Texas Georgia Giant Experiment:June Update

Fishing Warm water Forum
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For those of you who have been following this experiment on testing the growth, agressiveness, and sustainability of the Georgia Giant in a small Texas pond, the June update is provided below:

Growth: 8 inch TGG are now the norm. The growth rate for this period has slowed somewhat and approximates that of the baseline rate for Texas BG .012 IPD (inches per day). The cumulative TGG growth rate is now .02 IPD.

Aggressiveness: The June ten cast results were CNBG 50, native BG 35, and TGG 25. The fly(s)was a tandem “pop and drop” Miss Prissy and zug bug(my personal favorite for large CNBG). The trend continues toward TGG preference for minnow imitations, not insect.

Sustainability: After many repeated traping attempts, one single F2 was finally trapped and transported to the micro-pond. As an added bonus, this update includes a picture of the HSB predators which are now 9 inches and apparently doing quite well.

Pictures and data can be viewed at my home page on the following link:
[url=http://www.meadowlarkponds.com/TGG.htm:4b7d7]http://www.meadowlarkponds.com/TGG.htm[/url:4b7d7]

Comments and questions welcome.

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hi

So it looks like the growth rate has slowed to that of native bluegills? I may have misread that part.

They are a good looking fish as are the hybrids.

That is an interesting piece of data that the GGs seem to prefer minnow patterns over insect patterns.

How are the grandkids doing with all these developments? That part has to be a hoot! I love nothing more than taking my Evan fishing. Right up there with me getting to fish.

RRhyne56
[url=http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com:a8c69]Sweetness On The Water[/url:a8c69]
[url=http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/bgl/:a8c69]Good Ol? Lepomis Macrochirus[/url:a8c69]

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Robin,

The overall growth rate is still about twice as high for the GG as for standard Texas BG. The growth rate this period has slowed as you mentioned to be about the same for both. In something like this experiment, period variations should probably be expected but the cumulative view across the entire time span should be valid. That is, when sufficient time periods have been included.

Yes, I’ve been surprised at the minnow preference shwon by the GG…and yes, grandkids have a ball catching them and just about anything. They don’t care if its xyz as long as it pulls their string.

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Now here is a question that simply popped into my mind - how do those GGs taste compared to plain old “white bead” bluegills? Any difference at all?

RRhyne56
[url=http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com:ccf9d]Sweetness On The Water[/url:ccf9d]
[url=http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/bgl/:ccf9d]Good Ol? Lepomis Macrochirus[/url:ccf9d]

5

Robin,
I have wondered the same, although I would release them anyway.
I’m awaiting the answer…white bread?..or Jewish Rye (the best bread known to man or beast!)?..Personally, I think good ol’ gills are the Jewish Rye…just doesn’t get any better.
Mike

You can call me Mike & you can call me Mikey…Just remember that this site’s about sharing!

[This message has been edited by ohiotuber (edited 12 June 2006).]

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Sorry to disappoint…haven’t eaten any yet. That would be like eating my science experiment.

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i have heard of the gorgia giant…from my dad! and of a site called [url=http://www.georgiagiant.com/:19928]http://www.georgiagiant.com/[/url:19928] give it a try!

                        thanks,
                       FisherKid93