Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Will Wild LMBass eat pellets?

I am curious?

Yes, some of them will. But most won't.

The hungrier they are, the more likely they are to sample pellets, then learn to like them. But for the most part wild LMB are resistant to this type of activity.

If I had to take a WAG, I'd say 10-20% will eat pellets if they get hungry enough.

If anybody wishes to disagree with me, please put on your tinfoil hat and go stand in the corner because I'm rarely wrong.....

Just kidding.

Last season I had one bass eating pellets with the bluegill and catfish. It was a rather strange bass that lived under our dock. My grandkids named him "Daily." That is about how often we caught him while fishing near the dock.

Last October I put trout in my pond, and they fed on pellets during much of the winter, and well into the spring. At some point in the early springtime, a number bass joined in the daily feedings. Well after the trout were gone, but throughout this season, I've had quite a number of bass feeding with the bluegill and catfish.

Cecil thinks that maybe the trout taught the bass. In any case, I've had non-feed-trained bass eating pellets this year. It is also real easy to tell the difference between the pellet eating bass and the natural foragers. The Wr changes from from about 1.2 to about 0.8.

it might make a huge difference how big the pond is. fish in lil ponds probably train easier.

I've also found this to be true. Especially in situations where you can feed every day.

catmandoo,
Are you saying that the relative weights went down with the pellet eating bass?

Nevermind, I get it now, the pellet eating bass are 1.2 Wr and the natural foragers are 0.8. Correct?

I estimate I have at least 30 LMB eating pellets in my 1 acre pond; the number could be as high as 40. All of them figured it out on their own, over the last 3-4 years. Originally there were just a couple, in the 10"-12" range, but others have picked it up. I can't say for sure that the pellet fed bass are the fatter ones, but the fat bass are in the fed area of the pond.

The pond is bass crowded, managed for large bream, and the bass are definitely hungry almost all the time.

P.S. Bruce, I figure that the pellet eaters are something around 30% - 50% of the bass over 10" in my pond. So we need to fight over the tin foil hat.

I started feeding GFC this spring. I was feeding it for BG but I was suprised to see a LMB on the first day of feeding. My pond was LMB crowded which seems to be a trend with feed trained LMB. I guess if they dont have enough natural forage they eat the pellets out of necessity.

Next year I am thinking about adding some larger pellets to the GFC to provide a better meal to my CC and LMB. Especially after seeing Ryan Freez's feeding results.

Hey Bruce,did you forget about me?How long do I have to stand in the corner anyway?