Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Purina Fish Chow

Just wondering what others are paying for purina fish chow. I pay $11.50 a bag in Lawrenceville(Atlanta Burb)Georgia. Another local feed store sells catfish feed for $9.95 a bag which I have used but for $1.55 more I stick with Purina.

In southern Michigan the standard rate that I am seeing is about $15.25 for a 50# bag of purina fish food. I have been very happy with this product. The floating pellet system creates the scenario for violent boiling of the water with the hybrid stripers I have and then the hogs (Cats) clean it up. I have noticed as my bass have grown they have stopped feeding on the pellets as much - the hybids continue to eat it not the traditional northern bass. I am assuming they have moved on to bigger and better food like gills. I was curious if anyone has experience on what size fish a certain size bass can eat. I have heard when a bass getts to 10 inches it is able to eat fish 1/2 its size.

Love the forum.

I pay about $15.00 in North Texas. However, I haven't been able to find any that is fresh. I went to another brand that cost $10.50 just to get something that had some nutrition to it. THe feed stores have quit ordering for the winter.

I have been very happy with Nutrisource sold in fifty pound bags for $10.25 at Tractor Supply stores in North Texas. The protein is 32% and the outside of the bags are date stamped.

Our catfish and perch are very happy and healthy.

Bill, I get mine at Boss Brothers on 78 between Snellville & Loganville, along with all my other "chows" - goat, chicken, duck and dog. Their most recent circular is $10.49 per bag, I believe that is regular price, not "on sale". Where do you go: Cooper's, Brownlee's, or Stewart's?

Dobber, I go to Brownlee's for Purina Chow. I like Coopers better but they only carry the catfish food I have tried.

Guys,
I buy it by the pallet. I have bought Purina in the past, but thought I would try cheaper versions on some of my ponds and pass the savings on to my clients. I have not noticed a difference, growth about the same. BTW that is a great price for Purina!

More important is the frequency of feedings especially for the bluegill. Do you have feeders, or hand feed? Do y'all feed over the winter, some feed and seeds sell the sinking. Why do you think they sell you that??? Because bascially the fish do not eat and you can not see that so they sell you somthing over the winter. It depends on climate, but in north GA you can run into Nov. if you fed closer to the middle of the day. Then start the feeder back up in march or APril.
Sorry, wanted to say good price for Purina, and got long winded.

Greg Grimes www.lakework.com

Best price on Purina game fish chow is about $14 in Central TX. The small premium is worth it, in my opinion. The round pellets seem to work better in directional feeders, and the multiple sizes work well for panfish up to catfish. This is not to say that other floating feeds aren't just as good a quality, however.

Purina Aquamax 500 & 600 (41% protein) for carnivores is $19.95 per 50 lbs in NW Ohio.
Other Purina Types:
Aquamax for Omnivores 50# = $14.50
Pond Chow (two pellet sizes in bag) 50# = $14.50
Both I think are 32% protein

Greg, are you referring to Southern States?

Dobber,
I have tried 4 different brands other than PUrina. SOme have too big a pellet size for bluegill, but yes I sell Soutern States brand (Big Strike). What is your take on it???

BTW does anyone have expereince with Aquamax 500 or 600 in a directional feeder? I have several clients wanting to try trout on a seasonal basis. I want them to use the higher protein 500 or 600 in their feeders but was curiuos if the more oily nature hampered the feeders.
Thanks, Greg

Aquamax 600 worked okay in the Seeeney Little John Hanging Scatter feeder.

Greg, my take is purely unscientific, really only taking into account the level of feeding that takes place and by whom:
The Purina Game Chow seems to get the widest range of response, meaning it appears that both catfish & bluegill eat it, if bass are in on it, I don't see it.
With the Southern States I see lots of catfish to a few bream.
The grass carp LOVE the Southern States but not the Purina.

A Purina rep was in Boss Brothers a few weeks ago for a "seminar" on deer feeding. I asked him about the fish foods. His response was that the catfish food was for CATFISH. The Aquamax (which I expected him to push - $$) was more for commercial or very highly maintained environs, in the end he said the Game Chow was my best choice, by far. I have found his advice to be correct.

I have not tried the Aquamax.

Dobber, What is GC?
BTW, It doesn't seem to matter what I feed. Catfish, bluegills of all sizes and fatheads eat just about anything I buy. I've been feeding 32%Aquamax Omnivore but can't get any Purina that is fresh. I'm feeding something else and they mop it up quickly.

Sorry Dave, GC = Game Chow, as in Purina. mayb I try to abb. too mch.

Note, the referenced post has been edited.

Greg, is there a rule of thumb water temperature to go by as to when to stop feeding in the fall and to start back in the spring.

Dobber you may have helped me tons, if your observation is correct. I have no problem getting bluegill to eat the southern states, but I have a huge problem with grass carp eating it. Folks have huge weed problems I stock grass carp at a moderate rate usually 8-12 per acre. THe grass is gone, now they want to fertilize, feed, etc., to maximize the carrying capacity. Great! Then I get calls that the grass carp are eating them out of house and home. Money on the nice feeder, and food to feed the grass carp not what they had in mind. I'm trying the Game Chow asap to see if your right about them not eating it.
Thanks, Greg

Bill do you have a feeder? If so set it to feed late evening early morning in the summer. However, about now due to the cooler weather start setting it closer to the middle of the day. This will allow you to fed later in the fall. Temp is usually around 60, but let the fish tell you. If you see them eating less fed less. There will be a point where they basically stop completely. Next spring start in March midday, and watch the fish they may start if we get some warm temps, but again the rule of thumb is 60F. Hope that helps, Greg

Greg, I sympathize with your clients! I think we have too many in our pond. We have NO weeds, 1 acre and 12 carp. Although, I guess the carp need to eat too... They will eat the Purina, just not as voraciously as the Southern States.
We own a piece of another puddle adjoining our property. The fellow that "maintains" it, weed-eats, and the carp devour the clippings that fall into the water. Virtually following him around, In our pond, it is a much more casual approach by the carp. I guess they are just better fed at our place.
Hope the results prove positive for you.

I had the same problem with grass carp. I got rid of them with a bow and arrow. They are very smart and I only had to kill one or two then they backed off the feed. After that every few weeks I have to shoot one just to remind them not to come around. Sometimes I use a 22mag. Anyway, bottomline is that if you shoot a couple of them....
they will wise up fast and leave your food alone for awhile. happy hunting

Purina's Game Fish Chow is my favorite. First of all, Purina Mills, Inc., has always been receptive to our thoughts, and Game Fish Chow is a result of that. It's designed for mult-species fish communities. With 9 different pellet sizes, even the youngest fingerlings get a meal. If you have ever watch small fish try to peck their way through a big pellet, you'll get a better understanding of Game Fish Chow and its importance. For ponds with different situations, we may change feeds. For trout? Trout Chow. For catfish? I lean toward Aquamax.

If any one wants to save a few dollars heres a way. Purina's ad in Pond Boss has a number to call to have a copy of their pond management guide sent to you. Got my copy yesterday and they included two coupons for two dollars off a bag of fish chow.

Its on their webpage too.

http://showchow.purinamills.com/aqua/articles.html

Found this old page when researching the local offering of Purina Gamefish Chow on the forum. Interesting that it is recommended by Bob Lusk! That is a powerful recommendation. Reading this link from top down has been interesting!

I also found the prices amazing to comprehend. Could prices really have gone up that much since 2002?

I'm being quoted $37.99 for a 50lb bag from a local farm supply store.

It does have a variety of sizes which is appealing based on ewest's recommendation.

I wonder if fellow MI member Eric Houchin still frequents the forum? I wonder if he stuck with this type of food for his northern bass?

It is a good all around food but the new purina food may be better . IIRC Bob thought up the idea of multi-sized pellets in one bag .