Shockin’

Last Friday, Warren Blesh invited me to come out to his place, the [RRR Ranch], and watch biologist, shock his three-acre, lake. The shocking would help them to determine what would be the best solution to a vexing problem – too many small bass. Warren, and the clients on his high fence, ranch, get a lot of enjoyment and catch a lot of fish, all small ones!

Just inside the ranch gate, this doe was getting ready to jump the low fence and head to the safety of the thick stuff.

Thursday night our area had enjoyed a two-inch, rain and there was some doubt that the biologists could shock the lake if it was raining. The weather and local radar was showing that the frontal system had passed through our County and low clouds and possibly light mist could be with us for another twenty-four hours.

The biologists arrived just as the mist ended early and began preparing their equipment. Johnson Lake Management Service, out of San Marcos, Texas was handling the project, would make two rounds around the lake, shocking the fish, gathering their data, then present a detailed report and recommendations to Warren..

    

Just after launching their boat, the two biologists quickly assembled the boom that held the transducer in place and began their study.

Not too long after they started, up came a “shocked” bass that they quickly weighed, measured, recorded the results and tossed back into the lake, alive! The shocking of the bass only stuns them and if quickly returned to the water, almost all will survive!

Two “laps” around the lake were enough and in they came to “trailer up” and discuss their findings with Warren

We listened in as they said, “We picked up fifteen fish, the largest was thirteen and a half inches long and weighed one pound. All the rest were smaller. We observed that the lake was infested with too much coon tail moss, picked up no bluegills or perch, did not see any minnows or shad or notice any three to five inch bass from this year’s spawn. Mr. Blesh, these bass have eaten this year’s spawn, all of the bluegills, all of the forage fish and are subsisting on insects that get into the water. Our report, next week hopefully, will make recommendations on the best way to build up the size of your bass and create a healthy lake.”

Wow, no wonder these bass will hit any plug you throw at them!