Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations You take the good with the bad

My brook trout are still not feeding up to par, or for whatever reason there are significantly less than there were before. Killed a mink this spring but no signs of mink now. No otters that I know of. Poachers are very doubtful as I'm here all the time and live within 25 feet of the pond, and if I'm not here the parents live above my garage. I suppose if someone was really determined they could fish the pond in the middle of the night without us knowing it.

Maybe I stirred up some hydrogen sulfide when I raked in Chara? I've stopped that for a couple of weeks with no improvement. Maybe they have fatty livers from overfeeding? Maybe it's a slow down related to impending spawning season? Beats the heck out of me. Or maybe they will snap out of it. They did do something similar to this in the spring when I first cranked up the well, which I attribute to a sudden spike in iron that probably irritated their gills.

I'm feeding less and only every other day. These fish are worth at least a hundred bucks a piece in another couple of years so I hate to lose them.

The good news is the 200 smallmouth in the cage in another pond are feeding well now. Almost as aggressive as largemouth fingerlings I've had in a cage.

Did you skin the mink?

Out of season. Permit says I needed to dispose of him.

Hair probably wasn't set, anyway.

I've never tried to feed brook trout, so I can't be much help. I would think if they were raised in a hatchery and trained to feed, they would.

Bob,

Thanks for you concern.

Actually they've been in the pond since the fall of 08 and were definitely feed trained and feeding well in the past except for that short period when I cranked up the well this spring.

As we all know a sudden drop in feeding is usually not a good sign health wise unless it's due to a sudden drop in water temperature, a species that goes off feed during spawning season, fright syndrome, or a seasonal peak as in yellow perch. Bill Cody and I and others are noticing a big drop in feeding activity of our yellow perch this time of year too. Bill said on here something about yellow perch already have the fat reserves for overwintering and egg development this time of year. That's a new one to me and very interesting.

Hmmm, that must be what happened to me. My hair wasn't set and wandered off.

Sorry to hear that they are not feeding as they should be. My bream were slacking off for a long time and are now feeding very good. I also was becoming concerned.

I cant help with the brook trout, but know a professional guy who does raise them for a private trout club and he is a wealth of information, I could get you his number if needed, just drop me a PM.
With that said, my YP have about quit feeding for the last 3-weeks or so and I havent been able to catch any so that goes along with what you stated, I figured the colder night would get em going again but not yet.

Salmonid

Mark,

I've talked to some very knowledgeable folks and they have given me ideas but no one seems to know anything for sure.

I wonder if it's a coincidence my yellow perch went off feed like yours in a completely different pond at about the same time.

I had a heron on the trout pond this morning. I doubt he will be coming back. I put the fear of Cecil into him.