Originally Posted By: salex
I was at a ranch in Ranger (2 hours west of Dallas) this weekend catching 4 to 6 lb fish and it was a total blast.

When you catch them in warm water (July/August/September)I have heard that they can expire after catching; making catch and release nearly impossible. George, has this been your experience? What type of annual growth rates are typical in a moderately managed ponds?

Steve, that is my experience exactly, especially for large HSB, but no worse than Texoma striped bass in hot summertime if caught on light tackle and not landed quickly.
I like to land fish quickly, resuscitate and release.
They will fight until they die when caught on light tackle.

For our pond HSB, I have an O2 system rigged in a Igloo cooler with a micro-pore diffuser. I call it my HSB ICU device smile - they revive quickly - can remember losing maybe one fish ever!

Growth rates vary depending upon water conditions, but I have seen them double their weight every year for three or four years.

Best pond sport fish ever IMO…
George




N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds
Original george #173 (22 June 2002)