Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Has anyone up north had fish start to eat food yet

I live in SW MI and started feeding just on Monday. Of course nothing seems to be biting. Is there a certain water temp that most HBG and LMB begin eating again. Has anyone else had their fish start eating pellets

I live an hour SW of Toledo, my yp and hbg started eating friday. Water temp
was around 55. They didn't seem to eat much on Sunday or Monday though. Will
try again today and are how it goes. Used floating pellets and fed by hand.

Warmwater species, middle 50's to 60� My trout have been feeding all winter on floating pellets, dispersed in the open water that was created by the aerator. Aerator on or off, no change in their eating habits.

My perch and bass are eating very sluggishly, another week and things will pick up, dont worry.

I have been feeding by hand for about a week. The BG meet me at the dock. The are not real active, but are happy for the food. I throw a few handfuls and they eat it all. I plan on stopping if there is a cold snap.

I've been feeding the bluegills and perch in the cages for a couple of weeks. However as of a few days ago the perch are no longer in cages. In cold water under 50 F.I feed hydrated feed. Actually I feed hydrated feed year around as the fish accept it better and it's easier to digest.

Mike Robinson of Keystone Hatcheries in Richmond Illinois once told me he doesn't feed until the water is consistently over 50 F. He says warmwater fish below 50 F. have a hard time digesting dry feed and it could actually kill them.

I tried last night. First the LMB came to the pellets. After maybe 30 minutes, I noticed the HSB feeding along with a few BG. Not real aggressive feeding, but is lasted for 1 1/2 hours or so. It was fun to see it again. Water temp was 50 degrees. Last year they didn't start until almost 60 degrees, but it was the first full season last year. They are learning

If the water keeps warming up, they will pick up the pace.

We have had the coldest winter since I have lived in Texas. Today when I went fishing the water temperature started out at 57 but by the time I had left it had dropped to 47 due to the wind bringing colder water to the surface and this was with an air temp. of 65. We had snow here on Sunday of this week and that almost never happens this time of year. My fish are just now feeding on the fish food regularly but after what Cecil just said I hope I haven't killed any of my fish feeding them too early since I started about three weeks ago.

James that is what I was told but that doesn't mean it's true in all cases or perhaps there are other factors? I know a fish farmer that says feeding trout in winter will kill them too but I haven't seen it. Dr. Paul Brown of Purdue that has done a lot of research on various feeds tells me as far as he is concerned if they will eat to feed them regardless of the water temps.

On the other hand I hydrate the pellets this time of year in a zip lock bag. They still float unless you squeeze the air out of them, and they are much easier for the fish to digest.

It got down to 19 F. this morning here and I was amazed to see the bluegills in the cages and the free swimming males eagerly take pellets. Hydrated of course.