M question is “how do I feed during the winter when the pond is covered with ice?” I expect that the Michigan crowd has dealt with this before.

My little pond project is going well, I think. You all will remember that I put 10 doz. 3-4 inch shiners, 17 4-5 inch yellow perch, and 8 adult pumpkinseeds in a 1/3 acre pond back in June. Yesterday, I added 6 doz. Crayfish. Does anyone think I should add more crayfish?

I have also been feeding with a floating food I got at the local farmers market. I think its 34% protein. The pellet is a round � inch in diameter. My original idea was that the sunfish and shiners might take it. Well, they don't show any interest.

On the other hand, the pond is absolutely full of � inch to 1 inch fry. I believe that the shiners have spawned successfully and I had 3 beds with the sunfish. In any case, I have fry that definitely look like shiners and fry to look like sunfish. Most of these little guys are delighted to nibble away at the fish food. I think shiner fry are most inclined to take the pellets.

I want these little guys to remain familiar with fish food so they will grow quickly next summer have a big spawn. I intend to introduce 4 to 6 young largemouth bass at the end of next summer.

So as forage, I've got

a. Big tadpole population in the spring.
b. Crayfish.
c. Golden Shiners
d. The offspring of 5 pumpkinseeds and 3 red-breasted sunfish.
e. Yellow perch I don't think they spawned this year, may have been too young.

I have been considering not introducing bass and see how the yellow perch do at the top of the food chain. Any thoughts given the specifics I've detailed. Remember this pond is in southern/central Maine.

I look forward to everyones comments.