I stocked 50 6" HSB September 08. June 09 I was catching 12"ers. 6" growth in 9 months. I couldn't catch another one the rest of 09, but wasn't fishing for them too hard. April 10 a 17" HSB was caught. 5" growth in 9 months. I have no idea if I've sampled the largest one, for the sake of argument lets say these are average fish. My ponds are full of FHM, GSH, and I supplementally feed pellets. I'm averaging around .7"/month counting even the Winter months.

My questions:

How does that compare with other Midwest pondmeisters who are also feeding their HSB?

Does anyone else find them difficult to catch after Spring?

Do HSB become less aggressive with the presence of abundant forage?


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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