I was working on the annual pond census today. Translate to counting the fish that survived the winter. We've got the fish trained to come when we call. No kidding. We knock a rock on another rock and soon all the fish are there waiting for their handouts, worms. By the end of the summer they'll literally eat out of our hands. Anyway I noticed one of the largemouth bass looked very strange. It had this big thing sticking out of his mouth. On closer inspection it looked like a fish tail and sure nuff, thats what it is. It must have munched a fish so big it couldn't get it in its mouth so I spose the extra tail will disappear when its been digested. It doesn't look very comfortable. It sides are bulging and is kinda stand offish. Wierd!

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), April 26, 2000

Answers

Response to A wierd thing

John, I hope your pig of a bass gets better, but I bet if it doesn't there is somebody on this board who could offer some advice! So other than the bass who gets into the same sort of projects most of us do (biting off more than we can chew)how's the pond this spring? Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), April 27, 2000.

Response to A wierd thing

The Sternberg museum here in Kansas that specializes in fossils, has fossilized remains of a fish within a fish. I suppose that the longest is some 20 feet long, but however large, it is big. I don't know if their web site shows it or not as the server seems to busy to let me explore. Anyway, here is the url for the museum: http://www.fhsu.edu/sternberg/tour/

-- greenbeanman (greenbeanman@ourtownusa.net), April 27, 2000.

Response to A wierd thing

Gerbil: Other than the 2 in 1 fish things seem to be fine in the pond. There are actually two ponds. The main pond is about 1/2 acre and that is the one that has most of the fish in it. I've had fish in it for about five years now and haven't yet had a winter kill. Its not heavily stocked though which helps. There are about 17 adult sized fish in it, 3 are bluegills and the rest are bass. We're gradually planting the pond with lilys and other water and shore plants. Hopefully by the time the pond is fully planted there will be enough cover for minnows to survive and frogs to flourish. Its my hope to get it to the point where there will be enough natural food so we won't have to supplement. The other pond is a little deeper and somewhat shaded with a native population of minnows. I've put a couple of bass in there but I have no way of knowing how they're doing cause I can't see them like in the main pond. I enjoy the ponds though. Visitors get a kick out of the tame bass.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), April 27, 2000.

Response to A wierd thing

You know, I used to think that I was the only nut case around!! With all of the knowledge that I've gained from this site, the realization that other people do some of the same non-mainstream things that I do has been the greatest blessing!

I had my neighbor's bass trained to come to a certain section of shore line one year. I'd slap the water with a stick, then start tossing grasshoppers in the water. I will admit to an ulterior motive, though. After a week or so of free lunches, I moved down the shore a bit, with a 'hopper on my hook and line, and cotched me a fine bass for supper. I then moved back down to the "Dinner Theater", and tossed out the rest of my 'hoppers. Kept up my routine 'til frost and the disappearance of the grasshoppers, harvesting a nice bass dinner every week or so. Neighbor kids thought it was SO neat - had to make them each a net and get them a coffee can to keep their grasshoppers in. Also managed to put a dent in the grasshopper population for that summer!!

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), April 27, 2000.