Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Over feeding fish?

Hi, Long time lurker first time poster.
I have 3 ponds, pond 1 is a bit over 1 acre, pond 2 is just shy of 3 acres, and pond 3 is just shy of one acre.
We have fed pellets almost daily in all 3 for a couple of years. Pond 2 and 3 were built by us 3 years ago, pond 1 came with the property.
All were stocked with bass, bluegill, channel cats, Hybrid stripers and forage fish. In the last 2 years I have probably added 600-800 lbs of shiners and minnows as supplemental fish to help the populations grow.
If anything I have under stocked the predator fish to keep competition down and allow the population to flourish. we have already caught a couple of 5 lb plus large mouth, 20 lb. channels and 1 1/2 lb bluegill , so I am quite pleased so far. The newer ponds have aeration systems which run all night.

Sorry for the long winded background but I wanted to set it up before my question...
As all who regularly feed fish know the fish get used to the feeding area and a lot of my big fish spend all day there waiting to be fed ( don't have a regular feed time) and not doing there job. On a recent shoreline recon I noticed the shores teaming with baby bluegill, shiners, and a few bass, and came to the conclusion that the predators were getting lazy and not having to work for their meal so I discontinued all feeding until someone here suggests otherwise.
Now I see and hear the all to familiar sounds and sights of small fish getting whacked around the shore and the fish waiting at the feeders have moved on.
Our fish don't get a lot of fishing pressure but when friends come over that fish we want them to have a blast. Last Saturday and Sunday morning 2 of us caught over 65 mostly 2 to 3 pound bass on everything from flies, spinners,to chicken gizzards in the larger pond

Maybe I'm overlooking it, but what's the question?

I would continue feeding.... Why would you want them to work for a meal - less work more weight gain... In my mind

Unless by working, he means controlling smaller fish by predation.

I would set up regular feeding times, that way the larger fish won't be hanging around the feeding area all day long waiting for a handout. They will get conditioned to the feed times and will move in and out of the feeding area depending on time of day.

I have an automatic feeder on my pond (Texas Hunter) and it is set to go off an hour after sunrise and about an hour before sunset. If I walk out there, I will take a handful of feed and throw it into the pond.

The fish don't hang around the feeder all day long, but they will follow me around the pond as I walk to the feeder for their handout. They also know the feed times and start congregating around the feeder about 1/2 hr before it is due to dispense the food.

Thanks for the replies. Yes I do mean controlling smaller fish. I'll start feeding before sunset.