Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Feeding vs Fertilizing

I have a new 3/4 acre spring fed pond. Flow from springs is heavy from late fall thru the spring but backs off considerably in the summer and early fall period to approx 10-15 gam.
Stocked with 400-500 reg bg last fall, 100 redear, 100 coppernose, 5 lbs fatheads and 5 grass carp last week. 75 largemouths coming from the state in early June. Goal is good fishing for bass/bg. I'm not attempting to manage for trophies. Water is clear. Visibility close to 4 feet.

Would for sure like to begin feeding when the temps allow in the next month or so. Also have thought about fertilizing. I have heard that many ponds that are fed do not need to be fertilized due to increased production and nutrients from feeding.

1. I am concerned about the clear water and its effects on fish productivity. Are four foot visibilities normal for winter months?
2. What experiences do you have with feeding vs fertilizing or should I do both?
3. Do I have to much flow to even consider fertilizing?

Good questions.
Here's some answers.
1. Four foot visibility is absolutely normal for winter ponds. Plankton production is minimal, that's why water is clear.
2. Feeding is for larger fish, fingerlings on up to full grown adults. Fertilizing feeds newly hatched baby fish. Fertile water also effectively blocks sunlight from penetrating the pond bottom, minimizing areas where rooted plants can grow out of control.
3. Your flow is not too much to be able to fertilize. Visibility will be your key.

Maybe Bob was assuming your inflow from springs was 10-15 gpm all yr round. What is your approx outflow during spring when fertilizing will begin? How wide and how deep of an outflow during midspring early summer? Are you able to test the speed (feet/second) of the water leaving the pond with a deeper floating object such as a citrus orange or plastic bottle filled mostly with water? Relatively short retention times of the pond water could result in dissolved fertilizer only staying in the pond for fairly short times and phytoplankton can not become established properly.

Do you have an average depth and or maximum depth with side slopes so we could approximate the volume of your pond to check for water retention times?

My initial thoughts are for you to first try feeding the fish pellets; maybe a couple different sizes so smaller and larger fish can get some. Depending on the water clarity this spring and summer and how the fish respond to feeding you may or may not try fertilizing next year. Fertilizing to minimize weed growth should not be a priority since you stocked 5 grass carp the first year. Rooted vegetation should have a very hard time getting established due to the fish grazers. Although filamentous algae could be a problem depending on the colonizing species and season.

Not sure as this is the first year for the pond. Water exits the pond thru pvc standpipe so I assume I could check flow with a 5-gallon bucket at the spillway pipe. Lots of flow right now.

Avg depth 8 feet, max 12 feet, slope avg 3-1.

I like your thoughts about feeding this year and watching to possibly fertilize next if needed. That's probably what I am planning at this point.
I am indeed worried about filamentous as it seems to be flourishing already. It is on all underwater objects but is limited at the surface. However, I have read Bob's thoughts about it coming and going with the cool weather. I don't mind dealing with it for a couple months, but don't want it covering everything for an extended period of time.

Thanks Bob and Bill for the input.