The Bass Spawned in the 5 Acre Pond! (1,000's of Baby Bass)

BamaBass
21 Apr 202425:15

Summary

TLDRIn this engaging video, the host takes viewers through the seasonal changes at the Crimson Oak Pond, a 5-acre body of water they've spent a year developing. With the arrival of spring, the pond becomes a bustling habitat for largemouth bass and bluegill fish spawning. The host shares insights on how they've created an ideal environment for fish to spawn, using PE gravel beds and observing the protective behaviors of bass during this critical period. They also introduce a new initiative to hand-feed some of the bass and discuss the challenges of overpopulation. Adding to the excitement, an alligator snapping turtle makes an unexpected appearance, and the host shares a unique experience with the US Navy Blue Angels. The video concludes with a focus on pond maintenance, emphasizing the importance of early spring fertilization for a healthy aquatic ecosystem.

Takeaways

  • 🌿 The Crimson Oak Pond, a 5-acre pond, was built over the past year with careful consideration for fish habitats, including the use of PE gravel in shallow areas for spawning beds.
  • 🚜 Excavation and the introduction of clay were necessary to shape the pond, along with the construction of an island and dock to provide structure for aquatic life.
  • 🐟 The pond was stocked with bait fish like bluegills and threadfin shad, followed by aggressive bass to create a balanced ecosystem.
  • πŸ“ˆ The pond's bass population has grown, with some fish reaching 4 to 5 inches in size, indicating multiple spawns that could potentially overpopulate the pond.
  • πŸ‘Ά Springtime marks the spawning season for largemouth bass, resulting in hundreds to thousands of baby bass, known as 'fry,' in the pond.
  • 🍽️ The video demonstrates hand feeding bass during spawning season and the use of spawning mats filled with PE gravel to protect the fry from predators.
  • πŸ“Έ An underwater camera captured a mystery creature, suspected to be an alligator snapping turtle, which could impact the pond's bluegill population.
  • 🐒 The pond is home to a variety of fish, including rainbow trout and tiger bass named Johnny and June, which are showing signs of spawning activity.
  • β˜•οΈ The video features a sponsored segment for Mudwater, a coffee alternative that provides energy and focus without the jitters or crash.
  • 🌱 The pond owner emphasizes the importance of early spring fertilization for pond health, suggesting a measured approach based on water clarity to avoid exacerbating algae blooms.
  • πŸš€ The video includes a unique experience with the US Navy Blue Angels, highlighting the physical demands and training required for high-G maneuvers during flight.

Q & A

  • How many acres does the Crimson Oak Pond cover?

    -The Crimson Oak Pond covers 5 acres.

  • What types of fish were initially stocked in the pond?

    -Initially, the pond was stocked with bait fish including bluegills and threadfin shad, and later with aggressive bass.

  • What is the significance of the green algae bloom in the pond?

    -The green algae bloom makes it easy to see the bare spots where fish have fanned out spawning beds.

  • What was used to create a good hard bottom and spawning habitat in the shallow areas of the pond?

    -PE gravel was specifically put in the shallow areas to create a good hard bottom and spawning habitat.

  • How many eggs can a bass lay per pound of body weight?

    -A bass can lay anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 eggs per pound of body weight.

  • What does the male bass do after the female lays the eggs?

    -The male bass fertilizes the eggs and often stays around to help guard the fry for up to 2 weeks after they hatch.

  • What is the survival rate of the bass fry from a large school?

    -Out of a large school of bass fry, only about five to ten of them are likely to survive to be 12 inches long.

  • What is the name of the bass that the narrator plans to raise in the Wetland filter at Cedar Falls?

    -The narrator does not provide a specific name in the script, but asks viewers to suggest a name in the comments.

  • What is the potential issue with the bass spawning twice in a year?

    -The potential issue with the bass spawning twice in a year is that the 5-acre pond could quickly become overpopulated, which might lead to the need to catch and relocate some of the baby bass.

  • What is the purpose of the spawning mats filled with PE gravel?

    -The spawning mats filled with PE gravel provide a protected space for the fry to swim into after they hatch, keeping them safe from predators.

  • What is the name of the coffee alternative mentioned in the script?

    -The coffee alternative mentioned in the script is called Mud/Water.

  • What is the primary reason for fertilizing a pond early in the spring?

    -The primary reason for fertilizing a pond early in the spring is to create a phytoplankton and zooplankton bloom, which feeds insects and small fish, thereby supporting the larger fish population like the largemouth bass.

Outlines

00:00

🏞️ Pond Construction and Bass Growth Update

The video begins with a recap of the construction of the Crimson Oak Pond, a 5-acre body of water that took a year to build. The process involved significant excavation, importing clay, and creating an island and dock. After filling the pond with water and stocking it with baitfish and bass, the host provides an update on the bass's growth. The video also highlights the pond's current state during springtime, which is spawning season for largemouth bass, and the presence of a green algae bloom that aids in observing fish spawning beds. The host discusses the use of PE gravel for creating suitable spawning habitats and the challenges faced by spawning fish in defending their nests. Additionally, the host shares plans to hand-feed some bass and mentions a mysterious creature spotted on underwater cameras.

05:01

🐟 Spawning Season and Fish Management

The host details the spawning behavior of bass and bluegills in the pond, noting the use of spawning mats filled with PE gravel to protect the fry from predators. The video also addresses concerns about potential overpopulation if a second spawn occurs, and the possibility of relocating some of the baby bass. The host shares a tip for pond owners on enhancing spawning habitats with pea gravel and observes tilapia surviving the winter near feeders. The host also checks in on Cedar Falls, another pond, where two second-generation Tiger Bass, Johnny and June, are showing signs of spawning activity. The video includes a sponsored segment on Mudwater, a coffee alternative, and ends with the host expressing excitement about capturing footage of the spawning process and the potential impact on the pond's bass population.

10:02

🎣 Fishing and Feeding the Pond's Inhabitants

The host engages in fishing activities in the pond, catching and tagging bass for tracking purposes. The video showcases the feeding habits of the pond's inhabitants, including bass and bluegill, which are attracted to golden shiners. The host also attempts to hand-feed the fish and reflects on the unique experience of having trout in the pond, noting their preference for shallow waters and strong currents. The video captures the feeding frenzy as protein feeders release food, and the host shares a personal anecdote about a bass named Moby that was exceptionally comfortable with human interaction. The host concludes the fishing segment with a commitment to continue hand-feeding practices in hopes of finding another bass as amenable as Moby.

15:03

🌿 Pond Maintenance and Fertilization

The host discusses the importance of fertilizing the pond early in the spring to promote a phytoplankton and zooplankton bloom, which benefits the entire pond ecosystem. The video provides tips on measuring water clarity with an SECI disc and applying fertilizer in deep water to avoid feeding algae on the banks. The host is joined by Sarah, who assists in spreading fertilizer across the pond. The video also touches on the presence of various wildlife, including ants and frogs, around the pond and the host's concern for their safety. The host's brother Michael is featured, preparing for a flight with the US Navy Blue Angels, and the video provides a behind-the-scenes look at their operations and the physical demands of high-G force flight.

20:03

✈️ Blue Angels Experience and Military Appreciation

The host expresses gratitude towards the military personnel, including his brother Michael, for their service and sacrifices. The video captures the host's experience with the Blue Angels, highlighting the intense physical training required to withstand the G-forces experienced during flight without a G-suit. The host observes an F-18 flight and a post-flight debrief, gaining a deeper respect for the skill and mental fortitude of the pilots. The video concludes with the host inviting viewers to comment on whether they would like to see him take a ride in a Blue Angel jet, adding a touch of humor to the segment.

25:05

🌱 Island Restoration and Bass Catching

The host focuses on the restoration of Alcatraz Island within the pond by planting grass seed, including brown top millet and Bermuda grass seed, to improve the island's appearance and prevent soil erosion. The video then shifts to the host's weekly bass catching routine, where he scans and tags the bass, providing weight and length measurements. The host notes that the bass weights may be lower due to recent spawning activity. The video captures the excitement of catching various bass, including some that have been previously tagged, and the host's anticipation of the wildlife that will be attracted to the newly planted grass seed concludes the video.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Pond Construction

Pond construction refers to the process of creating an artificial body of water, which in the video's context, involves excavation, importing clay, and building structures like islands and docks. The video discusses how the 5-acre Crimson Oak Pond was built over a year, with several months dedicated to excavation and the creation of a suitable environment for aquatic life.

πŸ’‘Spawning Season

Spawning season is a biologically crucial time for fish when they reproduce. In the video, it is mentioned that springtime signifies the spawning season for largemouth bass in the pond. The process involves the female bass fanning out a bed in the gravel to deposit eggs, which are then fertilized by the male. The video highlights the importance of this period for the pond's ecosystem and the challenges faced by the fish in protecting their nests.

πŸ’‘Bait Fish

Bait fish are small fish used to attract larger predatory fish. In the script, it is mentioned that the pond was stocked with bait fish such as bluegills and threadfin shad. These species serve as a food source for the bass and contribute to the pond's overall health and balance by providing a natural food chain.

πŸ’‘Aggressive Bass

Aggressive bass refers to young bass that are known for their predatory behavior. The video script talks about stocking the pond with small, aggressive bass that have grown over time. These bass are important for the video's narrative as they represent the apex predators in the pond and are a key focus of the update provided to viewers.

πŸ’‘Algae Bloom

An algae bloom is a rapid increase in the population of algae in a water body, often resulting in a green discoloration of the water. The video mentions a green algae bloom, which makes it easier to spot the bare spots where fish have created spawning beds. Algae blooms can be both beneficial and harmful; in this context, it helps in visualizing fish activity but can also indicate an imbalance in the pond's ecosystem.

πŸ’‘PE Gravel

PE gravel, or polyethylene gravel, is a type of synthetic material used to create a hard bottom in shallow areas of a pond. The video script discusses how PE gravel was specifically put in shallow areas to create a good spawning habitat for the fish. It is a key component in the pond's design, facilitating the natural behavior of the fish and contributing to their reproductive success.

πŸ’‘Fry

Fry refers to young fish, typically newly hatched from eggs. The video script mentions hundreds of baby bass fry in the pond, highlighting the reproductive success following the spawning season. The survival rate of these fry is low due to predation, making them a significant topic in the video's discussion about the pond's ecological dynamics.

πŸ’‘Hand Feeding

Hand feeding is the act of manually providing food to animals, in this case, the bass in the pond. The video script describes an attempt to hand feed some of the bass as part of the update on their growth and behavior. This activity is significant as it showcases the level of interaction and the bond between the pond's caretaker and the fish.

πŸ’‘Underwater Cameras

Underwater cameras are used to observe aquatic life without disturbing it. The video script mentions the use of underwater cameras to monitor the bass and bluegill populations, revealing a mystery creature, and capturing spawning activity. These cameras provide valuable insights into the pond's ecosystem and are a key tool for the video's educational content.

πŸ’‘Alligator Snapping Turtle

An alligator snapping turtle is a large, freshwater turtle species known for its distinctive appearance and powerful bite. The video script describes a mystery creature that appeared in the footage, suspected to be an alligator snapping turtle. Its presence adds an element of intrigue to the video and contributes to the biodiversity of the pond's ecosystem.

πŸ’‘Fertilizing Pond

Fertilizing a pond involves adding nutrients to stimulate the growth of phytoplankton and zooplankton, which serve as a food source for fish. The video script discusses the importance of fertilizing the pond early in the spring to support the pond's food web. This practice is crucial for maintaining a healthy and balanced aquatic environment.

Highlights

The construction of a 5-acre pond, including excavation and clay import, along with the creation of an island and dock.

Introduction of bait fish like bluegills and threadfin shad, followed by aggressive bass into the pond.

Observation of hundreds to thousands of baby bass fres swimming in the pond due to the spawning season.

Use of PE gravel in shallow areas to create a good spawning habitat for the fish.

Spawning behavior of bass and bluegills, including the creation and defense of nests.

Attempt to hand-feed bass during the spawning season to assist with stress.

Mystery creature appearing on underwater cameras, suspected to be an alligator snapping turtle.

Introduction of a second generation of Tiger Bass named Johnny and June, showing early signs of spawning.

Use of spawning mats filled with PE gravel to protect newly hatched fish from predators.

Survival of tilapia through the winter and their growth in size.

The pond's potential overpopulation due to multiple spawns, prompting consideration for relocation of bass.

Hand feeding practice with the goal of getting bass comfortable enough to be hand-fed regularly.

Fertilization of the pond to promote phytoplankton and zooplankton blooms, which support the fish population.

Experience with the US Navy Blue Angels, including a flight with the team and insights into their training and operations.

Planting grass seed on Alcatraz Island to improve its condition without affecting the pond's water quality.

Catching and tagging bass to monitor their growth and health, with some showing weight loss post-spawning.

The use of underwater cameras to monitor bass and bluegill populations, leading to the discovery of a mysterious turtle.

Incorporation of a coffee alternative, Mud/Water, in the video, highlighting its benefits for energy and focus.

Transcripts

00:00

Folks at home welcome back to the

00:01

Crimson Oak Pond and if you're new to

00:03

this series we built this 5 acre Pond

00:05

over the past year and it took us

00:07

several months to get all of the dirt

00:09

excavated and we had to bring in several

00:11

truckloads of clay and we also built an

00:14

island a dock and got all the structure

00:16

in place and then it took a couple of

00:18

months to get it full of water after

00:20

that we stocked it with a bunch of bait

00:22

fish including bluegills and thread fin

00:24

shad and not long after that we stocked

00:26

it with these little 2-in aggressive

00:28

bass and we're going to be giving you an

00:30

update on them here in just a minute and

00:31

showing you how big they've gotten and

00:33

as most of you know Springtime means

00:35

spawning season for the largemouth bass

00:38

so we've got hundreds if not thousands

00:40

of little baby bass fres swimming

00:42

throughout the pond right now and today

00:44

we're also going to start trying to hand

00:46

feed some of the bass and we also had

00:48

this mystery creature show up on one of

00:49

the underwater cameras I also got to

00:51

spend the day with the US Navy Blue

00:53

Angels so there's a lot of good stuff

00:55

coming up in this video Let's jump right

00:57

into it spring is in the air and the

00:59

bass and BL gills are spawning here at

01:01

the Crimson Oak Pond and because we have

01:03

a green algae bloom it makes it really

01:05

easy to see all those bare spots where

01:07

the fish have fanned out spawning beds

01:10

and if you recall back when we were

01:11

building the pond we specifically put PE

01:13

gravel in Shallow areas to create a good

01:16

hard bottom and spawning habitat and

01:18

here we are 2 years later and those PE

01:20

gravel beds are fish magnets now let's

01:23

get zoomed in and you can see this

01:24

underwater Road bed and we got one

01:27

female bass Fanning out a bed right

01:29

there and two others just above it not

01:32

sure if they're spawning or just on the

01:34

hunt but here you can clearly see the

01:36

bass has fan that bed and cleaned all

01:39

the algae and silt off of it and we got

01:42

another bass fan in a bed nearby you can

01:44

see they like those hidden areas nearby

01:47

some structure so those fry will have a

01:49

better chance of survival and the same

01:51

scenario with this bass we don't have

01:53

two many trees and brush piles in the

01:55

shallow parts of this pond so the fish

01:58

are always lined up ready to use them

02:00

but here's a perfect example of how the

02:01

spawning fish get so stressed this time

02:03

of year as soon as this one bass runs

02:06

the other one off two little small

02:07

bluegills seize the opportunity and

02:10

shoot in to raid the nest so for these

02:12

spawning fish it's a constant Battle of

02:14

Defending and protecting the nesting

02:16

area and the fry and a very stressful

02:18

time of year for them and one other pair

02:20

of bass that built a nest right over

02:22

here by the boat so with all of this

02:24

spawning activity it was only a matter

02:26

of time before the eggs hatched and we

02:28

have hundreds of little baby bass fry

02:30

all schooled up together so this school

02:33

of bass fry most likely came from one

02:35

female because a bass can lay anywhere

02:37

from 2,000 to 10,000 eggs per pound of

02:40

body weight but just because this many

02:42

hatch doesn't necessarily mean that

02:45

that's how many survive because these

02:47

little bass fry are going to be targeted

02:48

by every bluegill and small fish in the

02:51

pond so typically a male bass will

02:53

create the nest a female bass will come

02:55

in and lay the eggs and then often times

02:57

the female will swim out to deeper water

02:59

to recover cover and the mail bass will

03:01

fertilize the eggs and usually even stay

03:03

around to help guard the fry for up to 2

03:06

weeks after they hatch and once the mail

03:08

bass stops protecting them it's open

03:10

game out of a group of fry this size

03:13

only five to 10 of them are going to

03:15

survive to be 12 in long and since these

03:18

little guys have such a small chance at

03:20

survival I had to take the opportunity

03:22

as this little school of fry came near

03:24

the bank I wanted to try to see if I

03:26

could catch a few of them

03:28

[Music]

03:45

they're quicker than you'd expect but I

03:47

did catch one so I've got this idea I've

03:49

never raised a bass from a fry all the

03:52

way to an adult so I'm going to put this

03:54

little guy in the Wetland filter at

03:56

Cedar Falls and we're going to see if we

03:58

can raise him up as one of our pets and

04:00

if we're successful this guy will even

04:02

Trump Moby which is a bass that we C out

04:05

in the wild when Moby was about 2 to 3

04:07

in long and he currently lives in the

04:09

backyard pond and is about 4 lb now and

04:12

you know we're going to have to name him

04:13

so leave your comments Below on what you

04:15

think we should name the little guy but

04:17

he does have options he could swim down

04:19

the waterfall through the little creek

04:21

connecting to the other waterfalls and

04:23

end up down there in Cedar Falls with

04:24

Johnny and June but hopefully he'll stay

04:26

up top but here's the mystery so over

04:29

the past couple of months I've been

04:30

watching dozens of Bass from the 2 to 3

04:33

in size and now some of them like this

04:35

guy have even gotten up to the 4 to 5 in

04:36

size but the reason it's a little

04:38

concerning is that means that there was

04:40

another spawn that took place about four

04:42

to 5 months ago so there's really only

04:44

two scenarios that make sense the first

04:47

scenario is that maybe half the bass in

04:49

the pond spawned really early back in

04:52

January and the rest of the bass are

04:54

spawning right now but the other

04:55

alternative is that the bass spawned

04:58

twice last year once last spring and

05:00

once late fall like maybe around

05:03

November and that scenario could

05:05

potentially be harmful to this pond

05:07

because as I mentioned over the past

05:08

couple of months I've seen dozens of

05:10

baby bass swimming around and by having

05:12

a second spawn right after that the 5

05:14

acre Pond could quickly get

05:16

overpopulated so if a bunch of these

05:18

guys survive we may be catching some of

05:19

the babies out and looking to relocate

05:21

them but check this out I was out on the

05:24

dock feeding some shiners to the bass

05:26

and I saw one of them swim over near the

05:27

bank and I knew that's where all those

05:29

little four to 5 in bass were hanging

05:32

out and that turned out to be a mistake

05:34

for that Shiner even though the Shiner

05:36

is half the size of the bass these

05:38

little aggressive guys will eat anything

05:40

they can see and with that mentality

05:42

they're going to get big quick but I'm

05:44

also going to give you a quick tip on

05:45

helping the fish during spawning season

05:47

so they make these spawning mats and you

05:49

basically just fill them up with PE

05:50

gravel but the cool feature about these

05:53

are that after the fry hatch they can

05:55

swim into these little slots and be

05:57

protected from all the Predators so we

05:59

put them in the the pond last year and

06:01

the bluegills and bass both used them

06:03

but if you're Pond owner you can either

06:05

try something like that or just get you

06:07

five gallon bucket of pea gravel and

06:09

spread some out in Shallow Coes near

06:11

cover and as you can see pretty much

06:13

anywhere there's pea gravel multiple

06:15

fish will be utilizing that during the

06:17

spawning season but while I had the

06:19

Drone up in there I noticed there was a

06:21

lot of activity over near the feeder and

06:23

one of the interesting things I've seen

06:24

over the past couple of weeks is that

06:26

there were more than a few tilapia that

06:28

survived this past winter

06:30

and some of these guys have gotten big

06:32

but they've been hanging out around the

06:33

feeders just like the bluegills and I

06:35

think I'm counting about five of them

06:36

right there in that one shot and that's

06:38

also a pretty good size bass hanging out

06:40

with them so now let's go check in on

06:42

Cedar Falls I love having the crystal

06:44

clear water so you can see down there to

06:46

all the fish

06:49

caves and there's a good overhead shot

06:51

and if you look right in the center of

06:53

the pond you can see one of the rainbows

06:55

that we call Mike Trout and now that

06:57

things have warmed up it's basically

06:59

like having our own pool to go swim in

07:01

with this nice waterfall feature right

07:03

beside

07:11

it and that's the Wetland filter that we

07:14

just put the tiny bass

07:17

in but Cedar Falls is home to two of our

07:20

second generation Tiger Bass that we

07:22

call Johnny and June and I was pretty

07:24

surprised when I started seeing them

07:26

hanging out right here underneath the

07:27

lily pads because the they started

07:30

showing signs of spawning activity and I

07:33

guess I really shouldn't be surprised

07:35

because it's pretty common for a

07:36

one-year-old bass to spawn but these two

07:38

just seem like they're still babies but

07:41

either way you know me I had to put a

07:42

camera underwater to find out what was

07:44

really going on and it turns out my

07:47

thoughts were confirmed because little

07:49

Johnny bass began building a nest right

07:52

here in one of the Lily buckets so

07:54

typically with a large mouth the male

07:56

will build the nest and then the female

07:58

swims up and select

08:00

which nest and male she wants to spawn

08:02

with but unfortunately June's only got

08:04

one option so hopefully Johnny builds

08:06

her a good nest and today's video is

08:09

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08:27

it looks just like my pond after Heavy

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08:35

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08:44

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08:47

you prefer it a little sweeter you can

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08:54

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09:23

this unfold because we have the crystal

09:25

clear water and over the next week or so

09:28

we should capture some pretty

09:29

fascinating footage and I've raised pet

09:32

bass all my life and I've never gotten

09:34

any of my pets to spawn but this is also

09:37

the first time I've had a aquarium or

09:39

backyard pond big enough that the bass

09:41

felt comfortable enough to do it but as

09:43

I mentioned they could have up to 10,000

09:45

fry and there's no way the little

09:47

bluegills are going to be able to eat

09:49

that many of them so our baby bass

09:51

populations could get out of control but

09:53

the bass fry are a lot like many others

09:55

they start off as an egg and once they

09:57

hatch they live off the yolk for the

09:59

first day or so then they feed primarily

10:01

on zoo Plankton and insect larvae until

10:04

they get to the rip Bowl age where they

10:06

can chase the minnows around but as you

10:08

can see Johnny pretty much spent the

10:10

entire day building this Nest site out

10:13

and now it looks like June's starting to

10:14

pass by and get interested so I can't

10:17

wait to see how this unfolds look who

10:19

else decided to stop by the nesting site

10:21

one of the little ninja

10:25

turtles cute little guy

10:29

so I put out some underwater cameras in

10:31

the 5 acre Pond to check in on some of

10:33

the little bass and bluegill populations

10:35

and I was very surprised when we had

10:38

this mystery creature show up at first I

10:41

did not have a clue what this was

10:43

lurking around one of the bluegill

10:45

nesting sites but as I got to see more

10:48

and more footage I could tell it was

10:49

some species of a turtle but not the

10:52

typical Turtles like we have around here

10:54

like the red ear sliders or yellow belly

10:57

sliders this one looked different and

10:59

after I got to see a little more and

11:00

more of him I'm starting to think that

11:03

this is alligator snapping turtle but

11:05

I'm not 100% familiar with them I've

11:07

seen a few of them growing up but let me

11:09

know in the comments down below if you

11:11

think that's what this is but there is

11:13

one thing for

11:15

sure this one is ancient he's got algae

11:18

growing on his head you can see how his

11:20

shell has developed over the years and

11:23

this guy has been around the block but

11:24

as far as I know snapping turtles don't

11:26

really mess with you unless you mess

11:28

with them first I I they got a vicious

11:30

bite but I think they're pretty harmless

11:32

and it doesn't look like they're quite

11:33

fast enough to put a dent in the blue

11:35

hill population so we're about to stock

11:37

the P with a thousand golden shiners and

11:39

while I was getting acclimated I kept

11:41

hearing a popping sound well it turns

11:44

out Johnny and June didn't want to have

11:45

to wait they're starting to remind me

11:47

more and more of Mobi every day so let's

11:49

toss a few into them and see if they're

11:51

ready to

11:52

eat Johnny spit it out and June ate it

11:55

there's nothing in this world that'll

11:57

trigger a fish more than a struggling

11:59

Shad or golden shiner right there at the

12:02

surface but it looks like it's Mike

12:03

Trout enjoying this easy meal and so far

12:06

it's been a really cool experience

12:08

having the trout in here they have some

12:09

unique features like this where they

12:11

enjoy swimming in the shallow water

12:13

which is not typically something you'll

12:15

see a bass do but the trout do it all

12:17

the time plus they love that strong

12:19

current coming from the

12:25

waterfalls all right we're going to toss

12:26

a few more

12:28

in got him and I think these little bass

12:31

have already eaten so many they're

12:32

starting to get a little

12:35

hesitant but look who's coming up to eat

12:38

one of the bluegills that we put in and

12:41

that brings back some memories of the

12:42

big bluegill we called Sheriff he love

12:44

chasing the men around the 300g tank and

12:46

you'd always hear that big pop when he

12:48

ate them but I like seeing that the blue

12:50

gill is not shy at all

12:54

either all righty out here about to do a

12:56

little Fish Feeding I don't even have to

12:57

wait until night time anymore for one we

13:00

can see them right here on the

13:04

graph all those white dots are bass and

13:07

bluegill swimming around right out there

13:09

so we're about to throw some golden

13:11

shiners out there to them and kick off a

13:13

little

13:20

feeding so we've got a few hundred bass

13:23

in the pond but only about a dozen of

13:24

them will come up to the dock during the

13:26

feedings but I am happy to see them

13:28

starting to come up during daylight

13:30

because in the past I could only feed

13:31

them at night whenever the underwater

13:33

green lights came on but here recently

13:35

about 30 minutes before dark I've been

13:38

coming out tossing a few in the water

13:40

let's just admit it daytime feedings are

13:42

much better than the nighttime but my

13:44

ultimate goal will be to get these 10 or

13:46

12 bass comfortable enough with me that

13:49

I can hand feed them so we're going to

13:51

practice that now let's see if it works

14:15

he says I want to trust

14:18

you but I just

14:21

can't and that's why I still say that

14:23

Mobi was a one in a million bass because

14:26

we caught him out of the wild put him in

14:28

the tank

14:29

and probably the first week we had him

14:31

we were hanging an earthworm up above

14:33

the tank just to see if we could get him

14:35

to jump and he literally jumped out of

14:37

the aquarium and landed on the floor we

14:40

put him back in the tank dropped the

14:41

earthworm in and he ate it like nothing

14:44

happened so I know that there's at least

14:46

one Moby in this pond so we'll just keep

14:48

trying to hand feed these until we find

14:50

them all right got one of the feeders

14:52

about to go off we should get to see

14:54

some action and watch how vicious those

14:57

rainbow trout are I think they eat five

15:00

pellets to every one that the Blu Gill

15:02

gets as you see them just skipping

15:04

across the surface not wasting any time

15:07

but so far the trout are still doing

15:09

good our water temps in the mid 70s and

15:12

they seem to be doing just fine and the

15:14

bluegills are starting to feed pretty

15:15

heavily so we got three protein feeders

15:18

and each of them goes off three times a

15:20

day for 5 seconds each so that's a lot

15:23

of feed but they're eating it

15:26

up all right folks out here doing little

15:29

fertilizing today and it's important to

15:31

start fertilizing your pond early in the

15:33

spring you can see right here they

15:34

recommend two week intervals and you can

15:37

see it's going to create that

15:38

phytoplankton and Z Plankton Bloom which

15:40

all the insects and small fish feed off

15:42

of and then that in turn helps the

15:44

bigger fish like the large mouths but

15:46

here's the key you need to take that SEI

15:48

disc and measure your water Clarity if

15:50

it's over 24 in fertilize every 2 weeks

15:53

you also hit it with a double dose for

15:55

the first two or three fertilizing

15:56

sessions one other tip I'll give you if

15:58

you have algae up there on the banks

16:01

don't necessarily apply your fertilizer

16:03

in the shallow parts of the pond get out

16:05

here deeper you can see our stand pipe

16:07

right there we're about 12 ft so that

16:09

fertilizer will get spread out here in

16:11

the deep water and that way we're not

16:13

directly fertilizing our algae so I

16:15

recruited my favorite boat driver today

16:17

and Sarah's going to drive me around and

16:19

help me put out the fertilizer but you

16:21

see it's pretty simple just cut a hole

16:22

in the bag hang it over the side of the

16:24

boat and slowly spread it throughout the

16:26

deep water I was out here at the beach

16:28

area trying trying to figure out what

16:29

made this type of track and my best

16:32

guess is ants maybe they were tunneling

16:34

through looking for some fresh dirt then

16:37

decided nah let's turn around and get

16:39

out of here and it's not just mating

16:41

season for the bass the frogs and toads

16:43

are mating out here at the pond but this

16:46

little guy better be careful because if

16:48

you jump in the deep water he might not

16:50

make it

16:52

back so I had a really unique

16:54

opportunity come up where I got to spend

16:56

the day with the US Navy Blue Angels and

16:59

if you're not familiar with them the

17:00

Blue Angels fly the F-18 Super Hornets

17:03

but they're specifically known for

17:05

getting in these unbelievably tight

17:07

flight formations and if you look

17:10

closely that's not just one but two jets

17:13

flying upside down and another reason

17:16

today is a little extra special is

17:18

because my brother Michael who's a chief

17:19

in the Navy and has worked with the Blue

17:21

Angels the past 3 years is going to be

17:24

strapping up in one of the Jets and

17:25

going on his first flight so today we're

17:27

going to get to see a kind of behind the

17:29

scenes look at how these Blue Angels

17:32

operate we got the six Pilots coming in

17:34

getting ready for takeoff got everyone

17:36

sinked up and all the pre-flight checks

17:39

but the thing that fascinated me the

17:41

most is that these pilots fly without a

17:43

git on and a G force is just a measure

17:47

of acceleration and 1 G is the

17:49

acceleration we feel due to the force of

17:52

gravity but during some of their

17:53

Maneuvers these guys are going to be

17:55

pulling around 7.4 GS and to be able to

17:58

to do that without a suit on it takes a

18:00

lot of training but if you look back on

18:02

the wings that's not smoke coming off of

18:04

them that's the result of that gForce so

18:07

unfortunately for Michael the guests

18:09

don't get a git either so it's pretty

18:11

common that if you hadn't trained for it

18:13

you're either going to pass out or get

18:14

sick and a 45-minute flight puts your

18:17

body through some pretty stressful

18:18

scenarios but it was a really cool

18:20

experience getting to sit through the

18:21

flight debrief learning about all the

18:23

controls inside the Jet and even the one

18:26

they call the bonus flight which is if

18:28

you have have to hit that eject

18:30

button but everybody's locked and loaded

18:33

and ready for

18:38

takeoff so right away the first thing I

18:40

noticed is how fast the f-18s are their

18:43

speed limit is basically just a few

18:44

miles beneath the speed of sound and

18:47

they can fly up to 750 mph and during

18:50

the flight debrief they explained that

18:52

the reason people pass out when you're

18:54

at six or seven G's is because gravity

18:57

is actually pulling

18:59

the blood that's circulating in your

19:00

body down towards your legs and feet so

19:03

there's basically two things you can do

19:05

to prevent from passing out the first is

19:07

a breathing exercise and the second is a

19:09

leg workout where you're basically

19:11

flexing the muscles in your legs to keep

19:14

all the blood from flowing down into

19:15

them and they explain breathing is only

19:17

about 20% of it the leg workout is about

19:20

80% and so far Michael's done pretty

19:23

good hasn't puked or passed out but

19:25

after getting to see this close up I

19:27

really do have a new found respect for

19:29

all Pilots out there because even though

19:32

their bodies are experiencing these

19:33

extreme forces on them their minds are

19:36

still sharp and they're able to fly

19:38

these Jets upside down in a tight

19:41

formation that's only inches away from

19:43

another jet leaving zero room for error

19:46

it truly is hard to comprehend the skill

19:49

level required for that but now I have a

19:51

question for you guys because I'm a

19:53

social media influencer and have a big

19:56

following thanks to you all they've

19:58

invited me take a ride in one of the

19:59

Jets so leave me a comment down below if

20:02

you'd like to see Bama Bass passed out

20:05

in the back of a Blue Angel Jet and it

20:07

was an incredible show but I have to

20:08

take a second to thank all the men and

20:10

women out there in the military

20:12

including my brother Michael for

20:14

sacrificing their time and their lives

20:16

so that we have the freedoms we have

20:17

today I really do appreciate it all

20:19

right time to plant some grass seed out

20:21

here on Alcatraz Island you can see it's

20:23

in pretty rough shape right now so in

20:25

the past I've done a couple different

20:26

things we start off with brown top

20:28

Millet that's like an annual that you

20:30

have to plant every year it does really

20:32

good if you guys remember we stacked a

20:34

lot of clay up here on this island so

20:35

this all itting perfect and I can't

20:37

really fertilize it because that

20:38

fertilizer would run off into the water

20:40

so I also have some Bermuda grass seed

20:42

right here that should do really good in

20:43

this hot climate problem is you got to

20:45

water it a bunch so I'm going to be

20:47

dedicated this year but no matter what

20:51

that brown top Millet is going to give

20:52

us a nice green Lush grass out here all

20:54

righty it's my favorite time of the week

20:56

time to get out here and catch a few of

20:57

these basss and see how how big they've

20:59

gotten if you're not familiar with it

21:00

every time we catch one we scan it to

21:01

see if it's got a pit tag in it if it

21:03

doesn't we'll inject a pit tag and get a

21:05

good weight and length measurement but I

21:07

suspect that the weights on these fish

21:09

are going to be down a little bit

21:10

because these big females are just

21:11

getting done spawning but we've got a

21:13

storm rolling in and I've been seeing

21:15

them hit right there around that

21:16

structure I put in last week and over

21:18

there near the feeders so low pressure

21:20

they should be biting

21:30

that's a nice fish we've seen them

21:33

stacked up right there before look here

21:35

guys I think that may be an

21:38

osprey right there tried to snag him but

21:42

he got lucky and got away all right this

21:44

is 5758 n and this fish is named Ultra

21:48

caught it just a couple of weeks ago on

21:50

a top water frog

22:01

got

22:03

him man he's running

22:07

fast that our first frog eater oh he's

22:11

been scanned

22:13

57283 he

22:15

weighs 1.58 lb and this little guy's

22:18

named Sushi we caught him almost exactly

22:20

one year ago and he's gained a little

22:22

weight since then

22:30

there we

22:35

go kept them from jumping by putting the

22:37

rod tip

22:38

down it's a nice

22:41

one all right this fish is one

22:45

57502

22:47

anyways

22:49

2.16 this fish is named Odin it's a big

22:52

female and lost a little bit of weight

22:54

in the past month due to the spawn

23:07

right at the

23:09

boat No Tag he's going to be 23

23:14

2545 1.58

23:18

lb that feels like a better one

23:20

there oh

23:22

yeah we got a

23:26

fighter that Chatterbait got him out

23:31

deep it's a good

23:33

one all right this fish is 57

23:37

1341 and it weighs 1.96 lb and here we

23:42

have Jon Snow makes the third time we've

23:44

caught

23:46

John

23:54

got there's an old postpone bass right

23:57

there look at that red tail

24:01

all right this one's been caught

24:04

69597 probably just had some babies so

24:06

might be a little low 1.80 and this fish

24:09

is named Nemo and we've caught it four

24:11

times including a couple of weeks ago

24:14

you can tell Nemo is trying to put the

24:15

weight back on after the

24:24

spawn I'm not 100% sure that could be a

24:27

Florida strange no I see a little Green

24:30

Dot

24:33

15777 got Liz and Sarah out here getting

24:36

ready for their Spring Garden and I'm

24:39

over here just ready to see what kind of

24:40

wildlife's going to come in and eat it

24:42

now it's time to feed Mr

24:56

tiger all right folks that is going to

24:58

wrap up this video make sure to hit that

25:00

subscribe button to follow along with

25:01

all our ponds pets and baby bass but I

25:04

hope you all enjoyed this one and we

25:06

will see you all next time

25:10

[Music]

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