Well im not an expert on feeding fish by a mile but IMO there is no way a bluegill in my pond would get as big as the one i caught yesterday no matter how old he got without feeding pellets. Theres just to many bluegill in the pond for that to happen. It would take twice the amount of work and money to do it if it could be done, than spending 50 a month on aquamax 500. I caught a catfish last week that his skin was so tight around his fat belly that he looked like he was gonna explode. Im trying to get all the catfish out right now, because they just hoard all the pellets.