12-04-2009, 03:59 AM
Very interesting TD, thanks. Are these the same tilapia that are raised in ponds for table fare in restaurants? They are common in warm power plant lakes in central Texas. I don't fish for them, but they are said to be herbivores in my area. Hard to catch with lures or bait unless they in an aggressive mood defending their nests is what I have heard. Maybe they are not as desperate for food in our area.
These and other central Texas lakes have served as test grounds for various species, to see if they are self sustaining. We had orange mouth corvinas for many years at Calaveras until they were no longer stocked. Redfish are still stocked and easy to catch there. I don't fish those lakes anymore, mostly because they are trampled down and unsightly. But you've not lived until you experience landing a 30# Red from a 26# pontoon, wondering if you were the fisher or the fishee.
We also had saugeye hybrids stocked at some of the smaller lakes for a time, though I haven't gone after them. Got any of those in the Utah area?
Pon
[quote TubeDude][cool][#0000ff]Tilapia are not "panfish" like bluegills and green sunfish. They are members of the cichlid family. While they are considered to be mostly herbivores (plant eaters) they do eat worms and other invertebrates. But, in all the areas I have encountered tilapias I have never known them to hit anything topwater. Put on your sink tip or at least use a sinking fly to get down a ways and use wet flies or nymphs. A good old hares ear should work as well as anything.[/#0000ff][/quote]
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These and other central Texas lakes have served as test grounds for various species, to see if they are self sustaining. We had orange mouth corvinas for many years at Calaveras until they were no longer stocked. Redfish are still stocked and easy to catch there. I don't fish those lakes anymore, mostly because they are trampled down and unsightly. But you've not lived until you experience landing a 30# Red from a 26# pontoon, wondering if you were the fisher or the fishee.
We also had saugeye hybrids stocked at some of the smaller lakes for a time, though I haven't gone after them. Got any of those in the Utah area?
Pon
[quote TubeDude][cool][#0000ff]Tilapia are not "panfish" like bluegills and green sunfish. They are members of the cichlid family. While they are considered to be mostly herbivores (plant eaters) they do eat worms and other invertebrates. But, in all the areas I have encountered tilapias I have never known them to hit anything topwater. Put on your sink tip or at least use a sinking fly to get down a ways and use wet flies or nymphs. A good old hares ear should work as well as anything.[/#0000ff][/quote]
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