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Post by jimh on May 30, 2009 14:33:32 GMT -5
so the scout master had a camp out this weekend at his farm for our troop and fishing was part of it. i could only go down for the night as i had a commitment this afternoon. so i took my son down yesterday afternoon and after we got thins set up we hit the pond right before dark for about a half hour to an hour. in that time we caught about 20 of what i'm holding here and with one that i returned back was at least double of the largest one in the photo. i did not have my camera handi at first so ya gots to take my word on it. a small zera spook on 6lb line took these guys. we kept these to fillet up for a evening snack around the fire. ;D my son is still down there and i hope to find out tomorrow that they did even better today.
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Post by dovehunter on May 30, 2009 16:22:08 GMT -5
I agree with you 100% about farm ponds. As far as freshwater fishing is concerned, they're about the only place I fish any more. If nothing else, you don't have to worry about some jackass swamping you with the wake from his 300 HP bass boat. You also don't see too many water-skiers or jet skis on farm ponds either.
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Post by jmarriott on May 30, 2009 18:20:44 GMT -5
A typical 1 acre farm pond can produce up to 300 pounds of fish a year. That is a fairly good return on investment of 150 catfish 150 bass and 200 bluegill fingerlings every couple of years.
Remember to use no minnows and allow no out of this lake fish to be placed in the pond.
A winter bubbler system is nice if the lake is less than 25 feet deep.
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Post by Purebred Redneck on May 30, 2009 21:24:43 GMT -5
Are the bluegill on the beds yet?
I think I'm going next weekend to find out?
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Post by jmarriott on May 30, 2009 21:46:58 GMT -5
They are real active on the beds right now. these are the open beds also not the cattail weed beds.
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Post by jimh on May 31, 2009 8:28:11 GMT -5
sure seem to be Red. we caught several nice size ones right near shore.
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Post by Purebred Redneck on May 31, 2009 12:25:44 GMT -5
Seems a little early
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Post by jimh on May 31, 2009 12:30:22 GMT -5
well my son got back a little while ago and they killed them yesterday. one scout reeled in a 4lb+ bass and they caught and released 2 lb'rs all day long. they ended up catching more than a few of the big bluegills and again they got those right near shore. i'd say the time is just about right and they seem to be going to the bedding areas and staking their claims, stacking up for the orgy.
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Post by jimiowa on May 31, 2009 13:05:36 GMT -5
Depends mostly on water Temperature, more that date. It has been warmer than usual for the last two weeks of May and I always expect the first 2-3 weeks of June to be the peak spawn for Gills.
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Post by jimh on May 31, 2009 19:38:19 GMT -5
Jim, i'm with ya and with this being a smaller pond oppsed to a larger lake, i would have to think it warms up a tad quicker.
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Post by Jack on May 31, 2009 20:52:04 GMT -5
From the little I can tell from the picture, the pond appears to have a fairly open shoreline. A pond like that will catch more sun and heat up faster than a similar sized pond with trees all around.
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Post by jimh on Jun 1, 2009 7:12:06 GMT -5
Jack it is flat stuck in the middle of an open field, it gathers more sun than the west coast.
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Post by jimiowa on Jun 1, 2009 9:31:51 GMT -5
Red: Jack & JMarriott have hit on some good tips for early Gills. Fish the more sunlight bays and coves on the north side of the body of water (especially if it has a dark colored bottom. It gets more sunlight and warms the water faster. Later in the spawn up to the first of July you can work the cattails and southern bays as the sun gets more overhead it will warm them later. Your looking for a water temp from aprox. 55-70 degrees if you have a thermometer.
After the spawn you will find them off the first deep drop off where they can find water the temp they prefer.
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Post by Purebred Redneck on Jun 1, 2009 15:20:51 GMT -5
After the spawn you will find them off the first deep drop off where they can find water the temp they prefer. After the spawn I can never find them again. Of course fishing from the bank, a slip bobber would probably help.
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Post by jimiowa on Jun 1, 2009 16:01:52 GMT -5
After the spawn you will find them off the first deep drop off where they can find water the temp they prefer. After the spawn I can never find them again. Of course fishing from the bank, a slip bobber would probably help. Definately: They are almost always suspended at a level where the water temperature is comfortable for them. normally around grass and submerged brush(Cattails near a deep hole is almost a sure thing). I always use a slip bobber for depth control, once you find the depth their at you can control the presentation. I'll use the bobber even with lures for the same reason. I want my bobber weighted to a neutral boyancy, especially if Crappie may be present. They often bite real light and I want them to have little resistance. I rarely fish from a boat and these things work for me.
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