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farmallsc #474754 06/23/17 11:44 AM
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You could have some 3 pounders by late October with satiation feeding, but be careful and don't spoil the water. I put my earliest ones in at 6 inches in Sept 2015. The growing season is shorter here than where you are.

farmallsc #474756 06/23/17 12:25 PM
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Thanks John.



farmallsc #475004 06/27/17 10:15 PM
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To refresh your memory, my pond ranges from 1/2 to 7/8 of an acre with varying depths when it's low the greatest depth in the middle may be less than 4' to when it's full about 7'.

I've got a bunch of fish! When we feed, Mom and I stand 40' apart and chunk in a sweeping motion. We have fish all around us and inbetween us! Some days you could walk across a 12' diameter of them.

We are feeding twice a day, same basic time daily and a 50# bag lasts less than a month. Usually 22 to 25 days.


Are we feeding too much, too little or just right? Water quality appears good, fish seem happy. A few turtles show up at feeding time as well. Catfish are now big enough to muddy the waters when feeding. Catfish darn near come up bank and take feed out of your hand.

Green Sunfish are abundant still. I'm not fishing currently due to heat, but will start again in Sept to remove GSF and Tilapia. Still have high hopes that CNBG and RES survived the initial stocking.



farmallsc #475006 06/27/17 10:25 PM
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In my experience, you should cut back a little on feed, especially if your water temp is exceeding 85 degrees. From what I have gathered from your posts on your catfish, a 50 pound bag should last you about one month exactly at this stage. Have you sampled the CC for size? I believe you said 100 CC? They should be 12 to 13" by now with satiation feeding. For young CC, in my experience if you mix in some Optimal, they should grow even faster. We are catching two year old CC from two to five pounds....some individuals are more aggressive pellet hogs than others.

Last edited by John F; 06/27/17 10:27 PM.
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I haven't sampled any up close, I can't see too well unless I am a couple of feet away, but My Wife says they are probably about what you said maybe a tad less, but she said it's hard to tell exactly. Wife says the fish cover the top of water when we feed and I hear a lot of splashing. My water temps are probably just like you say as it is HOT here! Pond has also started dropping in the last couple of weeks, its not low, but probably a foot less than it was. I will cut back 1/2 can on Mom's side. That will be about 2 cups less per day. That should stretch our feed out to a full month per bag.


Yes, I put 100 CC on Feb 11.

Last edited by farmallsc; 06/27/17 10:57 PM.


farmallsc #475271 07/02/17 08:36 PM
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I'll tell ya what I have noticed now the Catfish are growing. They can sure muddy up the area where they're feeding.



farmallsc #475274 07/03/17 12:24 AM
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If you do not want them to stir the bottom up make sure the water you are feeding in is at least five feet deep. If you want them to do some bottom stiring to facilitate muck stiring or want to get some of those bottom nutrients up into the water collumn add some sinking catfish food to the floating variety. They will root around in the bottom for the sinking pellets.

Last edited by snrub; 07/03/17 12:26 AM.

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farmallsc #475745 07/09/17 11:15 AM
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@snrub I would have to wade out to the middle to find water 5' deep.


I haven't seen my Tilapia since stocking, but my FA has been reduced only to be replaced by a neon green film that covers my whole pond. Fish are still eating everything I throw, so I guess all is well. The green film I noticed this week. It started out in a small area and today the whole pond is that way

Last edited by farmallsc; 07/09/17 11:18 AM.


farmallsc #476296 07/18/17 08:41 AM
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Green film is gone now. I have very little FA just around the edges in a few places. Pond is looking real good, but dropping due to no rain lately. I wish those darn willow trees would never gotten started, but it is what it is. I'm really glad I added Tilapia



farmallsc #476525 07/20/17 01:59 PM
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Hi de ho, Everybody. At John F's recommendation, We cut back slightly so our 50# will last all month. The Tilapia have done good, though it took longer than I wanted. Next year, I will double my order. There is still some FA along some edges, but it's nothing like before we put them in. We're seeing lots of small fry, but we're not sure if it is Sunfish or Tilapia. I need to buy some traps and see up close. We see lots of turtles and frogs too! A darn snake came racing past me this morning and I almost messed my drawers. He went straight into the water and I never saw him again. I don't know if y'all know it or not, but I don't like snakes too much!

This pond is alive with all sorts of dragon flies and various other bugs. I haven't noticed mosquitoes being too bad though and that's a good thing. We have lots of chiggars though if you get close to that Johnson grass. We try to keep our feed trail clear so it isn't a problem if you don't wander off the trail. I do enjoy this pond and the joy it brings makes the few dollars spent stocking and feeding SO worth it!

We're not fishing it yet. I'm patiently waiting, but I tell u what, come September, ima gonna put some fish in the fryer!

Last edited by farmallsc; 07/20/17 02:01 PM.


farmallsc #477958 08/10/17 04:53 PM
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I waited as long as I could.

I wanted to see one of my CC's up close, so I caught a nice 15" Catfish the other day. Doggone it sure tasted good!

Yesterday about 2 pm, I put on a tiny hook and some Crappie bites. I caught a dozen GSF one right after another. They were all fat as mud balls, but tiny. They ranged in size from 3" to 6". I retuned all of them.

I didn't catch any BG, RES, or Tilapia.


I plan to start fishing heavily for Tilapia come sept.



farmallsc #477960 08/10/17 05:26 PM
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What you gonna catch the tilapia on? I didn't catch but one out of 50#s last year.

Pat Williamson #477964 08/10/17 06:17 PM
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Originally Posted By: Pat Williamson
What you gonna catch the tilapia on? I didn't catch but one out of 50#s last year.



Don't laugh, but I was going to try frozen peas and carrots. That's what my Brother suggested, but he may be pulling my leg.



farmallsc #477965 08/10/17 06:36 PM
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English peas may work,or corn,probably earthworms . Might try putting fish food pellets in the bend of hook, that works great on BG and CC

Pat Williamson #477991 08/11/17 09:11 AM
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Or https://www.stubbysteve.com/

Much better than using a pellet.


www.hoosierpondpros.com


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3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
farmallsc #477999 08/11/17 09:36 AM
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Maybe a chunk of celery... lmao.... You never know... Hard to put algae on a hook... lol or maybe some fried okra... hahaha no telling what them fish will eat...

RC


The only difference between a rut and a Grave is the depth. So get up get out of that rut and get moving!! Time to work!!
RC51 #478003 08/11/17 10:20 AM
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Originally Posted By: RC51
Maybe a chunk of celery... lmao.... You never know... Hard to put algae on a hook... lol or maybe some fried okra... hahaha no telling what them fish will eat...

RC



Hmmm Algae on a hook. You just gave me an idea



farmallsc #478039 08/11/17 05:47 PM
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Well, the algae on a hook didn't work worth a hoot!

I took a #8 hook and loaded it down with algae I tried it suspended for awhile and also drug along the bottom. No nibbles, no bites.

Now the fun part. I put a Crappie bite on same hook thinking I might catch a Sunfish. First cast, as soon as bobber hit the water, under it went. Nice CC. I scratched my head cause that's the last thing I figured on catching with that small hook. I figured it was a fluke, put on another and same dadgum thing happened. Ok, now I have 2 nice CC in my basket. Mom said wait a minute, I'll be right back.

A few minutes later she has a handful of sliced frozen Okra we picked the other day. I wasn't expecting much, but bobber went skating across tank then under it went. Tried to set the hook, but missed. This happened several times and each time something got my bait. I changed tactics and only used a small portion of Okra and caught GSF one right after another until I got tired of catching them. When I got done fishing, I turned the CC loose cause I was too tired to clean them. I may never catch those 2 again according to what I've read. If that's the case, I'll have 2 smart fish in my tank. Haha. Don't you just hate an educated fish.


Oh btw, all the GSF were very small 3"to 4". I put them all back.

Last edited by farmallsc; 08/11/17 05:49 PM.


farmallsc #478042 08/11/17 06:07 PM
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If you would have fin clipped those CC, you would know for sure whether you caught them again or not!


www.hoosierpondpros.com


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3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
farmallsc #478046 08/11/17 06:39 PM
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Good Idea, I didn't think about it at the time. I was plumb tuckered out.



farmallsc #478403 08/16/17 05:54 PM
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I will add...The Cargil 4512 food seems to make them fat. All the fish I've caught sure seem healthy and fat. I tried different sizes, but they appear to like the 1/8" best. They will eat the 1/4" too, but don't attack it near as well as the 1/8"



farmallsc #478417 08/16/17 07:55 PM
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That's just opposite from my fish I mix the 1/8" and 1/4" and they hit the 1/4" first then finally eat the 1/8" . I think cause they are bigger fish and don't want to waste energy on the little stuff. Very few small BG venture out in 8-10' of water

farmallsc #478532 08/17/17 09:33 PM
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Electric is about 75 to 100 yards from my pond, I think. Maybe closer. I'm poor at judging distance. These aerator systems I heard y'all talk about, are they 110 or 220? I've read just a small bit about them to understand that it's better to have small bubbles with a system on the bottom as compared to a fountain type. At least that's what I think I know.



farmallsc #478549 08/18/17 04:23 AM
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I've often said that fountains are about like race horses and trophy wives. They're nice to look at, expensive to buy and maintain but don't do a lick of work.


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
farmallsc #482803 11/17/17 03:24 PM
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I've cut their feed way back. I'm feeding 2 cups once a day. Water quality has improved greatly.



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