Baby Redear

[jgp12000]

I stocked 200 Shellcrackers in my pond 2&3 years ago and today is the first baby I have caught.I have been releasing the biguns, they are around 1.5 pounds now.I hope to grow a wall hanger.I keep or give away all the bream I catch.

[philaroman]

do you have bigger predators stocked, to cull the runts & give potential trophies some exercise?
otherwise, they might plateau in size...  no "incentive to grow bigger"

maybe, get the tiniest barbless or micro-barb dry-fly hooks (#30?);
catch some of the smallest pond-born & put them out as bait, to see what eats them

[jgp12000]

Yep I used this one fer bait, I have bass, bowfin, catfish ,& turtles all love this size. It's something how bowfin & speckled cats get into a pond that was only stocked with bass,crappie,& bream. Last year I even caught a redfin pike which I have never caught anywhere else in my 58 years. The pond was built in 08' by a previous owner. Near a creek with lots of waterfowl. Last year I caught a 10lb Bass letting it get bigger for one of the grandchildren to catch.

[happyhooker]

Eggs (or fish with eggs in them) get et by birds, then "released" over waters, and, boom, you got an interloper.  It only takes one egg to hatch & survive.

Frank
210727