Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Raising Forage and Bait Assorted minnows in Trout stocked pond

I understand Rainbow Trout ("RT") usually feed trained pretty well. However, fish in a pond where feeding has not occurred can take some time to get into polishing off pellets. In addition, fish with a lot of natural food available can take a lot longer to feed really well than hungry fish do. For instance, my BG took a couple of years to start feeding well - they had to spawn first and increase their numbers to the point where at least some of them were hungry and hence curious enough to try pellets.

Once some pellet eating fish are present, others usually pickup the idea fairly fast from the "teachers."

Fish that have plenty of natural forage AND take pellets well should grow the fastest (the Condello Affect). Some questions:

1. What are you feeding?

2. How many RT do you have (assuming they do not reproduce in your pond so you have a better chance of knowing?

3. How big is the pond?

If the number of RT/acre is low, that would explain the plentiful natural minnows and the relative lack of interest in pellets.