Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding feeding BG and LMB

I'm still feeding the BG's every morning with pellets from Tosco, down from twice a day. That's the only kind of food I've used since they were stocked, and they are still chowing down.

The LMB that I stocked in August totally ignore it, even when you throw it right in front of their noses.

Could anyone tell me if I should switch over to something like Purina game fish food to intice the bass or just wait for them to get the hang of it.

Thanks, Tom Parker

Tom :

I don't recall if the LMB were feed trained at the hatchery. If not there is little chance to condition them now. If the LMB were feed trained then with what type of food (ask the supplier). My guess is it is not the type of food but that is a possibility. Even feed trained LMB tend to reduce or stop eating pellets over time if other forage is available. In our ponds the BG feed better (a little longer) into cold water temps. than our LMB this could be a factor if your water is getting around 50-60 degrees. Have you seen your LMB bass eat pellets while in the pond ? It may be that you can't see them feed because they wait until it starts to sink esp. if they are FLA. strain LMB.

I don't know if they were feed trained at the hatchery or not...I suppose it's academic now.

They are Fl strain bass, but I have never witnessed them taking the food. They could be just gorging on the baby bg's since stocking and aren't looking for alternatives.

I was just curious if the Purina game fish chow had something in it that would appeal to the bass that the Tosco food doesn't have.

Thanks for the reply

Tom :

If the LMB look to be in good condition then I would not worry about it. Bruce and Bill have posted (I think on the yellow perch thread) about differences in food and there are other posts on it also. If you do a search under feeding you should be able to find them.

link
http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=000379;p=8

FWIW, my non-feed trained LMB have never shown any interest in the Purina Game Chow I feed.

I have looked high and low for Purina game chow on line. Purina home page doesn't mention it. Just looking for specs., and if they make it that some pellets sink, as I have seen posted in the past.

BM :

Try this link. You are right Purina has had its gamefish chow web site under construction for at least 6 mths.

http://www.lochowranch.com/products/feed/gamefish.shtml

The protein content of game fish chow is 32%. LMB need 40% or higher...preferrably 45%-50% protein. They may go off feed if stocked at low density, fed low protein, at fingerling size, and/or with baitfish present. Look for aquamax line of high protein feeds, as I believe Game Fish Chow is misrepresented. All purina dealers can special order aquamax specialty feeds, just depends on their willingness to work with you.

In addition, those little bass probably weren't feed trained if they are ignoring the feed. Usually at least a few will hit it even if it is low in protein. In the case that they weren't feed-trained, they'll be eating live forage from now on.

Purina's fish chow web site is hard to find. It is actually under their family livestock section for some reason. Try: http://www.fishchow.com/aqua/index_aqua.html

Thanks, everyone, that answers my question.

Tom

Several other things. Purina Game Fish Chow was designed to feed multiple sizes of multiple species of fish in a general recreational pond. The reason I know is because I came up with the idea and presented it to Purina Mills in 1995. They liked the idea and worked with me to create that feed, then used my ponds to test it with bluegill and channel catfish in ponds with largemouth bass and red ear sunfish. It is designed as a supplemental feed. Purina has never represented Game Fish Chow as anything other than that.
The other thought I had is this: If bass aren't conditioned to eat fish food, it is difficult to condition them in a pond, but not impossible. If you really want to try to 'teach' a bass, or a small group of bass to eat on command, try it this way.
Start with a dozen live minnows off the dock every day. Do that for a week. Then, take your dozen minnows, cut six of them in half, toss them in and see what happens. Intermingle the live ones with the cut ones.
After you watch the bass eat the cut minnows, and they are consistent, start mixing moist feed with the minnows (Aquamax works well). Toss in a piece of minnow followed quickly with some feed. As bass become accustomed to the feed, reduce the minnows. With persistence and consistency, you can 'train' a few bass to meet you at the dock for lunch.

Tom, some of our LMB, as adults, have readily taken to our Aquamax 600 pellets. There is very heavy competition for food in our lake. Fish, like everything else, are always on the look out for more food. In the feeding frenze of other species going for pellets, a few LMB tried pellets. As they ate pellets, a few more LMB tried them and then a few more. We now have quite a few LMB (as well as many other species) eating pellets. There are still many LMB and other species that won't take pellets but many of them do.

Great tip Bob!
I'll bet this technique will work for other species as well? Say............. YP and HSB?

I,m going to give this a try in the Spring.

Right now our ice is, "too thin to stand on and too thick to cast through".

Ed

Norm,

Thanks, I will see if Aquamax 600 is available around here.