Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations General Observations

Managing our pond has been a really fun process and has become something I am very passionate about. I log into Pond Boss quite often and love hearing and learning from you all about your ponds. My biggest complaint about this hobby is the amount of patience that is required when starting a BOW from scratch. It seems like I planned and dreamed about my fish population for quite a while. Finally the day came to stock them, which was super exciting. After they were released I was pretty disappointed because I realized most of my job had switched from planning to waiting (which I suck at). I feel super refreshed and excited about the pond again after my visit yesterday. Fish are coming to the feed, bluegill are growing like weeds, and my minnow population is stronger than ever. Every time I visit it seems like I see something new. Yesterday's visit I found out that a healthy sized snapping turtle has decided to call the pond home. I also found out that native crayfish are breeding and are quite large. I am hoping when I add LMB that they will take care of them. I do have a couple of questions or issues that I needs some clarification or encouragement on.

1. I put in about a dozen albino cats that have still not come to eat. Non albinos are eating but they were stocked this spring instead of last year. Are they territorial and just staying away from the feeder or do you think they are just finding plenty of natural food? Thoughts?

2. I have not been able to verify that my Hybrid Stripers are coming to the feed yet. I have seen some fish that come up from the bottom like rockets, eat and splash and then disappear before I can get a look at them. Is this common for the way they eat? Are they quick to come to dinner? These fish hit hard and fast and then are gone. After a couple of minutes the catfish start coming in and the water isn't still enough to see much.

I appreciate your help.

Jake

Hey Jake,

Can't help you on the Cat issues but I'm sure others will be here soon.

My HSB (Hybrid Stripers)are explosive when they feed, it's how I know they're showing up for dinner! They've been doing that since I stocked them 2 years ago and they're now around 16-18".

BG seem to pull the feed down and my LMB break water to feed but not as explosive as the HSB. I love it when they show up for meals which for my pond can be sporadic.

I'm also feeding the HSB Aqua Max LMB food which is much larger (3/4" x 1") than the AM500 and AM600.

Do u fish for them to measure or are you just estimating?

I fish for them to check for growth and relative weight but haven't lately due to the heat.