Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Predatation during feeding

I wonder if anyone else has experienced predatation during feeding.

Since the demise of my big catfish I've noticed a lot more small bluegill taking pellets. When the catfish were still around, they would chase away all but the most determined large bluegill.

Shortly after I began feeding three nights ago, I saw a "V" coming very fast and straight from about 50 feet away. It culminated in a watery explosion in the middle of the pellets. All I saw was a really big white belly at lightning speed as it cut the top of the water in front of me. Assuming it was a bass, it was bigger than any I have seen in the pond before. It happened again last night, with what I assume was the same big fish. Tonight, it happened twice. The second predator was not as big as the first. Again, it happened so fast, I couldn't get a good look at the fish, but I assume it was a good size bass.

It certainly is interesting how the character of the pond has changed in the last couple of weeks.

Good Fishn'
Ken

Catfish were the top dogs in the pond. Now there is a change in ranks of dominace. A new heirarchy is being established.

My LMB have a gourmet meal every night during the BG feeding time. The BG come up after the pellets and then hightail it before they become dinner. I always throw some pellets in close to shore to watch the LMB attack. Besides, the SD is showing about 24-30" clarity(after all the rain)so we can see quite a bit of action.

Some of my LMB eat the pellets, some of them eat BG eating pellets.

Since they've gotten used to eating with me next to them on the shore, they have taken to trying to rip smaller BG off the line when I reel them in. All I have to do is crank a little slow, and they've engulfed the hooked BG. Neat, other than the broken lines.

I have the automatic feeder and do throw pellets additional feed near the dock. I purposely walk along the bank area and throw more for smaller fish feeding. You can see the bigger fish eat pellets and also come in 'for the kill' feeding on the smaller fish along the shore. There is a whole lot of eating going on late in the evenings here in Indiana (around 6:30ish to 7:30 ish now). I have one side of the pond penisula with feed and the otherside I do nothing and you can watch both sides and they are eating tremendously in both areas the same. The big fish are literally jumping out of the water to feast. And, yes they do know when it's time for the feeder to go off and come to the dock area--i am still fascinated by the fact that they know when its time and you can, as noted above, see them coming in. Do they hear my footsteps on the dock and associate with food....probably......dot

Yes, I do think that they relate to your footsteps. Kinda like Pavlovs dogs.

I believe, but can't be sure, that my catfish relate mostly to the sound of BG feeding when I toss in pellets. When the BG don't feed much, very few cats show up.