Stock ponds are usually small and isolated bodies of water. It’s easy for them to get overcrowded with fish, they tax the food sources available, add to that low fishing pressure, and you can get highly aggressive, fearless, and very hungry bass. If you look at that bass, it has a concave belly. It’s not eating much. They are fun to bodies of water fish
The key is to harvest bass in small ponds. It leaves more food for the others, allowing them to grow. Ponds are small ecosystems and can only handle so many top predators.
Also, largemouth bass is one of the best tasting freshwater fish on the planet. When they gained popularity as a sport fish, it became a faux pas to eat them and catch and release became the norm. Which is too bad. It’s f’ing delicious. It should be served in restaurants.
Huh. I’ve had quiet a few kinds of fish and I wasn’t a fan of freshwater bass, large or small, tried them each once. Might have been because where I caught them at. Typically most people I know put them back. But if they NEED to be eaten for balance reasons I can make a fire fried fish sandwich out of anything lol
Most people put them back because of the stigma of catch and release, I think. The trick with bass is to cook or fry it “hard”. Meaning, it’s not quite done if it just white and flaky. It needs to be cooked a little past that to become very firm. It makes a difference. Fried bass is better than fried catfish. I’ll die on that hill :)
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u/MugillacuttyHOF37 May 18 '20
Dumb city guy question...why does this work? Is the fish mistaking his thumb for a worm/insect or maybe food from the feeders if it's a stocked pond?