What type of fish have I been catching - pics included

Michael Piziak · 04-25-2021, 05:42 PM

I have been fishing at this very small pond, that use to be on a farm many many years ago. I thought I was catching bluegills; however, I think they might be bass (because their mouth(s) are bigger than bluegill?). But they don't exactly look like Bass either. Or are they a hybrid? Anyways, here are some pics. All of the fish, then the last pic is the pond (taken with my Pentax). I'm pretty sure the farmer, years ago, "built" the pond by damning up a very small valley, for his cows to drink from. Someone had to add these fish to the pond, as it's not a natural pond.

Location: West Virginia, USA

Attached Images

Last edited by Michael Piziak; 05-02-2021 at 06:33 AM.

**dadipentak** · 04-25-2021, 06:08 PM

Bass and sunfish are fairly closely related but those are undoubtedly sunnies (of some sort--there are several varieties.)

Michael Piziak · 04-25-2021, 06:33 PM

Thanks so much!
I'm sure you are right!
They look just like the sunfish here, posted by Virginia Tech:
Virginia Tech Ichthyology Class : Green Sunfish Is One Tough Sparring Partner, by Don Orth

What is your guess on how they got in this "man made" pond?
I would think they were introduced here like 50 to 100 years ago, or earlier.

One would think people would populate a pond with crappy, bluegill, bass, catfish, or some other fish more commonly found in my region.

Most of the ones I catch are small. But on occasion, I catch an 8 to 9 inch one that is fairly good in size and weight for such a small pond.

Regards,

Michael

**dadipentak** · 04-25-2021, 07:34 PM

Originally posted by Michael Piziak

What is your guess on how they got in this "man made" pond?

My guess is that some kid (or kid at heart) caught a few elsewhere, brought 'em home in a bucket and dumped them in the pond.
I'm a city boy though--ask some folks in the area. It might have been through some commercial venture or public initiative.

Michael Piziak · 04-25-2021, 08:18 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by dadipentak

My guess is that some kid (or kid at heart) caught a few elsewhere, brought 'em home in a bucket and dumped them in the pond.
I'm a city boy though--ask some folks in the area. It might have been through some commercial venture or public initiative.

I think your first thought is right - someone just dumped a few in. There are many in the pond, so I'm guessing they are genetically all related - LOL !

I highly doubt some commercial or public venture/initiative came out here to this very small pond way out in the West Virginia woods.....

Thanks so much for helping!

By the way, I posted a photo looking down on the pond at the end of my first post. Here is a photo from my Pentax k-r in the winter, from the opposite (bottom side) of the pond. I love this pond. I've been coming to it for years, but just started fishing it - I always thought it had no fish in it!

crazy4oldcars · 04-25-2021, 08:28 PM

My very favorite critters to target.
Down here in Texas, we have about 6 or 7 varieties, not including crappie, to choose from. I would rather eat sunfish or crappie over any other fish. Greenies, i.e. Green Sunfish, are the meanest. They'll hit a fly like it owes 'em money, and I've caught red ears up to just shy of 12" long.

Kirk B.

Michael Piziak · 04-25-2021, 09:16 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by crazy4oldcars

My very favorite critters to target.
Down here in Texas, we have about 6 or 7 varieties, not including crappie, to choose from. I would rather eat sunfish or crappie over any other fish. Greenies, i.e. Green Sunfish, are the meanest. They'll hit a fly like it owes 'em money, and I've caught red ears up to just shy of 12" long.

Kirk B.

Man do I know! I cut one nightcrawler worm into about 4 or 5 pieces, and use just one piece at a time on a small hook.

I swear, and I am *NOT* kidding, I swear as soon as I throw out, it takes less than 5 seconds for these fish to hit on it. My friends will immediately start yanking and pulling and they often catch one quick. As for myself, I just throw it out there and sit down and drink a beer and have a smoke, and I am amazed at how many times these fish will just hit & hit & hit * hit on the line (I use a bobber/float). I'm a lazy fisherman, so I just wait until one hooks itself! LOL.

They are so fun to fish!

lesmore49 · 04-25-2021, 10:04 PM

As others have said that looks like a green sunfish.

I used to fly fish before my shoulder gave out. Last October I had a right shoulder replacement, so I intend to give flyfishing a shot, again.

I used to fly fish for Yellow Perch ( a small fish about the size of a sunfish )using an artificial fly called a water boatman. You see these insects in the water, propelling themselves along with 2 to 4 legs, which stick out the side of the bug like oars in a Roman Galley ship of yore.

I would cast them towards the shore, then bring the line back by retrieving the line back in short, 4-6 inch retrievals....trying to imitate the movement of the real water bug, the water boatman. Sometimes I would hit a school of small perch and if this bug was in season....it was go to all action stations as the fishing would be hot and heavy for awhile.

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8...nxNPZin6rw33A_

On the family farm, of my FiL, he had a few ponds that had been dug out and up here in farm country on the Canadian prairies we call these small bodies of water, dug-outs, named after the action required to create them. They're used for watering stock, having a water supply handy for a number of things on the farm and sometimes in warmer climes, or if you dig the pond deep enough, to avoid winter kill of fish...you can populate with fish. As someone said, it was probably the farmer or someone who caught a mess of small fish, transported them in a water bucket and emptied the fish out into the dug out.

lesmore49 · 04-25-2021, 10:11 PM

Originally posted by Michael Piziak

Man do I know! I cut one nightcrawler worm into about 4 or 5 pieces, and use just one piece at a time on a small hook.

I swear, and I am *NOT* kidding, I swear as soon as I throw out, it takes less than 5 seconds for these fish to hit on it. My friends will immediately start yanking and pulling and they often catch one quick. As for myself, I just throw it out there and sit down and drink a beer and have a smoke, and I am amazed at how many times these fish will just hit & hit & hit * hit on the line (I use a bobber/float). I'm a lazy fisherman, so I just wait until one hooks itself! LOL.

They are so fun to fish!

They are and in a small pond, you want to be careful to not fish the pond out. I would catch and release a number.

jhaji · 04-25-2021, 10:13 PM

Pretty fish.

**ehrwien** · 05-01-2021, 04:07 AM

Originally posted by Michael Piziak

What is your guess on how they got in this "man made" pond?

It is possible that someone released some fish there, but the natural way to habitate the pond would be through birds. At least that's the theory since Darwin, but it has not yet been proven. It's hypothesized that the fish eggs stick to the birds' feathers.

To the man made part: the picture of the pond immediately reminded me of this guy who videotapes himself digging up stuff with his excavator, like creating and cleaning up ponds like this one. Example:

You Tube

robtcorl · 05-01-2021, 04:46 AM

Stocked by fish rain?
Can it rain fish? | Science Questions with Surprising Answers

I agree, it probably was stocked by a person, but stocking only green sunfish doesn't seem likely.
I'm sure they're prolific, and that's why it's the only species you've been catching, but I'm betting there's more of a variety.
If its feeder is a small creek there's a good chance they came in during wet times. Even small creeks have holes of deeper water, enough to sustain fish.

lesmore49 · 05-01-2021, 10:30 AM

Originally posted by robtcorl

Stocked by fish rain?
Can it rain fish? | Science Questions with Surprising Answers

I agree, it probably was stocked by a person, but stocking only green sunfish doesn't seem likely.
I'm sure they're prolific, and that's why it's the only species you've been catching, but I'm betting there's more of a variety.
If its feeder is a small creek there's a good chance they came in during wet times. Even small creeks have holes of deeper water, enough to sustain fish.

I have heard over the years, that sometimes people will stock their small pond with small fish like sunfish, then on occasion sunfish will multiply until the pond cannot support that many. Then they will bring in a predator....say a few Largemouth Bass, which may eat their way through the pond, than the Bass will start to cannibalize each other.

So it can become a case of where do you go next ? I don't know ff there is a formula that involves factors like type/adult size fish numbers, area of pond, etc.

When I was in my early 20's I did consider setting up a small commercial fish operation on the family grain farm. This was in the early '70's , no internet, but there were a few books on fish farming at the local library. My idea was to get Rainbow trout fingerlings, dump them in the dugouts ( farm ponds) in early May, supplement the natural food (insects, etc.) with commercial fish food and the harvest them early October, before winter came and then try to market trout fillets at local stores.

I didn't have the bucks....costs would include excavating dugouts, filling them with water, possibly having to seal the newly excavated ponds, buying fingerlings, commercial fish food, etc.. Too expensive for a young guy who was always flat broke just paying way through school.

**ChrisPlatt** · 05-01-2021, 01:58 PM - **1 Like**

My brother bought a former dairy farm in Upstate Walton New York.
He planned and excavated a pond which is fed by a natural spring.
He stocks it with trout. IIRC NYS DEC provided free consulting services.

Chris

lesmore49 · 05-01-2021, 02:39 PM

Originally posted by ChrisPlatt

My brother bought a former dairy farm in Upstate Walton New York.
He planned and excavated a pond which is fed by a natural spring.
He stocks it with trout. IIRC NYS DEC provided free consulting services.

Chris

Sounds wonderful, idyllic.

Currently doing the Ancestry search. Much to my surprise I have found ancestors who were early settlers in upstate New York. Early 1600's, both Dutch and English ancestry. One of these days I will have to visit rural New York.

04-25-2021, 05:42 PM	#1
Michael Piziak Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,726	What type of fish have I been catching - pics included I have been fishing at this very small pond, that use to be on a farm many many years ago. I thought I was catching bluegills; however, I think they might be bass (because their mouth(s) are bigger than bluegill?). But they don't exactly look like Bass either. Or are they a hybrid? Anyways, here are some pics. All of the fish, then the last pic is the pond (taken with my Pentax). I'm pretty sure the farmer, years ago, "built" the pond by damning up a very small valley, for his cows to drink from. Someone had to add these fish to the pond, as it's not a natural pond. Location: West Virginia, USA Attached Images Last edited by Michael Piziak; 05-02-2021 at 06:33 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For Sale - Sold: MC Zenitar 16mm f2.8 Fish Eye (Full frame) M42 to K mount adapter included REDUCED	rosettaquarrier	Sold Items	2	11-23-2019 09:43 AM
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish	boriscleto	General Talk	1	10-26-2012 03:39 PM
Nature One Fish, Two Fish, Three Fish, More	sealonsf	Post Your Photos!	1	08-14-2010 05:41 AM
How can I tell how many pics have been shot on my Pentax istD?	Trail-Seeker	Pentax DSLR Discussion	6	06-02-2007 05:45 PM

04-25-2021, 06:08 PM	#2
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,588	Bass and sunfish are fairly closely related but those are undoubtedly sunnies (of some sort--there are several varieties.)

04-25-2021, 06:33 PM	#3
Michael Piziak Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,726 Original Poster	Thanks so much! I'm sure you are right! They look just like the sunfish here, posted by Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech Ichthyology Class : Green Sunfish Is One Tough Sparring Partner, by Don Orth What is your guess on how they got in this "man made" pond? I would think they were introduced here like 50 to 100 years ago, or earlier. One would think people would populate a pond with crappy, bluegill, bass, catfish, or some other fish more commonly found in my region. Most of the ones I catch are small. But on occasion, I catch an 8 to 9 inch one that is fairly good in size and weight for such a small pond. Regards, Michael

04-25-2021, 07:34 PM	#4
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,588	Originally posted by Michael Piziak What is your guess on how they got in this "man made" pond? My guess is that some kid (or kid at heart) caught a few elsewhere, brought 'em home in a bucket and dumped them in the pond. I'm a city boy though--ask some folks in the area. It might have been through some commercial venture or public initiative.

04-25-2021, 08:18 PM - 1 Like	#5
Michael Piziak Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,726 Original Poster	Originally posted by dadipentak My guess is that some kid (or kid at heart) caught a few elsewhere, brought 'em home in a bucket and dumped them in the pond. I'm a city boy though--ask some folks in the area. It might have been through some commercial venture or public initiative. I think your first thought is right - someone just dumped a few in. There are many in the pond, so I'm guessing they are genetically all related - LOL ! I highly doubt some commercial or public venture/initiative came out here to this very small pond way out in the West Virginia woods..... Thanks so much for helping! By the way, I posted a photo looking down on the pond at the end of my first post. Here is a photo from my Pentax k-r in the winter, from the opposite (bottom side) of the pond. I love this pond. I've been coming to it for years, but just started fishing it - I always thought it had no fish in it!

04-25-2021, 08:28 PM	#6
crazy4oldcars Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Beaumont, Texas Posts: 219	My very favorite critters to target. Down here in Texas, we have about 6 or 7 varieties, not including crappie, to choose from. I would rather eat sunfish or crappie over any other fish. Greenies, i.e. Green Sunfish, are the meanest. They'll hit a fly like it owes 'em money, and I've caught red ears up to just shy of 12" long. Kirk B.

04-25-2021, 09:16 PM - 1 Like	#7
Michael Piziak Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,726 Original Poster	Originally posted by crazy4oldcars My very favorite critters to target. Down here in Texas, we have about 6 or 7 varieties, not including crappie, to choose from. I would rather eat sunfish or crappie over any other fish. Greenies, i.e. Green Sunfish, are the meanest. They'll hit a fly like it owes 'em money, and I've caught red ears up to just shy of 12" long. Kirk B. Man do I know! I cut one nightcrawler worm into about 4 or 5 pieces, and use just one piece at a time on a small hook. I swear, and I am NOT kidding, I swear as soon as I throw out, it takes less than 5 seconds for these fish to hit on it. My friends will immediately start yanking and pulling and they often catch one quick. As for myself, I just throw it out there and sit down and drink a beer and have a smoke, and I am amazed at how many times these fish will just hit & hit & hit * hit on the line (I use a bobber/float). I'm a lazy fisherman, so I just wait until one hooks itself! LOL. They are so fun to fish!

04-25-2021, 10:04 PM	#8
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 11,305	As others have said that looks like a green sunfish. I used to fly fish before my shoulder gave out. Last October I had a right shoulder replacement, so I intend to give flyfishing a shot, again. I used to fly fish for Yellow Perch ( a small fish about the size of a sunfish )using an artificial fly called a water boatman. You see these insects in the water, propelling themselves along with 2 to 4 legs, which stick out the side of the bug like oars in a Roman Galley ship of yore. I would cast them towards the shore, then bring the line back by retrieving the line back in short, 4-6 inch retrievals....trying to imitate the movement of the real water bug, the water boatman. Sometimes I would hit a school of small perch and if this bug was in season....it was go to all action stations as the fishing would be hot and heavy for awhile. https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8...nxNPZin6rw33A_ On the family farm, of my FiL, he had a few ponds that had been dug out and up here in farm country on the Canadian prairies we call these small bodies of water, dug-outs, named after the action required to create them. They're used for watering stock, having a water supply handy for a number of things on the farm and sometimes in warmer climes, or if you dig the pond deep enough, to avoid winter kill of fish...you can populate with fish. As someone said, it was probably the farmer or someone who caught a mess of small fish, transported them in a water bucket and emptied the fish out into the dug out.

04-25-2021, 10:11 PM	#9
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 11,305	Originally posted by Michael Piziak Man do I know! I cut one nightcrawler worm into about 4 or 5 pieces, and use just one piece at a time on a small hook. I swear, and I am NOT kidding, I swear as soon as I throw out, it takes less than 5 seconds for these fish to hit on it. My friends will immediately start yanking and pulling and they often catch one quick. As for myself, I just throw it out there and sit down and drink a beer and have a smoke, and I am amazed at how many times these fish will just hit & hit & hit * hit on the line (I use a bobber/float). I'm a lazy fisherman, so I just wait until one hooks itself! LOL. They are so fun to fish! They are and in a small pond, you want to be careful to not fish the pond out. I would catch and release a number.

04-25-2021, 10:13 PM	#10
jhaji Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,139	Pretty fish.

05-01-2021, 04:46 AM	#12
robtcorl Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: St Louis, MO Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,606	Stocked by fish rain? Can it rain fish? \| Science Questions with Surprising Answers I agree, it probably was stocked by a person, but stocking only green sunfish doesn't seem likely. I'm sure they're prolific, and that's why it's the only species you've been catching, but I'm betting there's more of a variety. If its feeder is a small creek there's a good chance they came in during wet times. Even small creeks have holes of deeper water, enough to sustain fish.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

05-01-2021, 10:30 AM	#13
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 11,305	Originally posted by robtcorl Stocked by fish rain? Can it rain fish? \| Science Questions with Surprising Answers I agree, it probably was stocked by a person, but stocking only green sunfish doesn't seem likely. I'm sure they're prolific, and that's why it's the only species you've been catching, but I'm betting there's more of a variety. If its feeder is a small creek there's a good chance they came in during wet times. Even small creeks have holes of deeper water, enough to sustain fish. I have heard over the years, that sometimes people will stock their small pond with small fish like sunfish, then on occasion sunfish will multiply until the pond cannot support that many. Then they will bring in a predator....say a few Largemouth Bass, which may eat their way through the pond, than the Bass will start to cannibalize each other. So it can become a case of where do you go next ? I don't know ff there is a formula that involves factors like type/adult size fish numbers, area of pond, etc. When I was in my early 20's I did consider setting up a small commercial fish operation on the family grain farm. This was in the early '70's , no internet, but there were a few books on fish farming at the local library. My idea was to get Rainbow trout fingerlings, dump them in the dugouts ( farm ponds) in early May, supplement the natural food (insects, etc.) with commercial fish food and the harvest them early October, before winter came and then try to market trout fillets at local stores. I didn't have the bucks....costs would include excavating dugouts, filling them with water, possibly having to seal the newly excavated ponds, buying fingerlings, commercial fish food, etc.. Too expensive for a young guy who was always flat broke just paying way through school.

05-01-2021, 01:58 PM - 1 Like	#14
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,390	My brother bought a former dairy farm in Upstate Walton New York. He planned and excavated a pond which is fed by a natural spring. He stocks it with trout. IIRC NYS DEC provided free consulting services. Chris

05-01-2021, 02:39 PM	#15
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 11,305	Originally posted by ChrisPlatt My brother bought a former dairy farm in Upstate Walton New York. He planned and excavated a pond which is fed by a natural spring. He stocks it with trout. IIRC NYS DEC provided free consulting services. Chris Sounds wonderful, idyllic. Currently doing the Ancestry search. Much to my surprise I have found ancestors who were early settlers in upstate New York. Early 1600's, both Dutch and English ancestry. One of these days I will have to visit rural New York.