Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Feeding questions

My 13 acre pond (built 1959) was seriously out of balance when I bought the place 12 years ago. Liming, fertilizing and removing all boated bass seemed to have helped some, but bass growth rates were not very good (big heads, big eyes, little bodies) and the bluegill tended to be either very small or very large. I purchased and used a mechanical feeder for several years, but it seemed very wasteful, feeding geese, ducks, and turtles, and having food piling up at the shoreline on windy days. Also, the fish didn't seem to be getting any bigger. I abandoned it and it has now rusted out.

Last year, I began hand-feeding the bream by walking the shoreline at dusk (and, when it was very cloudy, during the day, as well). I don't mind the time it takes, and it is good exercise. I feed from about April 15 until the fish quit hitting the surface food in the winter. I broadcast the pellets along about 1,000 feet of shoreline, making several passes. The bluegill hit the food so hard and fast, it looks like a thunderstorm is happening behind me. I am feeding about 4 gallons of Cargill floating catfish food a day. Essentially every pellet is being eaten by fish. I should say that my real interest is catching (and eating) the bream, but I would like to also have nice-sized bass for my friends who are Bassmaster wannabes. The bluegill and readears I catch are now mostly in the ½ - 3/4 pound range. My buddies who bass fish in the pond are catching a good number of bass in the 2-5 lb range, but the largest so far is 8 ½ lbs.

My questions are several. Is the amount I am feeding likely to account for the improved fishing, or is that happenstance? Does anyone know of studies for the efficiency of conversion of pellet calories into fish flesh? I have arbitrarily decided that every 2-3 pounds of pellets converts to a pound or so of bluegill, but is there a scientifically determined estimate? Are all brands of fish food equal?
Thanks for your help,
Lou

Hey Lou, I'm certainly no expert but I think I can answer at least one of your questions.
You asked "I have arbitrarily decided that every 2-3 pounds of pellets converts to a pound or so of bluegill, but is there a scientifically determined estimate?"
From my research I see time and time again that 2 lb of feed translates into one pound of weight gain for bluegills and cats.
I noticed you said you feed 4 gallons a day. Is it a liquid food?
I envy the fact that ya'll are catching a number of bass in the 2-5 lb range. Sounds like you're doing pretty good

Lou yes 2 lbs of food/lb of fish is close for bluegill. However yes there is a diff in fish food so that conversion would change. Main difff is % protein, pellet size and source of protein. Basically smaller pellet is better for bluegill. The high protein and % from animal protein the better the conversion. However also you have to consider cost. If paying twice the amount for 36% vs. Cargill 32% would you be better feeding twice as much 32% if it is all eaten? Probably, get it

Now is the diff in growth from the bluegill feeding?

1. Do you still fertilize the pond?
2. Still harvesting bass, if so how many lbs?
3. Gotten rid of weeds in the lat year?
4. Etc.

These measures all might contribute. No doubt you are doing some good. As a matter of fact walking the bank you are effecting more bluegill than you would have with the one feeder. I sell them but hard to beat feeding by hand in several places like your doing. Most folks don't make the time for this though. If you could take the walk in the morning and evening that would be even better. Hope this helped.