Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Sunfish-Including Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass Proof that a LMB will eat anything

Not sure what type of blackbird it is, I got this picture from a neighbor's cousin.

It is most likely a red-winged black bird juvenile that fell from the nest. Does the owner have cattails or reeds that these birds are fond of nesting in?

They are some critter gitters for sure.
This past summer, I watched a hummingbird get hammered and eventually taken under by a LMB, on another day we found a mouse in the belly of one.

Yes, and that's my thought, either a juvie or an adult. The feet look to be pretty big though. LMB was released or I could have found out for sure.

Back in the pre cell phone camera days I caught a ~4lb LMB that had the back half of a young muskrat hanging out of its mouth.
The parts that passed the fish's gullet were mostly digested. The parts that hadn't passed the gullet still had fur on them.

I had one that would repeatedly eat a screwdriver. I still do not know if it pucked up or crapped back the tool after each time.

Explain that one Jim??

Because the lmb will eat most anything is why I removed the wood duck boxes from the pond. I did not like that I was just feeding the lmb baby ducks.

Yeah, I agree with Flame. We need more on this....

Sounds like a great way to get more forage TGW

I know TGW felt bad about feeding ducklings to the LMB.

OTOH, there are many places with invasive Canadian Geese problems. I see a great opportunity for some PondBoss entrepreneur.

If you could sell LMB that were feed-trained for goslings you would be rich!

I heard Rapala is working on their new "screwdriver" bass lure for 2021.

They say it will turn up your bass-catching ability to a whole new level!

I had some brooder largemouth in tanks that were held each season after broods broke up. The fish were so used to handling they were like pets. Largemouth Bass are easy to tame. I did not want to lose brooder fish to herons or other issues. They were all pelleted trained and would hit surface hard when tank approached. They hit and eat just about anything, including mice we caught in a trash can. The smaller bass were better than 3 lbs while a really big female was pushing 9 llbs even after losing weight due to spawning. The big female was particularly relaxed and would watch me constantly as I weighed smaller fish on a scale next to her tank. On day I bumped the screw drive in off table. It was a short and chunky flathead driver. I did not see her eat it the first time, just noticed it was not on bottom when I looked down. I could only see her. I reached down and had to push her out of the way to make certain she was not just obstructing my view. It was evident in another location in the tank the following day. When I reached down for the screw and attempted to retrieve it she engulfed it and my hand. I was surprised she hit so hard so released the driver in her mouth. Then she swallowed it. Did not see it again until following morning. Later, all I had to do was drop the driver in when she was on my side of the tank watching me and she would hit hard. I know they can pass large items through the anus, easily as large as the screw driver, but I do not know if they can do it in less than a day like was going on. I have seen bass puke items up before.

Screwdriver handle I think was green. It was better than 25 years ago. I have crappie in tanks that will hit about anything now, so may see what kind of hardware they are into.

Well, that's the most bizarre thing I've heard in quite some time.

Then again, I was watching some press conferences.......

A lot of the lures are a bit of a stretch to me as to why a bass would strike at those. The screwdriver is like the middle ground in terms of taste and likely does not taste worse they metal and plastic rigs.

Jim, that's a great story and observation. I remember trying as hard as I could NOT to jerk my hand out of the way when hand feeding LMB bluegills at Condello's pond.