Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Big bluegills most aggressive fish in the pond

As the water has become cooler (just below 50 F.) I've been feeding hydrated feed to the fish in the cages and the free swimming fish. If you've never tried hydrating feed and pinching it to make it sink it's a blast to watch the free swimming fish go crazy over it like crack cocaine. What's interesting is the yellow perch and smallmouth bass have to wait in line for the sinking pellets. It just amazes me how dominant the big bluegills are!

Anyone else observe this?

BTW there are no largemouths in the pond -- just bluegill, yellow perch, and numerous feed trained smallmouth. I'm sure it would be a different story if there were largemouths. In fact I know so, as I've seen the largemouths crowd out all the other fish when I used to have them.

BTW, if you're interested in trying hydrated pellets, I've been mixing 5D05 Aquamax at a ration of 3 parts pellets to one part water in a zip lock bag. Roll the bag over and over several times to get all the pellets coated with water and than let the bag sit. Ever so often turn the bag over. In about 2 hours the water will have made it's way to the center of the pellets, and they will have the consistency of play dough. You don't want them anymore hydrated or they turn to a mush mess. If too dry they can't be pinched and made to sink. You can also feed them hydrated without pinching them and most will not sink -- at least right away.

Be aware that different pellet sizes require different rations of water to feed. 3:1 is to much water for 5D06 so you'd have to experiment. It's also possible that moisture levels could vary from batch to batch.

I thank Bill Cody for turning me on to hydrated feed. It's great for feed training too.

My big BG like hydrated LMB pellets. As they sink the BG tear them to pieces. That is of course after the HSB are full. Nothing gets between the HSB and the LMB pellets - not even the feed trained LMB.

I've seen similar social behavior with SMB in other ponds as CB1. Adult large BG seem to be more dominant than many of the YP. Evidently SMB are not that aggressive of a predator fish which is very probably why SMB do not do well when living with LMB.

But SMB are more aggressive than WE as per the SDSU study in some cases. Bill's comment is also verified by Jeff Slipke's comments on lakes he manages with both SMB and LMB. Note we are talking about intra fish aggressiveness as it relates to certain social aspects , feeding , reproduction etc. We are not talking about fishing and the fight they put up.

Makes sense guys. I can see where walleye don't have to be that aggressive as they have an advantage feeding during low light periods with their tapetum lucidum.

Cecil I sent you an email.

to what temp can you feed hydrated feed

As long as they will eat it. Some do it through winter. But keep in mind they will not eat much due to slow metabolism.

Eric's right. Some feed through winter but I stop at around 45 F. I'm still feeding now and water temps ranges from the upper 40's to lower 50's.

Bill Cody likes to drop feed through a hole in the ice and watch his big perch.

Got it, thanks.

I've never understood the idea of hydrating and have never tried it. What advantage do you get from soaking in water prior to tossing them into the water?

What would you prefer to eat dry beans or hydrated(cooked)beans? A fish's natural diet hasn't any dry food items so they are more apt to eat hydrated pellets than dry ones.

The bluegill in the Barge area will inhale pretty much anything I toss at them. They will spit it a back out if the texture isn't to their liking. They like sunflower seed meats but ignore the ones in the shell. They also like 5 bean salad but they only got to have it once as the pond started to smell badly.

Besides what Dwight said I use it to feed train wild fish (bluegills and yellow perch that were spawned in the big pond but never feed trained) and to feed fish in cold water a little longer into the fall or earlier in the spring.

I started feeding hydrated pellets in early spring a few years ago when I bought feed trained largemouths from a supplier that seines them out of his ponds as soon as his ice goes out. They've been handled a couple of times and were prone to fungus if I didn't get them on feed right away. However in the cold water they didn't want to come up to the surface for dry feed. Sinking hydrated feed was the answer and I never lost one to fungus. (These bass were in cages).

In the fall I like to pinch the pellets, sink them off the pier and see every large fish in the pond which includes well over 1 pound bluegills and yellow perch and some smallmouths right under my feet. Some shoot up within a few feet of me to get the sinking pellet before the other fish do.

Sometimes I do see fish spit out a pellet but never knew why. Makes sense.

Also fish can eat a twice as large pellet if it is soften (hydrated). I have 4" YP that will eat hydrated 5D06 (9/32").

If your feeding a gallon ziplock bag full (or less), you can soften it up faster. Add water from the hot tap, then microwave for 30 second each side. Make sure all the air is squeezed out. And you have to keep an eye on it, so the bag don't swell up and blow

Thanks Dennis I'll have to try that. Might be a high protein hot snack if you're in a hurry too. LOL