Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Number of feeders required for 9 acre pond?

What is the recommended number of feeders for a new 9 acre pond to feed bluegill? Goal in mind is to create a strong bass fishery with plentiful forage.

The new pond is located in Central California and has just been filled with well water last month. Pond is 13' deep with channels, islands, gravel beds, rock piles and 300 full size orange trees strategically placed on contour breaks. I have a new Vertex 4XL5 system installed with (4) XL5 air stations.

I will be stocking 9,000 / 2" - 4" coppernose bluegill next month and 50 lbs. of threadfin shad. Next winter I will stock 90 / 10" - 12" largemouth bass.

I am going to buy Texas Hunter DF125 feeders with solar panels and feed Aquamax 500 to the bluegill.

So what would anyone in the know suggest on number of feeders to purchase for my new 9 acre pond?

Any suggestion on number of pounds to feed per day per feeder during the growing season (water 65 – 85 degrees)?

DavidB,

You would probably be OK with just one feeder in a pond that size. You could add another feeder a few years later if you want once your forage population is up. As far as, amount of feed I suggest letting the fish tell you how much. I tell the people that buy feeders from me to start out in the spring with one feeding of 5 seconds on their Texas Hunter and once the fish start consuming all of the feed within 10-15 minutes; add another feed time. Do this until you get to 4 feedings, at which point you can start adding to the feed amount during each feeding. DO NOT feed more than 10 lbs. of feed per acre per day unless you have aeration in your pond. This could cause water quality problems that an kill your fish.

-HH

Feeding AQMX 600 - how many lbs/5 seconds on a TH feeder?
Thanks

Honey Hole:

Thanks for your information. I am currently running a single feeder on my 2 acre pond next to the new pond. It works well feeding twice per day in growing season (as long as the coots aren't around eating lots of the food).

Since you manage lakes for a living, isn't there a ratio of number of feeders per acre - rule of thumb to go by? I was told 1 feeder per every 2 acres but I could get by with 1 feeder per 3 acres another said I should have more?

Why do you suggest one feeder per 9 acres?

Or would I be better to have more feeders in order to feed bluegill in different sections of the pond versus all at one spot? I would think I could feed the same amount of feed in multiple feeders compared to just one feeder at one location and therefore fatten up more bluegill effectively throughout the pond.

I'd do 5 feeders. I've got a 7 acre pond with apparently similar goals/stocking and I've had 4 TH feeders for 2 1/2 years with good results.

George:

Thanks for the reminder. I'll test it today.

I am closing on a property this Thurs and had an electro survey done last week. They told me at least two feeders on my 5 acre lake. My goals are quantity of fish first...then quality. In other words I'd rather catch lots of bass, catfish, & hybrid striped bass over the more rare trophy bass.