It takes 10# of fish to put 1# on ONE LMB.
Scott - thanks for reminding us of that.
I always have to bite my tongue when I buy fish, whether from a local hatchery or from a truck. This morning was no exception. This is certainly a pet peeve I've posted about before.
I like the particular fish truck dude who sold me fish this morning. But, we've had some very uncomfortable moments and discussions over what people buy for their ponds.
He is there to sell fish. I'm there to buy fish. He always has good healthy stock at a reasonable price. I always wear Pond Boss and WV Aquaculture Association clothing/caps/etc., when I buy fish. Sometimes I feel like I should have a picketing sign that says "ask me what you need before you buy."
The guy in front of me was getting 10 lbs. of fatheads, and the guy behind me was getting 20 lbs. of fatheads. I didn't check the actual price, but the normal bulk rate in this area is $12 to $14 per pound for fatheads or rosey reds.
High quality pond feed has a conversion ratio of about 2:1 -- that is, two pounds of feed results in one pound of fish. That is a major difference compared to feeding minnows, as ESSHUP stated, that have a 10:1 conversion ratio and a much higher price per pound.
The fish truck was in the parking lot of the local farm co-op that sells 40 lbs., of 38% protein fish feed for about $18.
I asked them both what they were going to do with that many fatheads. They both said they were to grow the large mouth bass in their ponds. I smiled, shook my head in agreement, and didn't say anymore.
The fish I bought today gobbled up quite a bit of the co-op food when the feeders went off tonight.
Oh well. As I said above -- caveat emptor.
Ken
