Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Winter Feeding

I assume you stop feeding when the water temps drops and winter sets in? When in the spring would you start back up?

In another recent thread Esshup and TJ said when the water temp gets to around 60F.

50 F. is usually the cutoff for me both ways winter and spring. However I've feed hydrated pellets in the spring just under 50 F.

Trout of course being a coldwater fish I feed as long as their is extended open water.

Thanks! I'm already ready for spring!

Temperature is very important, as stated above. Come springtime,there will probably be a time on sunny afternoons when you will begin to see the bluegill and bass lazily sunbathing near the surface. They will still be fairly inactive, but if the water temps, around 2-feet down, are around 50-60 you can begin to give them small amounts of food. Start out slow for a several reasons. If the water is still cool, they will not be able to metabolize a lot of food properly. Secondly, you will be wasting food if you try to feed more than they want or need. Lastly, they need to get accustomed to feeding again -- or, for the first time for the little ones that hatched last summer.

If you were going to put your feeder out in your pond on a tripod type stand how far out do most folks try to put their feeders? I suppose you want to somewhat allow for lack of water too in those hot summer months? Is 3 or 4 feet deep enough barring a real water evaporation issue?? My feeder spins 360 so I may have to put some sort of plate on the back side to keep my food from landing on the shore.