Does anyone have hybrids in your pond or know anything about them? I think we are going to put some in our pond but have not heard off anyone doing. The pond guy said the were fun and easy to manage.

Man that looks like a blast. Thanks for the response. May I ask you what kinda of fly were you throwing to catch the hybrids. Also what weight rod do you throw?

Thanks

Brennen

My favorite fly is a 3 inch chartreause spin fly that I call a Spinster - google if you want info.
Clousers work great - dark colors for tubid water - light with flash for clear water.

When I want to sample population for growth and condition I use a Stubby Steve pellet fly - google.

In warm weather months I use a 8-9 rod to land them quickly , resusitate and release - they will fight 'til they die unless landed quickly.

I had a blast this winter with a 4 wt - fantastic sport fish - but a put and take species.

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my questions. That is some great information about landing them quickly. I would have let them fight to they gave up.

Thanks again

Brennen

Hey Brennen just wanted to say high, its been a long time. Sounds like you got a pretty nice pond.

Matt Fox

If you are talking about hybrid striped bass (HSB)...take a good look before you leap, a very good look.

Make sure they meet your pond objectives. Is was told by sellers "they will easily reach 9 to 10 pounds in three years". Never happened. Not only that but they suffer an extremely high angling mortality rate in Texas' summer temps. Fish caught in summer that were 3-4 pounds had a near 100% mortality rate. Others, as they hit the 4 pound mark simply died, even without angling.

They are also voracious feeders and need to be fed artificially. Feed is expensive, feeders are expensive, and feeding is labor intensive. Not mention that heavy feeding can lead to water quality problems, high waste content, and potentially total fish kills. The HSB have one of the highest intolerance levels to low oxygen of any fish you are likely to see in a pond and in my experience are the first to die in any kind of marginal water quality. They become hook shy very easily, even more so than LMB and catching them with fish pellets soon becomes a necessity. If not fed artificially, they will(depending on stocking levels) severely impact forage production.

These are not fictional items...each of the above I experienced and documented on my web site. If you read my accounts posted over the span of a few years, you will see a story chronicled that went from great promise and enthusiam to complete disappointment If you are looking for low maintenance fish, you might want to consider those items.

Before the proponents attack me (again) let me say I love HSB fishing in public water waterways. I wanted them to work in my ponds. I had great expectations fed by the supplier....expectations which met the reality discussed above. A white bass is NOT a suitable pond fish, a striper is NOT a suitable pond fish in most Texas ponds, hence it shouldn't be surprising that the HSB may also have some limiting characteristics in a Texas pond.

Just because a fish is fun to catch, doesn't make it a good pond fish, IMO.

Jeez meadowlark and i thought you were the one always gettin picked on by george. You two guys are in the pond building business obviously,well how do you expect george to not want to challenge you to a pond nerd vs pond nerd squabble after that swift kick to his nuts. Dadgum hes got the pics to prove it.Now, the fact is that it IS probably a little more challenging to your average redneck to make the idea work.But its obviously possible.Heck i wouldnt have said anything if i was you.Let the guy sell the idea,if it dont work out for people you know they aint gona keep quiet about it.It will be all over this forum and youll be able to say,i told you so. Any word on the shiner?

Now....if george talked you into it and it didnt work out and thats why ur goin off....then ill just shut the heck up.Me myself i actually believe both of yall not that yall care.Im just nosey i guess

I never thought I would say this but "thank you bass poop!"

man I must make s confession: after getting a wholesome laugh I must concede that both George Glazener and meadowlark got their stock and advise from us, myself Todd overton to be specific. Glazener grew some trophies, experienced a fish kill, which he publicized, then got back in the game and restocked and just recently caught a 6+ documented on pondboss. Meadowlark quit when his program failed but others across the country are growing some nice hybrids. Glazeners fish sets the record for private water hsb on flyrod, but I'm sure he won't file the record.

No word except that is was a "non-native carp" according to biologists.

I just hate for people to only see one side of things. I believe it is healthy for pond folks to know what all the possibilities are. I wasted a lot of time and money on hybrids based on the sale pitch which has never come true for anyone in Texas that I know of.... "9 to 10 pound fish easily in three years".

Being a pond "nerd", I like to learn as much as possible about ponds and the fish that reside in them. I sure wish someone had told me, when I started with hybrids, the problems these fish can have. By telling my story, people can see both sides and make their own decisions. Most folks I know would rather have "the rest of the story" when making decisions. I just try to provide a part of that. Nothing more, nothing less.

This came from a pond in the Mckinney area I fish quite often....I couldnt believe it at first..I heard they can do good in SOME ponds




I have caught two others bass fishing..no camera on me that day..they all looked to be VERY skinny..skinniest hybrids I have ever seen...the one in the picture swallowed a 3" perch I had freelining out...they all swam away fine after being caught..never saw em floating the few days after

Heres another



Sorry to squiggle out the background..I know a few folks on here who would'nt like me to disclose this hidden jewel

These were back in january..hence the coat lol it was COLD!

I think the size of the pond and the quality of water would play a big part in the survival of the Hybrids. The pics of the hybrids show what looks like a very large pond in the back ground. Deep ponds with constant water coming into it or aeration might help out their survival. But with your typical farm pond 1/4 acre- 1 acre, I think they will have a hard time surviving a dry hot summer like last year. I agree with meadowlark because I love to fish hybrids on public lakes and have caught plenty, but the pics of the hybrids posted do not look near as healthy as the ones I catch on large bodies of water. All of this is just me opinion no scientific facts.

You are right on, Fishindude12, IMO. Look at the condition of those fish. They are starving. More than likely there is no artificial feeding in that pond and the hybrids have already cleaned out the natural forage. Catch that same fish in the summer and it will almost surely die.

IMO, its sad to see such a great fish put in a situation like that.