Bill makes some excellent points. I'll add just a little to what he said.

Virtually all of my clients agree with me that feeders make catfish easier to catch, rather than more difficult. For bass, unless they are trained to pellets, I don't think that it makes a difference either way.

I know that feed makes a huge difference in growth compared to an unfed, unfertilized pond.

Six months of feed for your lake should cost you about $250, plus the cost of a feeder. Perhaps you should weigh that cost against the cost of purchasing forage twice a year to help with your decision.