Here is the original thread that spawned this current thread of "The winter, pellet feeding debate! Results are in!".
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=394452&page=1The Lousiana winter is not the typical northern winter, cold water conditions that created the philosophy or thinking of no or little pellet winter feeding noted in the original thread. Some fish such as trout can readily be fed in real cold water. Many of those proposed ideas in the original thread were meant for ponds that develop significant ice cover during winter where water temps range from 39 to 33 or even 32F during aeration periods.
As Lusk in NE Central Texas noted during the recent PB conference VI: � I feed (fish) till water temps hit 46�. If I had in Ohio the Lousiana winter climate, I would be pressing the envelope to feed my fish all winter just as Jason describes. Members have noted above that �winter� feeding of fish is often dependent at least two main things: 1. water temperature and 2. if the fish are willing to eat. There are some cautions to be aware of as noted in the related threads for feeding pellets to fish during water temperatures below �46F�. Nothing is really absolute with raising fish except they will eventually die.
With advice here "you get what you pay for". One has to accept free and paid advice with some caution and often it should be compared to 2nd and 3rd opinions. This in reality also applies to paid advice from a doctor (MD). Believing blindly what an "expert" tells you can be risky. Sometimes that advice has some degree of bias or lack of full knowledge. who really has full knowledge? Adults should know this once they reach post teen years. Also advice is not always understood exactly as the advice is/was delivered.
Not believing the consensus and then trying something different is often how many new things are learned. Forging new ground is often adventuresome and definitely a learning experience. Will that learning be shared?
N8ly aptly stated in the original thread: �Don�t let anyone here or anywhere hold you back from doing your own experiments. That is how we all collectively will keep pushing the envelope and learning new things.�
�Some advice I have for anyone else reading this thread is, take the advice of the masses into careful consideration before moving forward with your own fish management plan or experiment. Make smart decisions within your own comfort level and spread out your risk according to the type of person you are. Essentially your management style with fish is typically the same as you would manage any of your resources in life. Diversify and be prepared for any and all potential consequences. (ie) If it comes fast, it can leave just as fast. �
Jason - please keep advised as to the progress of your new pond and the dandy, fast start, CNBG you are raising. Good job and very nice fish for their age.
1. Where did you buy these fish - remind other members???.
2. What brand and type of fish food are you using???
3. You might want to mark some of the larger BG with fin clipping to track their growth, recapture rate, and life span.?
We can learn from your experiences with winter feeding of BG in Lousiana. I am also really curious about how the green sunfish or their hybrids perform in your pond. From this thread:
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=30438&Number=389257#Post389257
