10x better...that's a bunch Greg. So, by my simple math, if I stop feeding in the one pond, my catch rate will fall by a factor of 10 and in the pond I'm not feeding it will increase by a factor of 10 if I start feeding. Sorry, I don't buy it...my experience says otherwise.

I typically catch 15 to 20 native bass in a 2 hour session in the pond without feeders (that's only a 3/4 acre pond), then I would catch 150 to 200 bass with feeders (or with feed trained bass). Hmmm, don't think so. Or maybe catch 15 to 20 bass in 12 minutes instead of 2 hours, no don't accept that either.

Likewise, if I stopped feeding in the 3.5 acre pond, then the 2 bass I catch in two hours would only be .2 of a bass...in other words, I'd catch nothing. That�s probably more likely, but I don't buy that either.

My participation on the Forum is to learn and share my experiences to help others. There is no financial connection or conflict of interest at all derived from pond stuff. It�s just my passion.

I do wish to help anyone to not make the same mistakes I have made...and I consider stocking Florida strain bass with feeders in a small pond with fishing pressure and catch and release to be the number one mistake I have made and fertilizers to be the number two biggest mistake I have made.

With the advent of the F1�s and the success I�ve had with Tilapia, I believe there is an opportunity to do things better in my ponds. I�m trying that combo out in a newly renovated 2 acre pond. Maybe I will fail miserably. Maybe I will return in that pond to chemicals to fertilize, and then chemicals to kill the stuff the fertilizer created, and then chemicals to remove the dead matter, and so on.

Maybe I will have to feed for 15 minutes or satiation in order to be able to catch any bass. Somehow, I don�t think so. Time will tell. One thing I promise, whatever happens, I will report my experiences here honestly and without any bias whatsoever. If I fail, I will be the first to admit it and write about it.

We always say on this Forum, �it depends on your objectives�. My objectives are to be chemical free, self sustaining, and have a reliable consistent fishery. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.