Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations OMG! To much fertilizer: incredibly green!

Catbird, how much AquaMax are you going thru each month? (both sizes combined) in how much water?

Large BG, smaller LMB with larger heads/mouth, all point to high predator/low forage numbers. LMB can find food just fine in water that doesn't have good visibility by using their lateral line.

I hear ya on the hard to catch CC. I have some in my pond. IF you can catch one, it's only one per fishing trip if you're lucky.

Look up a product called Phosloc and see how it works. I don't know how expensive that stuff is, but it (or something that does the same thing - Alum maybe?) might help.

The food is adding a bunch of nutrients to the water as well. I'm not saying to stop feeding, but just something to be aware of.

Have you looked at a catfish trap? That might help remove some of the CC from the pond. With the large CC in the pond, they are also eating the forage fish (i.e. BG) that the LMB could be utilizing.

Just stocking more BG isn't the answer, they would be just expensive fish food. Removing the predators is the answer. Work diligently on removing as many CC as you can, even set out a trot line. By the catfishermen having their lines broken, they are giving the CC a higher education. Once a CC is hooked, they need to be removed.

Maybe fish with a smaller BG as bait. If the CC are used to eating BG, then they might be caught easier on a live BG.

Have you looked at Purina LMB food? It's a pellet that is about 1" dia. If you get to the pond every day, maybe get a bag and toss some out daily. It's easy to get a hook into one, and if the CC get used to eating it, they might be caught easier.

I'd also look into getting some Stubby Steves . It imitates Purina AM600. That might help you catch a CC or 2.