BigSkyBasser Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 Woke up this morning with bad cabin fever as I found 3 inches of fresh snow on the ground and no sign of an early ice out. I thought this would be a good time to give some homage to the baitfish that make your local fishery so good. My favorite here in Montana is the Redear Sunfish Pumpkinseed which get quite big and are absolutely gorgeous. 5 Quote
Smokinal Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 I'm awestruck by the colors in that Redear OP! Just gorgeous. Our Bluegill have a little of that aqua blue on them but nothing like that. Thanks for sharing that today. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted March 9, 2017 Super User Posted March 9, 2017 Top one's in most of the better Brown Bass Lakes and the bottom ones from over by the Nuc Plant A-Jay 6 Quote
Super User Team9nine Posted March 9, 2017 Super User Posted March 9, 2017 1 hour ago, BigSkyBasser said: My favorite here in Montana is the Redear Sunfish which get quite big and are absolutely gorgeous. Honestly, that looks much more like a pumpkinseed to me, and not a redear (shellcracker). 1 Quote
BigSkyBasser Posted March 9, 2017 Author Posted March 9, 2017 13 minutes ago, Team9nine said: Honestly, that looks much more like a pumpkinseed to me, and not a redear (shellcracker). You're not the only one to tell me that. I've suggested that to the fish and game folks that I talk to who claims we don't have pumpkinseed in that particular body of water. Quote
Super User WRB Posted March 9, 2017 Super User Posted March 9, 2017 1 minute ago, BigSkyBasser said: You're not the only one to tell me that. I've suggested that to the fish and game folks that I talk to who claims we don't have pumpkinseed in that particular body of water. Look up Pumpkin Seed sunfish. Red Ears have verticle bars and larger mouth then your fish in the photo. Tom Quote
Super User Team9nine Posted March 9, 2017 Super User Posted March 9, 2017 2 minutes ago, BigSkyBasser said: You're not the only one to tell me that. I've suggested that to the fish and game folks that I talk to who claims we don't have pumpkinseed in that particular body of water. Tell them they're obviously wrong and need to go back to fish identification class lol. Don't see how they could argue with the picture as you have living proof right in your hand. Maybe a couple others will chime in with an opinion. They might not be native to the lake, but they could have been accidentally introduced. Like Charles Barkley says, I may be wrong, but I doubt it 2 Quote
Super User webertime Posted March 9, 2017 Super User Posted March 9, 2017 I thought it was a pumpkinseed too, and we don't have Redear up in Vermont Quote
MTBassin Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 It's all pumpkinseed around here that I know of. Of course there are also crawfish and yellow perch all over here too that bass feed on heavily. 1 Quote
Turtle135 Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 A Red Swamp Craw from the Tidal Potomac River. Not surprisingly Red Shad Ribbontail worms can get crushed by Largemouth Bass and Blue Cats when the conditions are right. 1 Quote
Super User RoLo Posted March 9, 2017 Super User Posted March 9, 2017 Based on its unequaled success percentage, this is apparently the most sought-after forage in Florida: => http://rolo-1.com/Prey.jpg Roger Quote
BassThumb Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 Crawfish and Snicker's-bar-sized yellow perch are the staple of a Minnesota bass' diet. 4 Quote
Super User Jar11591 Posted March 9, 2017 Super User Posted March 9, 2017 I would say yellow perch and craws are the primary forage in my waters. Bluegill and pumpkinseed are in the bass's diet as well. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted March 9, 2017 Super User Posted March 9, 2017 1 hour ago, BassThumb said: Crawfish and Snicker's-bar-sized yellow perch are the staple of a Minnesota bass' diet. Definitely Two of my all time favorite's - And learning as much as I can about the life, habits, food, needs & preferences of each, has paid off in Bass .. .. .. .. A-Jay 1 Quote
XpressJeff Posted March 9, 2017 Posted March 9, 2017 I wish God would make that pretty little Pumpkinseed, Red Ear, Blue Gill grow to a bout 3 or 4 pounds. That would be fun to catch! 3 Quote
Super User WRB Posted March 9, 2017 Super User Posted March 9, 2017 3 minutes ago, XpressJeff said: I wish God would make that pretty little Pumpkinseed, Red Ear, Blue Gill grow to a bout 3 or 4 pounds. That would be fun to catch! Red Ears do grow over 4 lbs! Tom 1 Quote
Super User Deleted account Posted March 9, 2017 Super User Posted March 9, 2017 48 minutes ago, WRB said: Red Ears do grow over 4 lbs! Tom Yeah, I used to fish them with a fly rod, got a couple about 2 lbs or so. Amazing how hard a little fish can pull. Oh, here is some of my favorite forage, Palta Rellena (shrimp salad stuffed avocado). 1 Quote
XpressJeff Posted March 10, 2017 Posted March 10, 2017 A 4lb Red Ear must pull like the 15lb Smallie I catch in my best dreams! Excuse me while I take a nap!!!! Quote
BigSkyBasser Posted March 10, 2017 Author Posted March 10, 2017 6 hours ago, Team9nine said: Tell them they're obviously wrong and need to go back to fish identification class lol. Don't see how they could argue with the picture as you have living proof right in your hand. Maybe a couple others will chime in with an opinion. They might not be native to the lake, but they could have been accidentally introduced. Like Charles Barkley says, I may be wrong, but I doubt it It's not even surprising. Their mentality towards bass is that they're a nuisance and an enemy to the trout. The concept of conservation for bass is often times ignored completely out here. I've seen guys blow off the slot limit during spawn and keep females that they catch off beds. It's appalling. 1 Quote
Super User Darren. Posted March 10, 2017 Super User Posted March 10, 2017 8 hours ago, BigSkyBasser said: Woke up this morning with bad cabin fever as I found 3 inches of fresh snow on the ground and no sign of an early ice out. I thought this would be a good time to give some homage to the baitfish that make your local fishery so good. My favorite here in Montana is the Redear Sunfish Pumpkinseed which get quite big and are absolutely gorgeous. Stunningly beautiful!! Quote
MTBassin Posted March 10, 2017 Posted March 10, 2017 40 minutes ago, BigSkyBasser said: It's not even surprising. Their mentality towards bass is that they're a nuisance and an enemy to the trout. The concept of conservation for bass is often times ignored completely out here. I've seen guys blow off the slot limit during spawn and keep females that they catch off beds. It's appalling. I've also seen some old guys at Ninepipes haul 3 or 4 full stringers up to their vehicles full of all different sizes. Probably double the limit for both of them. I think everything between 12-15" is supposed to be released. Most they had were that size. Also, I've been known to put down my casting rods and target big pumpkinseeds protecting their nest with tiny hooks and small pieces of bright colored soft plastics. They sit just a few feet off the bank on top of the big rocks and can be sight fished quite easily. I have caught some pretty dang big ones that way. They fight hard when they get big! Quote
Super User Bankbeater Posted March 10, 2017 Super User Posted March 10, 2017 Around here forage includes crawfish, shad, bugs, and anything else a bass can fit into it's mouth. Quote
Super User webertime Posted March 10, 2017 Super User Posted March 10, 2017 Up here it's now Alewives. I'm not posting a picture, because I'd get myself in trouble with some St Paulie Girl picture or something. Quote
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