Well, after 30+ years the water turkeys finally got me. I still have some nice bluegills and they feed well. I can catch a couple and they are big and healthy. No idea about bass or HSB numbers, if any. I'm seeing no activity from bigger predators so assume I'll have to add some next year. I'll probably go ahead and add some small hybrid stripers. Without enough predators, I'll pass on tilapia this year.

That stinks, add more bait to the water, to help your lmb. How big is this pond you have hybrids in? Any current? Average depth?

It's about 1.5 acres . No current with average depth about 8 feet.

Ahhh ....water turkeys...the scourge of anyone who raises fish.

I've fought them for years and years and seemed like the last two years have begun winning the battle. I haven't seen any this year and only one or two last year.

The key I've found is to absolutely draw the line...harass every cormorant visitors....zero tolerance.

They send out scouts and when the scouts report back that a particular pond has a crazy farmer, they go elsewhere. Don't believe me? I was visiting the Jasper fish hatchery last week, an extremely interesting operation, and the manager told me the very same story about the scouts.

Zero tolerance.

Larry, that's the problem/challenge of me living 70 miles away.

Dave,

So sorry. Otters and Cormorants are a constant challenge. Craig Bonds and the team at TPWD are working to help. However, the Audubon Society has a lot of political pull and have fought to keep folks from getting permits to control the cormorant numbers. It's a real problem. And to make matters worse I am seeing more and more Pelicans in NE Texas.

Steve, I�ve also been seeing pelicans where they�ve not been before. A guy excitedly tod me that he had pelicans for the first time and was happy about it. I told him that they wouldn�t stay long after they ate a bunch of his fish. But, no reason to worry. They will be back next year after he restocks.

I haven't seen pelicans and I'm "only" 100 miles from coast.

I don't have any qualms about the application of violence to cormorants but pelicans would pose a bit of a quandary.

Larry,

We see Pelicans on our bigger lakes. Generally lakes 50 acres and larger.

I may be peeing into a head wind but I just ordered some of those floating alligator heads to put into our 15 acre lake. Gonna weigh some down so they stay in the same general area and let the others free float around. Gotta try something

I've got a brand new, never fired propane canon...if you or anyone could use it.

How does it work and can it be put on a timer?

shoot every one you can

See info at:

http://www.suttonag.com/zon_mark4_cannon.html

Yes I have the timer that goes with it. Never been fired. I got it while I was living remote from the ponds but shortly thereafter moved on location and hence never used it.

I fished Cedar Creek a few weeks ago for the first time in years and saw a few pelicans. I'm used to seeing gulls, but not pelicans. It was a surprise.