Off-flavor is usually caused by compounds that are produced by blue-green algae. It happens frequently with catfish...usually a week or 2 in clean water will eliminate this, but not in all cases.

Also, I have heard of cases where trout fed with rancid pellets took on a terrible taste. To avoid this, keep pellets cool & dry and use them up within 3 months. Never load a feeder with a months supply of pellets during the summer...the heat & humidity will destroy pellet quality.

Quality farm raised fish fed quality fresh pellets taste as good as anything out there.

Mike Robinson
Keystone Hatcheries