Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Rainbow tails

A Chronicle of my winter stocked rainbow trout experience.

First, they take to feed like crazy. In cool conditions RBT dominate the feeders, crowding out LMB and CNBG. Never thought they were so aggressive!

Second, they put on weight faster than any other fish I have in my BOW. Went from under a pound to over three in just four months. Feed hogging pays!

Third, pelleted food does not change the flavor of RBT. Delicious

Frank, from what you have seen, would you do anything different when it comes to the RBT? Sounds good for sport fishing how about them feeding the lmb?

Tracy, I think virtually all the forage size trout stocked were quickly eaten by LMB. Only the 10 to 12 inchers made it, and I bet not all of them.

Which brings up an interesting point. Would it make sense to stock 25 pounds or so of small rainbow in the forage pond, feed them for a month, then release them in main BOW?

More bang for bucks if 75 lb small RBT released directly in main BOW, and a month or so later about the same weight released from forage pond. Yes, if fed well they can double or triple weight that fast, from a 3 to 4 inch start, in my opinion.

Even with cool to cold winter temperatures, this strategy has limits due to water quality and oxygen. Perhaps aeration required in forage pond?

Watching the feeders, it is striking (pun intended) just how aggressive RBT are! The only fish that compares are the HSB, but there are fewer of them than trout.

If I do the rainbow thing again, which I'd like because it's so much fun, I will need to increase feeding. Not so much for the trout, but just so that my other fish get to eat, too. Even noticed a few smaller trout, say around 12 inches, swimming & eating. Considering how fast they grow, these few must have survived the carnage of being stocked when they were about 4 inches.

It's good to hear some of the smaller made it. If you don't catch it first , some lucky LMB is going to eat it and make a sizable and very quick gain. Can see where the forage pond could help with this. Just got to be sure birds don't clean it out.

Very interesting post, I am surprised that your trout are still going strong. What are your pond temperatures now and any thoughts on how much longer they will survive ?

Brand new to all this and your forum, so not sure if this is the correct forum to get started.


We have mature pond in our gated development w/ recirculating water fall and fountain, in Western Washington state.
This 150 foot by 50 foot lined retention pond collects all runoff from streets, and overflows during heavy rain to lower unlined retention pond.
No outlet to lake or stream, so no escapement worries. Shallow on one end. 15 feet deep on other.

I am taking over management of pond in this senior community. Previous manager passed away. No active management in several years.

Currently it contains 2 HUGE (20lb guess) carp for algae control, hundreds of small bluegill and about 10-15 huge rainbows over 20” from stocking 6- 8 years ago.
I want to keep the fish alive and healthy for catch and release fly fishing.
They appear to be healthy now. Have caught several of the rainbows and many bluegills, barbless hooks.
They have been feed with pellets

QUESTIONS/comments
1. How often to feed pellets.
2. Recommend brand of pellets. ?
3. Should we put in more carp as some algae still appears in hot weather.?
4. NO overhanging brush or plants to add bugs. Should we plant some inover the shallow end?
5. Recommended reading on how to manage when on a tight budget
6. Are there fish safe additives help clean up street runoff?
7. No car washing allowed on streets, and the 170 houses are discouraged from using pesticides etc on lawns and gardens


Thanks for any help or contacts in Washington state to help.


Bob Conley

Ken, my pond temps are generally in mid 60s at the surface right now. One very hot day the water got up to 78, which worried me about the trout, but they seem fine. Plenty of cooler water at depth, I think. My pond has max depth of about 21 feet.

I'm told to expect them to last into late May or even June, assuming normal weather. Can restock in late November or early December. Just would like to catch them out & give them away to trout lovers rather than leaving them for the birds & turtles!

Bob,welcome to PB. This needs to be moved to be a specific question. Anybody?

Lots of this stuff is regional so advice from me might be questionable.

I know nothing about trout but there are a few good pellet brands and some junk. Optimal, Purina, and Skretting come to mind. Anything that says poultry by products generally means feathers. Feathers are high protein but are not digestible by fish.

Not sure how carp are for algae control.