Bill,

I would do exactly as the Bass do...catch/eat that which is easiest and harms me the least. My point, which I'm really formulating in my own mind, is that maybe artificial feeding isn't necessarily consistent with the goals of raising and catching lots of bass....for the fun of it

I've just completed a DIY pond renovation....made a 1/4 acre old pond into a 2 acre new fish haven. I'm seriously considering not using any artificial feeding in this new pond, but concentrating instead on the natural food chain. I'll continue to artificially feed in my other 3.5 acre pond and admire the large fat uncatchable bass, but when I want to have fun on my fly rod, I believe the 1.5 acre pond will be the answer. Time will tell. Thanks for the discussion.