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Congratulations! Pretty fish.


7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160




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I figured out the "trick" last night!

You have to go to the pond with the full intention of fishing for the gills NOT the bass. Since I had got a HSB to weigh at the end of this season, I was satisfied and wanted to fish for fun not management...so...

The HSB typically feed on the open water side of the dock and the HBG mostly congregate on the opposite side where their is plenty of sunken structure. So, I took the left over worms, no bobber, and started casting and letting it slowly sink near the gills favorite hangouts...just enough worm bit to cover the hook.

It was the best hour of fishing that the pond has produced to date. I caught 4 HSB, all 2# or bigger and the new pond record is 2.6# @ 18" long! I even caught two in a row and they were all caught out of the HBG's territory...Go figure. 7 gills came out also between 0.4 and 0.6 pounds each. I'll post the whopper photo on my Pond Log thread here...

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=495197&page=5


Fish on!,
Noel
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This is awesome. Thanks again for posting progress as I'm sure there are others going thru similar projects. Myself included!


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Well, now that I have decided that some HBG need to be removed to help manage the DO by reducing the standing weight of the pond...I can't catch them! They have turned completely off...no feeding to speak of, certainly no catching of the HBG the last two days.. The HSB are feeding very well and have now, proven to be relatively easy to catch. I have 6 HSB caged along with a dozen HBG...Surely I have not caged all the HBG I have in the pond. It's like they know I'm after blood.

The Optimal trials that I am conduction are messing with my mind...is it the food changes. Or maybe the weather, how many fish are really in their, it's a conspiracy...This is a RANT thread, I've just changed it up a bit. All in all, it's a good lesson in dealing with certain unknowns.

18 pounds of fish captured...57 pounds to go. I'll keep trying, at least fishing an hour a day is right up my alley...catching or not.


Fish on!,
Noel
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[quote=Q, Now, the HSB have taken back to feeding on pellets...big swirls and splashing at feeding time...just teasing me! They won't touch any crank bait, big trout flies, HBG YOY or big grasshoppers under a bobber (at any depth), rubber worms...nothing.

[/quote]

i have caught 2 of the 6" HSB that i stocked 50+/- days ago. One on a live worm, and one on a small topwater dry fly. i feed every day, and have NEVER seen any of my 20 come up for pellets. imo it's darn near impossible to see them, or tell.

Last edited by jpws; 10/03/19 02:49 PM.

.20 acre pond-that leaks/4-5' deep. Stocked 6/22/19 with 300 BG(supposed to be HBG, removed 100+/- so far), 100 RES, 3carp. On 8/20 added 300 HBG, + 21 5"HSB. 8/21 added 5 8" SMB, one 10" LMB , one 14" CC
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Do you hear laughing sounds when the bubbles pop? I swear iv heard them before. Have you tries a throw net at feeding time?


The people who say I can't do it can just sit the @^#% down and watch me. Friends call me Rusto I also subscribe to pond boss mag. http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=504716#Post504716
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Jpws, I think the HSB do a lot of their feeding on pellets that have been pushed around by smaller fish and are sinking. I'm not so sure that my HBG haven't learned the same trick. This could explain why so many of us don't see them at feeding time, but yet they still grow so fast.

RS, I have not tried my throw net... The Bass feed too far away from the dock and the HBG feed mostly around sunken stumps and such.

Fishing for my HSB is like Wac-a-mole... They are hitting over there, I cast over there, then they hit somewhere else... I'm like a kid at the arcade, but with an old man attitude.


Fish on!,
Noel
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I have no idea what you look like. I have this picture in my head of an older bald headed man snapping on a game now. Lmao

Last edited by RStringer; 10/04/19 05:55 AM.

The people who say I can't do it can just sit the @^#% down and watch me. Friends call me Rusto I also subscribe to pond boss mag. http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=504716#Post504716
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QA I went down to the pond today around 2:00 cloudy nice and cool. I was going to cast around for a bit to see if I could land a few BG for supper, I just took my go to pond jig that I have used for years to catch crappie in a different hole.



As soon as I got there I witnessed a massacre. Stripers were exploding out of the water everywhere right at the bank of the dam, probably 3/4 of the length of it. I was across the pond by what I have dubbed the BG hatchery thinking man should have come down here for stripers. I stuck with the bg plan. Cast out and BAM jig nailed, drag screaming, I thought I hope I land this toad of a catfish some knucklehead has dumped in my pond so I can whack it in the head. Big relief to see it was a hsb. Caught a second one a few minutes later, then I had to go do something productive.



I will still go with worms the next time i target them, but it's possible these things are likely to smash whatever cross's there path. I also caught 0 BG, but saw lots chowing on pellets tonight.

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Last edited by mikepjr; 10/03/19 09:01 PM.
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Originally Posted By: RStringer
I have no idea what you look like. I have this picture in my head of an older bald headed man snapping on a game now. Lmao


Maybe this will help...



(That's not really me, but it's how I feel at the pond some...most of the time!)

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Last edited by Quarter Acre; 10/04/19 07:24 AM.

Fish on!,
Noel
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Mike, You've got a fat and happy fish there! They are a hoot to get on the line aren't they? I'm glad you see similar "happenings" at your pond when it comes to targeting one and getting the other...I targeted both last night and got neither! I think I will give them a break tonight and do something productive too, maybe skipping a meal will change their attitude.


Fish on!,
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That's a good looking fish right there.


The people who say I can't do it can just sit the @^#% down and watch me. Friends call me Rusto I also subscribe to pond boss mag. http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=504716#Post504716
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The only thing I can contribute is my experience. I was fishing a lake in central Indiana with family. The bite was slow so I decided to fish for CC with chicken liver. I rigged up a pole with no weight or cork and baited the line with chicken liver (the red ones not the gray). I caught a HSB right before the bait hit bottom on almost every cast!


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Time and time again people want to fish in the pond and can't consistently catch fish.

I'll grab a pole and show them what they are missing out on. Even give them some bait to use and they still can't catch the fish. They have larger hooks, use bobbers, etc. and they can't catch anything consistently.

Here's what I use:

Owner Mosquito Hook either #8 or #10 Owner Mosquito Hook

Trilene Vanish 4# test: Vanish

Stubby Steves: Stubby Steve's Original Brown Pellet

I use an ultralight spinning rod that has a line rating that has 4# test in the description. i.e. 2#-6# or 4#-8# or something like that.

I use an ultralight spinning reel (I like rear drag reels) that is also rated for 4# test line. I fill the spool to within 1/16" or so of the outside of the lip.

I'll set the drag by tying a weight that weighs 2# to the line and lift up on the rod/reel. I will adjust the drag so the line barely goes out when the weight is barely touching the ground. Then I DON"T TOUCH THE DRAG.

If using the #8 hook, I will thread one pellet up the hook past the knot so it's resting right on the knot with the line going thru the pellet, then I will put a 2nd pellet on the hook, leaving it right at the bend of the hook. If I am using a #10 hook, I will hook the 2nd pellet thru a "corner" of the pellet to leave more of the gullet of the hook open, or just use one pellet hooked thru the *corner*.

NO weight, NO bobber.

I will cast it out as far as I can (typically near where the fish food pellets will land on the water), and leave it there for roughly 30 seconds. I watch the line where it touches the water like a hawk. If it twitches or moves, set the hook - pellets don't swim by themselves. If nothing bites, reel it in and cast it out again. Rinse and repeat.

I've had HSB hit it as soon as it touches the water, and I've had them hit it right before I reel it in. The pellet doesn't *have to* float, some fish food pellets get waterlogged and slowly sink.

The key to not having the fish swallow the hook is to strike as soon as you see the line twitch. If there is no wind you can also hold the rod tip up higher and watch the "belly" of the line from rod tip to the water If it jumps or gets tighter OR looser, set the hook asap. Again, the pellets don't swim....

Hold the rod up so there is a good bend in the rod, don't horse the fish in, reel down, keeping a bend in the rod, pull up without reeling in, reel down. When the fish runs, just hold the rod as vertical as possible and let it run. USE A NET to land the fish, don't try to fool with lipping it or trying to drag it up on the shore, I like using the rubber nets - less slime coat disruption and the hook won't get caught in the net. Keep the fish in the net to get the hook out if you are going to release the fish, don't let it flop around on the ground. I like having a small set of curved hemostats to grab the hook and get it out of the fish. Bending down the barb will make getting the hook out VERY easy.

As long as the water temp is in the 70's or below the HSB will be fine. I've caught up to 10# HSB on 2# test line doing this, but I prefer to use 4# line when the fish are bigger than 4-5 pounds. More abrasion resistance with the 4# test line. If you are using 2# test, after you catch a fish feel the line from the hook up 10' or so. If you feel any rough spots, retie the hook. I'll retie the hook after catching a few fish if the hook was completely in their mouth, but many fish are just caught in the lip and if the line doesn't have any nicks in it I'll keep fishing without retying.


Last edited by esshup; 12/14/19 02:22 AM.

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3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
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Thanks for those tips esshup.

For some of us, fishing has been a relatively recent addition to skills.

I have personally found that I have a lot higher catch rates using a small hook. I like a 1/32 or 1/64 oz jig hook for catching BG.

When we have some family get together with lots of kids that have little fishing experience or have never fished, invariably their parents will have a great big hook on any fishing gear they have brought. They are not catching fish while the others that I have given home made cane poles with the small hook are pulling in one fish after another. I switch the hook out for them and they go to catching fish.

Now big fish? That I have little experience catching because I am usually fishing for BG. grin


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Great post!


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Scott,
I ordered all 3. Will swap out what I’ve been using and give this a try. I’ll let you know.
Question; Use this technique anytime, or when fish are actively feeding (Recent feeder activation)?
Thanks,
Jeff


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.
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Originally Posted By: SetterGuy
Scott,
I ordered all 3. Will swap out what I’ve been using and give this a try. I’ll let you know.
Question; Use this technique anytime, or when fish are actively feeding (Recent feeder activation)?
Thanks,
Jeff


Jeff, just a word from my experience. This method works best when fish are actively feeding, though they sometimes hang around feeder all day. Also, I'd recommend you stay away from 4 1/2 foot ultralight rods, too short to cast well & fight larger fish.


7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160




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Thanks. I have one that is that short. The rest are all longer. I hardly ever use the 4 1/2 footer.
Thx again


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.
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I've gotten two of these in the ultralight 7ft. Absolutely love em...

https://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Micro-Series-Spinning-Rod/dp/B00ET24H4K/ref=sr_1_3?crid=6P2CGFWQPDL9&dchild=1&keywords=7%2Bft%2Bultralight%2Bspinning%2Brod&qid=1576421659&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&sprefix=7%2Bft%2Bultr%2Caps%2C275&sr=8-3&th=1&psc=1


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The Stubby Steves pellets work anytime, but work a LOT better when it's 1/2 hour before feeding time up to 20 minutes post feeding time.

Tonight I'll make a note of what I use for rod/reel combo.


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