold one in your hand and it is amazing to think what their genetic heritage is.

One question for the experts. If I wanted to transfer perch to another smaller pond, would it be safe to take the fertilized egg strand and place it on a branch in the new body of water? Or better to net 1-2" baby perch and transfer those?



Tummy view:


Side view:


Close up. Hard to believe it may have been only 5-6" last year this time!


Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 1
Offline
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 1
Absolutely awesome man! Good looking boys, nice fish and....not a video game in sight!


[Linked Image]
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,903
Likes: 109
Offline
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,903
Likes: 109
It's amazing how fast they can shut off feeding. I'm beginning to wonder if mine don't already recognize my canoe as s threat, and stop eating.
Sometimes I wish they were a little more aggressive in going after my offerings.


9 yr old pond, 1 ac, 15' deep.
RES, YP, GS, FHM (no longer), HBG (going away), SMB, and HSB (only one seen in 5 yrs) Restocked HSB (2020) Have seen one of these.
I think that's about all I should put in my little pond.
Otter attack in 2023
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,892
Likes: 144
C
Offline
C
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,892
Likes: 144
Thanks for the comments. If size matters then I'm in trouble as I see my perch look like YOY perch compared to Cecil's smile

But Bill you are correct, the experience for the kids is what it is all about. If enough grow large enough that we need a selective harvest, a perch dinner or two caught in your front yard is a luxury that very few people enjoy smile

I put a can of tuna in my newly prepared mesh minnow trap. No crayfish.

Anyone know what temps the crayfish become active? (I'll make a thread on that too.)

Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,511
OP Offline
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,511
Sunday morning pulled this 20.5", 4.97 lb LMB. Caught with a AM LMB pellet-fly.

Sorry, no mouth gape and if I figured correctly comes in at 118% WR.

Fun stuff!


Attached Images
20.5 in. 3.97 lb 3-13-16.jpg

Keith - Still Lovin Livin

https://youtu.be/o-R41Rfx0k0
(a short video tribute to the PB members we met on our 5 week fishing adventure)

Formerly: 2ac LMB,HSB,BG,HBG,RES
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 670
C
CMM Offline
Offline
C
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 670
Good looking fish. Keep it up.
Cmm


CMM

Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 1
Offline
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 1
Awesome Keith! That's one fat fish!

Last edited by Bill D.; 03/15/16 07:16 PM.

[Linked Image]
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 478
B
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
B
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 478
Nice fish. Obviously a female with this year's crop of small largemouth. Don't forget the ruler next time for a gape measurement. Thanks from all us fish nerds.


--------------------------------------------------------------

Here you go Bill



Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 120:500-508, 1991
© Copyright by the American Fisheries Society 1991
Experimental Analysis of Prey Selection by Largemouth Bass:
Role of Predator Mouth Width and Prey Body Depth
K. DAVID HAMBRIGHT
Section of Ecology and Systematic and the Ecosystems Research Center
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
Abstract.—Piscivorous fish are size-selective predators. Although sizes of prey selectively ingested
by piscivores traditionally have been measured in terms of prey length relative to predator
length, the relationship between prey body depth (measured dorsoventrally) and piscivore mouth
gape may be a more appropriate measure of prey size selection. In 2-d feeding trials with three
sizes of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, I offered various sizes of shallow-bodied fathead
minnows Pimephales promelas and deep-bodied pumpkinseeds Lepomis gibbosus in assemblages
of one or both species. All sizes of predators preferred pumpkinseeds with body depths well below
the maximum size ingestible. Small predators also preferred fathead minnows with body depths
below the maximum size ingestible, whereas intermediate and large predators selectively ingested
the largest fathead minnows offered. Largemouth bass never ingested prey of body depth greater
than their own external mouth width. Although lengths of selectively ingested fathead minnows
and pumpkinseeds differed, largemouth bass showed highest preferences for prey of similar body
depths regardless of taxonomic identity. These results suggest that, in addition to setting constraints
on maximum sizes of prey that can be ingested by piscivores, the relationship between prey body
depth and piscivore mouth gape may also be important in selection of prey within the range of
ingestible sizes. Therefore, body depth may be more useful than the traditional measure of prey
length as a common measure for examining prey selection by gape-limited piscivores over a wide
array of prey species.
Piscivorous fish are gape-limited predators,
consuming only prey they can swallow whole. Because
prey are generally swallowed head- or tailfirst,
their body depth (measured dorsoventrally)
relative to the size of a piscivore's mouth determines
whether they can be ingested (Swingle 195Q;
Lawrence 1958; Werner 1977; Tonn and Paszkowski
1986). Thus, in any particular habitat prey
with boidy depths greater than the largest piscivore
gape are invulnerable to ingestion. The vulnerability
of prey within the range of ingestible sizes
is determined by other factors such as size distributions
of piscivores and prey, prey encounter rates
with piscivores, and predator-avoidance behaviors
of prey (Wahl and Stein 1988; Hambright et
al., in press).
Prey-selection behavior of piscivores also influences
the vulnerability of prey. Optimal foraging
theory postulates that predators maximize the ratio
between the benefits gained and the costs incurred
in obtaining prey. Obviously, the benefits
gained increase as a function of prey size, but cost,
in particular that due to handling time, also increases
rapidly with prey size (Werner 1974). Hoyle
and Keast (1987,1988) demonstrated that, for two
piscivores (largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides
and grass pickerel Esox americanus), the
weight-adjusted handling time for prey of equivalent
lengths varied


TABLE 3.—Predicted and actual maximum body depths (standard lengths in parentheses) of fathead minnows
and pumpkinseeds ingested by small, intermediate, and large largemouth bass. Predicted values are based on the
mean external mouth widths of the predators. Prey standard lengths were calculated with equations (1) and (2) in
the text by substituting the mean predator mouth width for prey body depth. Asterisks indicate prey sizes exceeded
the naturally occurring size ranges listed in Carlander (1969, 1977).
Largemouth
bass group
Small
Intermediate
Large
Mean external
mouth width
(mm)
14.6
25.6
34.2
Maximum size of
fathead minnow (mm)
Predicted
14.6
(59.8)
25.6
(99.2*)
34.2
(130.0*)
Ingested
13.3
(55)
13.3
(55)
13.3
(55)
Maximum size of
pumpkinseed (mm)
Predicted
14.6
(39.6)
25.6
(62.3)
34.2
(80.9)
Ingested
13.0
(35)
22.2
(55)
31.5
(75)

Last edited by ewest; 03/29/16 10:45 AM.

aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,511
OP Offline
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,511
Thanks everyone, it's so cool to see all this come together, and catching one of these (and the HSB's) feels like such a reward smile

Originally Posted By: Bill Cody
Obviously a female with this year's crop of small largemouth.

Mr. Cody, would you explain what you mean by that?

And sorry about the mouth gape, I remembered on the recent HSB but forgot on this one! And I had a tape in hand blush


Keith - Still Lovin Livin

https://youtu.be/o-R41Rfx0k0
(a short video tribute to the PB members we met on our 5 week fishing adventure)

Formerly: 2ac LMB,HSB,BG,HBG,RES
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,386
B
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
B
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,386
My guess is full of eggs. It do look that way.


Do nature a favor, spay/neuter your pets and any weird friends or relatives.
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 977
Likes: 1
Offline
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 977
Likes: 1
Keith...very nice!


...when in doubt...set the hook...
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 288
Moderator
Offline
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 288
Keith, it's time for our favorite pair of geese to hit the super slab.

Carol disappeared for a day or two, so I knew she was close to laying. I found her nest, let her sit for a few days to make sure all her eggs were out, and finally checked the nest yesterday. Heading to Winnsboro this morning to take the eggs to their new home.

I'll miss these 2 geese, but the GBH's won't.



AL

Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,511
OP Offline
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,511
Thanks for sharing, Al!

Since you brought this up earlier it's made me wonder about the only two geese that seem to hang around my pond, so seeing where they (one in particular) like to hang out near the shoreline, I'll be looking closer for a nest.

And although I've chased a GBH away already this year, I haven't seen it for the past couple weeks. If I knew it were the geese keeping the GBH away I'd let them be, but apparently if they're nesting, I want them out once the eggs are laid?

Very interesting and thanks again for sharing!

PS - Can you elaborate on "take the eggs to their new home"?


Keith - Still Lovin Livin

https://youtu.be/o-R41Rfx0k0
(a short video tribute to the PB members we met on our 5 week fishing adventure)

Formerly: 2ac LMB,HSB,BG,HBG,RES
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3

Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
Bob Lusk, GaryK, GrizzFan, PhotographerDave
Recent Posts
Happy Birthday Bob Lusk!!
by Sunil - 03/28/24 12:39 PM
New 2 acre pond stocking plan
by Sunil - 03/28/24 12:39 PM
1 year after stocking question
by esshup - 03/28/24 11:01 AM
Paper-shell crayfish and Japanese snails
by esshup - 03/28/24 10:39 AM
Brooder Shiners and Fry, What to do??
by Freg - 03/28/24 09:42 AM
Relative weight charts in Excel ? Calculations?
by esshup - 03/28/24 08:36 AM
Dewatering bags seeded to form berms?
by Justin W - 03/28/24 08:19 AM
Reducing fish biomass
by FishinRod - 03/28/24 08:18 AM
Questions and Feedback on SMB
by Donatello - 03/27/24 03:10 PM
2024 North Texas Optimal BG food Group Buy
by Dave Davidson1 - 03/27/24 08:15 AM
Freeze Danger? - Electric Diaphragm Pump
by esshup - 03/26/24 09:47 PM
Newly Uploaded Images
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
by Tbar, December 10
Deer at Theo's 2023
Deer at Theo's 2023
by Theo Gallus, November 13
Minnow identification
Minnow identification
by Mike Troyer, October 6
Sharing the Food
Sharing the Food
by FishinRod, September 9
Nice BGxRES
Nice BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, July 28
Snake Identification
Snake Identification
by Rangersedge, July 12

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5