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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 627
Lunker
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Lunker
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Dan, if you ever want to move down south you will fit right in.
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Joined: May 2002
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Bill I think Dan hit on the answer I was going to give about bug zappers. Sure add them if you want, but don't think it will replace the protein that will be added by a feeder. I mean how many pounds of bugs can you add, 1/4 lb. maybe??? Unless a locust colony comes by dont; take down you feeders. I have sold a few of these. They do work and help the bug problem at the sametime. Besides Bill you can get one from your favorite man, Ken (you know I have to mention him every time you post)
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1
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Thanks for the info Bill. Those feeders are expensive! I ran across a feeder called Native Feeder. Have you heard of it and/or used it? I do not want to spend a ton of money & really just want something my grandkids can enjoy when they come out.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 487 Likes: 28
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mark I use the Stren feeder and love it - if you don't want to pay for the entire feeder (barrel, etc) if strongly suggest using the Stren (Remington) timer. I have used deer and fish feeders for years and used all brands and nothing comes close to the Remington Stren timer - digital, reliable, etc. I think they go for $70-90 but worth it. You could rig your own barrell and buy a motor and the timer and come out ahead. As far as the Stren feeder itself, it is quite a bit less expensive than Sweeny but every bit as good quality. Tim
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 202
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I prefer the Sweeny over most feeders. I run a pond management company but I do not sell feeders. I prefer to make a living as a consultant not a salesman. I have heard good things about the Stren feeders as well, but I have seen coons (or some kind of scavaging animal) tear away the wires on the Stren trying to get in. The Sweeny feeder is all incased with no exposed parts or wires. It is for that reason I prefer the Sweeny.
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Joined: May 2002
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Shan you must have seen an "old style" Stren. All wires are enclosed. It has two motors and all the food is cast into the pond near the lower spin plate, so no food for the "coons" to get to.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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the feeders I saw were new or so I was told. the wires were encased with conduit. I have seen that conduit/wire covering torn away from the feeder on more than one occasion with wires destroyed. the coons seem to tear away at anything out of frustration b/c they cant get to the food. I have seen a couple dozen Sweeny feeders over the years and the only problem I have observed was a bad battery.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 487 Likes: 28
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I have had my Stren two years and had coons all over it trying to get to feed and they have never been able to get to wires or anything else on my unit - I don't sell these things I just use them. Anyway, the Stren I use has been top of the line and I saved several hundred dollars over Sweeney
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Joined: May 2002
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Thanks for defending Stren Tim. Shan that was the older units of which I sold about 75 and not one has had a problem with the wires inside the conduit being torn, you must have meaner coons than I. THe newer units have the lower unit inside the hopper and the wires are inside the hopper as well, this is what I have been selling since March.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 627
Lunker
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Lunker
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Greg and Shan What fish food are you using this year and why?
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Joined: Feb 2003
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I use 32 % floating catfish feed. dont notice much differecne between brand names. If I can find trout feed I prefer it but its harder to come by.
good info on Stren feeders, I did not realize they were hundereds of dollars cheaper. Like I said I'm not a salesman. I do know several guys who have had the same Sweeny for over 10 years, one for over 15. anyone out there given Stren an endurance contest?
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 137
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jul 2002
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Even in the conduit the dang coons will stretch it out and then cut the wire after a period of time. Also the fat butts sit on the sloar panels and pull then down. I finally sealed the conduit flush withb the feeder and strapped the solar panel so that even someone's fat grl friend can sit on it. Coons are bad..... boy
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 487 Likes: 28
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Reminds me of a time several years back when I had a fish feeder out in my pond floating on a dock. It was an older feeder and did not have a guard cage around where the feed would dispence - didn't think I needed one since this thing was a good 30 feet off the shore in the water. One morning I go down to refill the feeder and I can see something black and brown laying out on the dock. I get in my john boat and paddle out and as I get closer I realize it is a coon and it literally could not move. It had swum out, crawled up on the dock, and spun all of my protein feed out and eaten it. It was so bloated it was about to explode and could not move - it let me come right up to it and was trying to move to get away but couldn't move. My guess is it would have eventually died from bloating but I helped the process happen a little faster. Anyway, I bought a new feeder and put a cage over it and it never happened again. Coons are relentless.
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 202
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Exposed wires on feeders are not a good thing. I have seen a few coons that figure out how to lift the lid and get inside. one of my clients was surprised by a coon that jumped out of his feeder as he tried to fill it one morning. the latch apparently closed just enough to trap him inside.
BTW - I was not suggesting that Stren made and inferior feeder and my comments were not an "attack". based on what I have seen Sweeny seems to make a more reliable, longer lasting feeder. If Stren has improved its product, great. I have no vested interest in either product and frankly could care less which one is better or more marketable. If I were feeding fish in my own pond I can assure you my feeder would never break down, unless somebody cut my right arm off.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 487 Likes: 28
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Shan - did not feel you were attacking stren feeders - I think Sweeny is a great brand and also a good feeder - Stren has greatly improved their feeders - someone would not go wrong with either brand -
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Joined: May 2002
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Stren has not been around long enough with their fish feeders to find out if they will last that long, but that is their plan. They want to sell a feeder the ponowner will have for 10-20 years from now. They have a 4 yr warranty, and the main reason I sell them is their customer service. Both Sweeney and Sten have a great product. If they have a problem(and there has been a few) they make them right every time no questions. I had sold a few Sweeneys a few years back. The customer service end was not as nice or quick to fix problem, although they finally did and it runs great now. I guess the folks at Stren heard Shan and Casca complaints, since the wires are now pretty much impossible to get to on the new model. Tim, great coon story, reminds when I saw a heron eat a 3 lb bass and it also could not move and I helped it out
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,973
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Sorry Bill forgot to answer. I have used SOuther States Big Strike and LIttle Strike, Topps, some other brand, Purina Game CHow, and Aquamax. I'm convinced aquamax 600 is the best for catfish, trout and bluegill. It also is not consumed as readliy by the grass carp. BUT it is double the price. Little diff amongest the others. I now use FRM 32% protein. WHy b/c I was setup as a dealer and get a better price when I agree to ship in 8 pallets at a time.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 627
Lunker
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Lunker
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Posts: 627 |
Greg, the rain finally caught up with me. Went to my farm Saturday, and my Game Country hanging feeder was still full from the week before. When I emptied it the feed in the bottom was wet and molded, I thought the top had leaked. then when I got in the boat I saw what looked like sawdust within 2 inches of the top of the dock. When and checked the emergecy spillway water had be over it. My guess is last Sunday.
Feeder dead.
Water very muddy.
Got a Kenco straight shooter last night at Basspro. I have read mixed reviews here but could not resist the $79.00 price for a 16 gallon hanging feeder. Testing it worked, great. Will see!
Thank goodness for a well designed dam.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,973
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: May 2002
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Bill I was talked into trying out the new directional feeder Game COuntry has out. The President wanted me back as a dealer. I will let you know how it does since you could swap it with your other timer since you have the Game COuntry barrel. It looks pretty cool and maybe an option for someone not wanting to spend the money on a Stren. In other words, folks like you.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 627
Lunker
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Lunker
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After two weeks here is my take on the Kenco straight shooter.
The Good: the price, $79.00 for a feeder which holds 50-60 pounds of feed; so far no problem with cloging; shoots feed about 20 feet
The Bad:Does not dispence enough food at each feeding(2 to 2.5 pounds) and will only feed twice a day; holes where the cable come out of the can not sealed, some water got to the feed during a heavy rain.
Greg, I look foward to your review of the Game Country straight shooter. It is not on their web site yet.
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Joined: May 2002
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Bill I have been so busy I have not even installed the Game COuntry straight shooter, yet. However I did have my nephew up to the pond and my Dad said the catfish and bluegill loved the superworms. Thanks for recommending them to me. I you need some let me know, I don't know what to do with 1000 of 'em.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 627
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 627 |
Greg, thanks I still have enough to last the summer. If you have some they love cottonseed meal, it really fattens them up. Caught a LMB with one last saturday.
Also see if the Game Country is better about setting the timer, I think they have started using DIP switches.
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 253
Lunker
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Lunker
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Has anyone here used the All Season Feeder? I have been talking to Todd Overton about one for a while, but would like to get some independent confirmation of reliability.
It is about $375 for the 150lb model, up to 6 feedtimes a day. I am lucky to get out to my pond once every two wks, so I like the large capacity and low price. BTW, the price includes complete setup at my pond, with the solar pannel, and first bag(?) of feed.
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Joined: May 2002
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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One of clients has one, ordered it before he knew I sold feeders. He has not had trouble with it but when compared to Stren or Sweeney does not cast out nearly as far. Also the timer is more difficult to set.
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 253
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
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Thanks for the feedback, Greg. The distance is not a problem in my case, because my dock reaches the middle of my 3/4 ac pond. The time settings are done only once in a while, so that would not be much of a problem either. But I do like to get the better quality when I can. I have to figure out exactly how much feed I will use in couple of wks, to see what I really need.
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