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Wearing out some culls
#9885383
04/06/14 04:14 AM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 585
rexmitchell
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 585 |
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Re: Wearing out some culls
[Re: rexmitchell]
#9885828
04/06/14 02:02 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,385
Fishbreeder
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,385 |
Nice catch! And very good photographic evidence of the need to remove a lot of those fish.
Most of those bass are skinny and would likely give a Wr (relative weight, a measure of body weight to length, a good number would be 95 to 115 or more) of from around 65 to 75, or not quite starving to death.
However, notice how much better shape the crappie seem to be than the bass, an indication that they are finding a food supply the bass can't use or are better at utilizing what is available. Many times this is where the food items available are small, like insects or shrimp, and involve a lot of energy on the part of the bass, less so for the crappie, to capture.
When you see a bass pond where the bass are having to feed on dragonflies, not just where they jump at me now and again for fun, they are starving. The energy it takes to catch the dragonfly by jumping out of the water is far greater than the energy taken in even if it is caught.
Note that the larger the bass, the better it looks, an indication that the larger fish are finding big prey not available to the smaller ones. I'd measure thoe and draw my line there, below comes out, above goes back. If you can tell sex, remove mostly males, putting back most of the females.
The sunfish in the photo is a nice bluegill, looks similar to a redear, which would be almost white in color with a bright red gill plate spot.
Fishbreeder
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Re: Wearing out some culls
[Re: rexmitchell]
#9886554
04/06/14 07:08 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 61
CGNY27
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 61 |
well done...and now I hate you! haha
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Re: Wearing out some culls
[Re: Fishbreeder]
#9887093
04/06/14 11:21 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 585
rexmitchell
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 585 |
Nice catch! And very good photographic evidence of the need to remove a lot of those fish.
Most of those bass are skinny and would likely give a Wr (relative weight, a measure of body weight to length, a good number would be 95 to 115 or more) of from around 65 to 75, or not quite starving to death.
However, notice how much better shape the crappie seem to be than the bass, an indication that they are finding a food supply the bass can't use or are better at utilizing what is available. Many times this is where the food items available are small, like insects or shrimp, and involve a lot of energy on the part of the bass, less so for the crappie, to capture.
When you see a bass pond where the bass are having to feed on dragonflies, not just where they jump at me now and again for fun, they are starving. The energy it takes to catch the dragonfly by jumping out of the water is far greater than the energy taken in even if it is caught.
Note that the larger the bass, the better it looks, an indication that the larger fish are finding big prey not available to the smaller ones. I'd measure thoe and draw my line there, below comes out, above goes back. If you can tell sex, remove mostly males, putting back most of the females.
The sunfish in the photo is a nice bluegill, looks similar to a redear, which would be almost white in color with a bright red gill plate spot. Interesting on the crappie theory. I have been worried that the crappie are getting out competed by the bass. We are catching far less crappie and way more bass lately, although all the crappie are fat and happy that we do catch. Any thoughts on that? We have been keeping basically any fish under 2-3 lbs (12-16 inches) in an effort to just try and get the population under control. I've been going at our 3 lakes for about 5 years now and can tell a noticeable difference from start to finish. We are catching considerably bigger/healthier fish than before but we still have a ways to go. One lake I feel like is under control, one is better (3rd pic) and one needs tons of work still (first pic). When I first started fishing heavily again I would catch maybe one 2+ lb fish per weekend and tons of little guys. Now we are catching alot more 2+ lbers depending on the lake. We have a good supply of crawfish in the lakes and a bunch of these fish had red lips from pigging out on them. I thought that fish was a bluegill but one of my uncles told me otherwise so I went with it. We have some of the biggest sunfish I've ever seen, we catch eaters all the time. Also have some big ole warmouth out there.
Last edited by rexmitchell; 04/06/14 11:23 PM.
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Re: Wearing out some culls
[Re: rexmitchell]
#9892081
04/08/14 07:50 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8
PalmPilot
Green Horn
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Green Horn
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8 |
I've fished many places like yours. Those bass don't really look stunted to me. I bet you don't catch many small crappie? You've just got too many bass but I bet you've got plenty of forage. I'll say there are some really big bass in there but are really hard to catch because the smaller bass are eating the lures first. You have a good problem. I would keep everything under 17 inches and keep culling. If its an older pond you may need some new bass genetics in there to get things growing again. Short story. I had a friend with pond that produced like yours does now. He wanted a bass factory so with advice from a fishery guy he drew down the lake, killed and started over. He no longer had crappie and big bluegills. Like was restocked with florida bass and coppernose and threadfin shad and tos of fathead minnows. 10 years later he has caught a couple of fish over 11 lbs. but he is not getting the recruitment of bass from 5 to 8 lbs and he back to getting stunted fish. He sure misses those crappie and big bream.
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Re: Wearing out some culls
[Re: rexmitchell]
#9892211
04/08/14 08:33 PM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 50,386
fouzman
Methuselah
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Methuselah
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 50,386 |
Most of us, myself included, are self taught when it comes to fisheries biology. Fishbreeder is the real deal. Be thankful for and take to heart any suggestions he offers. Brett's been at this for many years.
And from a practical standpoint, Meadowlark and Salex are great sources of knowledge, too.
Coincidence is His way of remaining anonymous.
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Re: Wearing out some culls
[Re: PalmPilot]
#9893142
04/09/14 02:24 AM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 585
rexmitchell
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 585 |
I've fished many places like yours. Those bass don't really look stunted to me. I bet you don't catch many small crappie? You've just got too many bass but I bet you've got plenty of forage. I'll say there are some really big bass in there but are really hard to catch because the smaller bass are eating the lures first. You have a good problem. I would keep everything under 17 inches and keep culling. If its an older pond you may need some new bass genetics in there to get things growing again. Short story. I had a friend with pond that produced like yours does now. He wanted a bass factory so with advice from a fishery guy he drew down the lake, killed and started over. He no longer had crappie and big bluegills. Like was restocked with florida bass and coppernose and threadfin shad and tos of fathead minnows. 10 years later he has caught a couple of fish over 11 lbs. but he is not getting the recruitment of bass from 5 to 8 lbs and he back to getting stunted fish. He sure misses those crappie and big bream. To be fair we were fishing for smaller fish on ultra light gear and smaller worms but yes, even the little guys are starting to get fat. 5 years ago that wasn't the case. We have pulled plenty of 10lb+ fish out of those lakes with the biggest going over 13, but that was years ago. Lakes are spring fed and short of knocking out a damn, its virtually impossible to drain them, nor would we want to so that isn't an option. At this point reducing numbers is still our main strategy. Once we do that we can start focusing on a more strict slot limit IMO. We have pure florida genetics out there already, and have had them for years. I should note that I don't ever fish with electronics, and these lakes are around 10 surface acres each, with maximum depth at 30 feet. So, by nature I'm at a disadvantage for deep water bass and only fish structure I can see/know where it is. If I brought electronics out there, it would be ridiculous.
Last edited by rexmitchell; 04/09/14 02:27 AM.
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Re: Wearing out some culls
[Re: rexmitchell]
#9900906
04/11/14 10:46 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 81,028
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 81,028 |
Fish fry coming soon! Nice Catch. 
![[Linked Image]](http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/823/ycku.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/560/ukw3.jpg) IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: Wearing out some culls
[Re: banker-always fishing]
#9904880
04/13/14 09:05 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 585
rexmitchell
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 585 |
Fish fry coming soon! Nice Catch. You're telling me, I went out to a buddies ranch on Saturday and we scooped out 60 from his lakes.   Also caught this unhealthy looking fish, something was wrong with it so he went up on the bank. 
Last edited by rexmitchell; 04/13/14 09:05 PM.
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Re: Wearing out some culls
[Re: rexmitchell]
#9972921
05/10/14 02:06 AM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 585
rexmitchell
OP
Pro Angler
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OP
Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 585 |
These fish are off our best managed lake. This is the difference in quality of fish from a properly managed lake. These fish were healthy! (And got released to fight another day)  Another healthy one. 
Last edited by rexmitchell; 05/10/14 02:38 AM.
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Re: Wearing out some culls
[Re: rexmitchell]
#9974230
05/10/14 09:39 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 81,028
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 81,028 |
Nicely done. Fish fry coming soon. 
![[Linked Image]](http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/823/ycku.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/560/ukw3.jpg) IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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