We have 5 or 6 female NP in our pond. They are all 32-40 inches in length. These NP are part of our pond management schema. Since they eat like slime-pigs, they crop off a lot of the mid-range fish that would otherwise overpopulate and stunt.
The only time they are ever seen is when they are caught while angling for other species. Since the NP are large and have a nasty temperament they will mangle pretty much anything they attack lure-wise. Oddly they will bite on a 2” fathead minnow while angling for crappie through the ice. I can’t explain why they would go after such a small piece of meat other they are ticked off that something that small would dare to invade their territory. Catching a 32+ NP through the ice on 4 pound test line is a hoot, however.
