How hardy are LMB?

[Oompa Loompa]

So yesterday I caught my new record bass - 6.5 pounds! I have two ponds right by me - one in my backyard and one down the street. In my backyard, there is already a 4 pounder - that's the only nice sized fish in the pond (the water is pretty clear). I threw the new 6.5 pounder in the pond, because I wanted to see it again some time (I usually have a GoPro in the pond).

Do you think the new bass will survive? There was just a huge bluegill spawn, probably thousands of baby bluegill in there. Ranging from 1" to 6", plus a few bigger ones. Thanks

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Since some people on this forum think I'm a troll, here's a pic of the fish

 

[pelleeklund]

I think it will be fine as long as it was relatively healthy when you released it.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

I think it will be fine as long as it was relatively healthy when you released it.

Thanks. Don't worry, the fish didn't get that size from being stupid

 

[catfishtimmy]

looks about 4lbs to me a 6.5lb bass would be over 20" your is 18" maybe you need to buy a new scale? its probably dead if that was a dry towel you had him laying on good luck.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

looks about 4lbs to me a 6.5lb bass would be over 20" your is 18" maybe you need to buy a new scale? its probably dead if that was a dry towel you had him laying on good luck.

Digital scale had it at 6.5, and it got a 5 pound dumbbell at 4.9. the towel wasn't dry, but it wasn't soaking wet. Only on there for a minute tops, then he went in a 35 gallon tub for a while to recover with a few big air pumps. Then I threw him in the other pond. Haven't been him yet but I'd imagine he's in the deeper parts of the po d

 

[Chub_by]

Have you got pics of the pond?

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Have you got pics of the pond?

I can get some later today. An update, yesterday I went out and one of my bass was dead up at the edge of the pond

Can't tell if it was the 4 pounder or the 6.5 pounder, because the stomach is shredded apart (like decaying, not like it was eaten) and they were both the same length. I have no clue what caused its death, but it probably wasn't disease because nothing else died in the pond (it could've been, but I don't think that's too likely). No turtles or anything in there that's big enough to kill it, there was plenty of food too, it was probably just natural causes.

 

[Chub_by]

Could have been a large raccoon or a bird, though I doubt that given the size of the fish. Terrestrial predators often just eat the lower half of the fish.

 

[krichardson]

I suspect that the dead fish is not the one that was already in the pond.