Tribute to The Hybrid Striped Bass

I stocked my first hybrid striped bass on May 5th 2007. I was very skeptical mainly because I had never heard of anyone in my area stocking them and really knew absolutely nothing about them except that some pond boss guys were growing them really big in small ponds. I could not believe how fast these fish grew that first summer and was even more shocked at how fast they grew the next summer and still am blown away with how fast them things have grown this summer!!!

The original HSB that I have left in the lake are 6-9 lbs and just BEASTS! We typically use 6 lb test on medium/light fishing gear for open water fishing, but the big boys have spooled 5 rigs completely this summer and easily broken off another dozen. People I take fishing typically arent very experienced anglers, but they typically have no problems landing catfish, smb, and lmb on this same gear. The big stripers are only just 3 years old and in a whole nother league! Here are some pics documenting the HSB growth!

2007 class pics:



2008 class pics:



2009 class pic:


Anyhow, I have since stocked about 20,000 hsb in lakes and ponds around the area and they are definitely growing faster in the lakes that artificially feed, but they are still growing really good even in the lakes without the additional supplements!

Here is a video of the girls feeding the 2009 year class of stripers on the beach:
Striper Feeding Video

Girls Feeding Hybrid Stripers on The Beach

My daughters and her cousins absolutely love helping me with the chores at the lake. Feeding the fish is one of their favorite activities and this school of hybrid striped bass has learned over the course of the summer that its dinner time when the girls hit the beach! 

Pond Boss Conference at Big Cedar Lodge!

This years pond boss conference is at the Big Cedar Lodge near Branson, Missouri on Sept 18-19! I am pumped up and excited and actually going to be running the hands on session about Seining Your Pond, as well as taking care of some Porcupine Fish Attractor demonstrations.

This conference is jam packed with information about ponds, aquatic vegetation, and fish stuff from the who's who in private fisheries from across the nation!

If you have any pond or fish related questions this is the place to get all the answers! The price of admission is a small price to pay for the information you will walk away with. I have several clients and many friends from across the nation who will be attending this years event, not to mention many celebrities who are pond enthusiasts usually show up as well!

Here is the agenda for the weekend and a link to more and better info:

Thursday, September 17, 2009
1 - 5 pm Fishing Tournament - Call 800.687.6075 to register!
2 - 5 pm Conference Registration
3 pm and after Hotel Check-In
6 - 10 pm Poolside Icebreaker (light hors d'oeuvres and cash bar)
7:30 - 8:30 pm Speaker's Dinner

Friday, September 18, 2009
8 am Registration / Expo Opens
9 - 10:30 am Session I - The Nuances of Ponds
10:30 - 10:45 am Break
10:45 - Noon Session II - Practical Pond Management
Noon - 1:30 pm Walking-Talking Lunch in Expo
1:30 - 2:45 pm Session III - What's New
2:45 - 3 pm Break
3 - 5 pm Outside to the Pond!!! Hands-On Demonstrations!!!
7:30 - 9 pm Dinner on the Lawn (Ticketed! See registration form!)
9 - 10:30 pm Small Groups in Conference Center Foyer or your Lodge

Saturday, September 19, 2009
8 am Expo Opens
9 - 10:30 am Panel Discussion and Questions - The Pros Evaluate Friday's Data
10:30 - 10:45 am Break
10:45 - Noon Workshops - Aquatic Vegetation; Pond Building; Habitat Management
Noon - 1 pm Box Lunch in Expo (Ticketed! See registration form!)
1 - 2:45 pm Session IV - Do-It-Yourself Pond Management
2:45 - 3 pm Break
3 - 5 pm Hands-On!!! Inside the Expo
7:30 - 9 pm Banquet (Ticketed! See registration form!)

Fall Fish Stocking Pricing and Info

Now is definitely the time to get fish orders in for the fall fish stocking season in Central Illinois!
Peoria, Fulton, and Tazewell county Soil, Water, and Conservation Districts are all having fish sales this fall and they have their delivery dates set. They are the best place to pick up regular bass, bluegill, and catfish.

Herman Brothers have been delivering fish to clients all summer long, but it looks like this fall is going to be busier than ever stocking fish! We specialize in stocking all of the not so regular fishes of Illinois! This year we have the best selection available to date. Walleye, Pike, Muskie, Albino Catfish, Smallmouth Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, Feed Trained Largemouth, Hybrid Bluegill, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Fathead Minnows, Golden Shiners, and Rainbow Trout just to name a few of the other species we have available this fall!!

We stock fish of all sizes and can pretty much find any size of any species of fish! I work with the very best private fish hatcheries and fish haulers in the nation! Here is our 2009 retail fish stocking price list We deliver your fish right to your pond and make sure they are acclimated correctly. I also will not sell the wrong type or size of fish to anyone- if my name is on something, it will be the best!

Saturday Fishing and Sunday Fun City

Rainbow Trout fishing is starting to heat up!


Dale Weiss of Goodfield with a big catfish:

Bluegill caught on a 4 inch berkley shad!


We celebrated Noah and Maes birthday party on Saturday out at Norris, then headed to Fun City in Iowa on Sunday and Monday. Now its tuesday morning and I am ready for a vacation! Them kids can wear me down fast!!