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Great Blue Heron Killing My Bass?
#13177251
06/05/19 09:18 PM
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 513
Reel Addict
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 513 |
I have lost 3 good LMB in the past week. I have noticed that the GBH is back and the same thing happened last year around this time. He shows up and I start finding dead bass. They apppear to be stabbed in the head and sides but he does'nt eat them. Is this my problem or is just coincidental that every time the GBH shows up I have dead fish. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated......
PB Largemouth 8.56 Lake Fork PB Largemouth 8.98 Sam Rayburn (Big Bass Splash)
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Re: Great Blue Heron Killing My Bass?
[Re: Reel Addict]
#13177701
06/06/19 06:29 AM
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Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 128
JoshT254
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 128 |
Sounds like a 3 S type of situation.
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Re: Great Blue Heron Killing My Bass?
[Re: Reel Addict]
#13177997
06/06/19 04:35 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353
Dan90210 ☮
Jr Deputy Dan
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Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353 |
I have seen a GBH eat a 2lb bass that was on a bed. But he ate it. Swallowed the thing in 3 seconds. It was a trip.
That said I cant figure why the bird would kill but not eat your bass? How big is your pond? How deep? Can the fish get away from the birds?
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Re: Great Blue Heron Killing My Bass?
[Re: Reel Addict]
#13178060
06/06/19 06:37 PM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 40,820
CCTX
mapquest
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mapquest
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 40,820 |
These were my thoughts Scarecrow Big, fake owl/hawk statue Spray coyote urine/granules around the perimeter? Here's a link on the internet HerondeterrentsThe fake alligator decoy is awesome
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Re: Great Blue Heron Killing My Bass?
[Re: Reel Addict]
#13178095
06/06/19 07:28 PM
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 513
Reel Addict
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 513 |
My pond is about 1/2 acre and as deep as 20 ft in the middle. I placed laydowns, limestone beds, and numerous homeade cover when built. The bass killed have been in the 2 to 3lb range. The mystery is why aren't they being eaten..unless they are getting away and die later. We have a few ducks in the pond and the area is known for hawks getting the wife's chickens so we have added an owl as a deterrent. Any more suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated.
PB Largemouth 8.56 Lake Fork PB Largemouth 8.98 Sam Rayburn (Big Bass Splash)
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Re: Great Blue Heron Killing My Bass?
[Re: Reel Addict]
#13178114
06/06/19 07:59 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353
Dan90210 ☮
Jr Deputy Dan
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Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353 |
Any pics of the wounds on the fish? Are they floating when you are finding them? Could it be they died from something natural then were drilled into by a bird or insects after?
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Re: Great Blue Heron Killing My Bass?
[Re: Reel Addict]
#13178197
06/06/19 10:04 PM
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 513
Reel Addict
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 513 |
Punctured in side but most have spots in the head as well. Cannot get pics to upload...
The only time I have dead fish is when this GBH shows up....
Last edited by Reel Addict; 06/06/19 10:05 PM.
PB Largemouth 8.56 Lake Fork PB Largemouth 8.98 Sam Rayburn (Big Bass Splash)
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Re: Great Blue Heron Killing My Bass?
[Re: Reel Addict]
#13178858
06/07/19 05:12 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353
Dan90210 ☮
Jr Deputy Dan
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Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353 |
Super strange. I will PM you my phone number, if you would like text me pics I can post them and then we might get some more informed ideas about why your fish are dying.
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Re: Great Blue Heron Killing My Bass?
[Re: Reel Addict]
#13179058
06/07/19 09:58 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353
Dan90210 ☮
Jr Deputy Dan
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Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353 |
Reel addict sent me this pic.
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Re: Great Blue Heron Killing My Bass?
[Re: Reel Addict]
#13179062
06/07/19 10:01 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353
Dan90210 ☮
Jr Deputy Dan
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Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353 |
Based on the photo mate it's really hard to tell. It looks like that fish has been dead for a while. The wounds could have been from a lot of different things that happened post mortem.
Im certainly not an expert though and there are some people on this forum who are maybe they'll chime in.
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Re: Great Blue Heron Killing My Bass?
[Re: Reel Addict]
#13179482
06/08/19 03:12 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,327
Meadowlark
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,327 |
Those GBH may actually be doing you a favor...hear me out before getting angry:
The bass pictured is under weight and significantly so IMO. It needs to be removed from the reproduction pool. That light weight could be caused by too many bass and/or not enough forage.
Most small ponds are or quickly become bass heavy...i.e. too many bass if many are not removed every year. A heron eats fish up to 6 to 8 inch generally but its eyes are much bigger than the stomach. It will strike out at larger unsuspecting fish.
Unless you have multiple GBH's, its my belief that they do actual little harm and may in fact help keep the pond in balance. Now, cormorants, that's another story entirely and they should be dispatched with vengeance.
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Re: Great Blue Heron Killing My Bass?
[Re: Reel Addict]
#13182086
06/11/19 02:41 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353
Dan90210 ☮
Jr Deputy Dan
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Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,353 |
Exception might be when they are on beds Meadowlark? Like I said I saw one at Grapevine snatch a nice 2lb fish off a bed and swallow it in 5 seconds. They GBH then went and sat on a rock for two hours and did not move. Kind of like me after the Double Double meal from In N Out ha ha.
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Re: Great Blue Heron Killing My Bass?
[Re: Reel Addict]
#13182951
06/12/19 10:31 AM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 662
Dave Davidson
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 662 |
Agree with ML on condition of the bass.
Ya know, if I were raising chickens and a hawk was getting them, I would solve the problem but keep my mouth shut about it.
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Re: Great Blue Heron Killing My Bass?
[Re: Meadowlark]
#13183451
06/12/19 06:34 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,130
salex
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,130 |
Those GBH may actually be doing you a favor...hear me out before getting angry:
The bass pictured is under weight and significantly so IMO. It needs to be removed from the reproduction pool. That light weight could be caused by too many bass and/or not enough forage.
Most small ponds are or quickly become bass heavy...i.e. too many bass if many are not removed every year. A heron eats fish up to 6 to 8 inch generally but its eyes are much bigger than the stomach. It will strike out at larger unsuspecting fish.
Unless you have multiple GBH's, its my belief that they do actual little harm and may in fact help keep the pond in balance. Now, cormorants, that's another story entirely and they should be dispatched with vengeance. I completely agree with this post. I did not want to offend the OP, but that fish is likely 70% of WR (relative weight). It is way too thin. Fish like this need to come out of the pond regardless of length. If this fish is indictive of the body condition of the other fish, than the Green Heron may actual help the cause. Sure they eat and wound a few fish, but are not known to be a huge problem. Cormorants and otters are the animals to be weary of.
Last edited by salex; 06/12/19 06:34 PM.
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