my new pick-up i am so stoked !!

[scotty]

my son and i went fishing for this guy this afternoon , and we caught 2 , 1 was about 9" and this guy is about 6" decided to keep the smaller of the two because it fit better with the other natives in my tank
i think the 9" one might have eaten the smaller sunfish in my 220g

i have been wanting one for some time and couldn't find a fish hatchery that raised them anywhere in the state . we have been trying to catch a small one for almost a year now and always caught larger ones .

and before anyone says this wont last in a 220g it is a smallmouth not a largemouth and will only get to about 24" . and i am also in the process of building a 600g+ plywood tank


so here are some pics:

[Algenco]

what is the minimum size limit for smallmouth in Indiana?
and are you aware a permit is required to keep them?

[scotty]

what is the minimum size limit for smallmouth in Indiana?
and are you aware a permit is required to keep them?


there is no size limit on smallies , and there is a 13" size min. on largemouth but only in state owned waters , it does not apply to private lakes or ponds

[UncleWillie]

I think you should do more reading. According to the Indiana DNR fishing regs, the min size is:
black bass (in lakes) - 14 inches
black bass (in rivers) - 12 inches
black bass (in Lake Michigan) - 14 inches

I'd be careful about posting such things as this on a public forum without more research.

[scotty]

I think you should do more reading. According to the Indiana DNR fishing regs, the min size is:
black bass (in lakes) - 14 inches
black bass (in rivers) - 12 inches
black bass (in Lake Michigan) - 14 inches

I'd be careful about posting such things as this on a public forum without more research.



i stand corrected . i will call dnr today . i am not sure , after re-reading the regs if this size limit applies to private ponds

[UncleWillie]

The fish was taken from a private pond? In that case, there may be different regs regarding that. I say this because in some states, you can stock or take whatever as long as YOU own the pond.

I didn't suspect that they came from a private pond b/c in general, smallies have a hard time spawning and reproducing naturally in farm ponds unless proper spawning substrate has been provided for them. Good luck.

Oh, and it may be good to look into what is a 'water of the state'. If this pond was man made, privately owned and does not connect to any other water in any other way, you may be in the clear.

But don't take my word for it. It definitely will be good to here it from the DNR.

[Northernguy]

i stand corrected . i will call dnr today . i am not sure , after re-reading the regs if this size limit applies to private ponds
Use a pay phone to make the call!:hmm3grin2orange: lol
Don't be surprised if they want to send someone over to check it out.

[Taurus]

Silly me. I opened this thread expecting to see a pic of a new F-150 or Ram.

[Northernguy]

Silly me. I opened this thread expecting to see a pic of a new F-150 or Ram.

:hmm3grin2orange:
http://www.lilligren.com/Redneck/images/Redneck_SUV.JPG

[Brhino]

2010 Indiana Fishing Regulations
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files/fw-2010FG.pdf

While it does not mention private waters specifically, it makes repeated reference to what you can and can't do on public waters. To me, that makes it a pretty safe assumption that if you're on a private pond, you have a green light to do whatever you want, including fishing without a license, taking fish of any size, and using otherwise illegal fishing methods.

http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2347.htm#fishExemptions

Fishing License Exemptions
A fishing license and trout and salmon stamp are NOT required for:

* Fishing a private pond does not require a license. However, the angler must have permission from the property owner to fish.

[Taurus]

:hmm3grin2orange: @ NG, that must be the customized version. Best laugh I've had today!

[Piscine]

I was thinking f-150 too. lol:hmm3grin2orange:

[scotty]

i talked to the DNR and was told the size limit does not apply to private ponds . so i am in 100% compliance with indiana fish & game laws


i called with every intention to pay any fines if i had in fact broken the law if for no other reason than to set a good example for my son

this fish was taken from my buddys pond and apparently is a fish naturally spawned in this pond as the only smallies stocked in this pond were 5 years ago we spent one summer stocking with self caught smallies that were at least 18" or better

he must have done something right with his pond set up .... he did get advice from DNR when he built it ....so

[UncleWillie]

Excellent news! Nice to know that there are responsible people out there. Good luck with the beauty.

[fish00053]

To bad you don't live by me. I could stock your entire tank with fish I catch. Nice smallie, however you will be surprised how big of a bluegill they well eat.

[scotty]

update : after 3 days this guy started eating and i dont think he has stopped since.....

i went to the bait store and told the guy what i was doing and showed him pics of the tank and fish .. i told him i wanted minnows that would be too big for my bluegills to eat yet small enough for the bass. he got me some northern hogsuckers that were about 2.5"-3" long. i asked for 2 dozen and got home and realized he had given me way more than that ( maybe 5-6 dozen) so not yet having my feeder tank setup i put them in with the natives and waited .... after about 6-8 of them being killed by the "gills" the bass started eating them and after about a week they are all gone .... now maybe the bluegills killed a dozen but this bass is a voracious eater ... i knew they were but had no idea they ate that much ....

at only $o.65 a dozen this guy will get a couple dozen a week ... and the gills will get thier weekly treat of smaller minnows

eventually i hope to get this bass on some kind of pellets but for the time being it will be minnows


anyone with experience training bass on pellets , input would be appreciated . i know it can be done just dont know first hand how to do it .... my idea is after a month or two skip a week adding minnows or just add less for a while . i just dont want to starve this guy ...

well , off to clean the tank ....lol