Ordered my optimal bluegill today...excited to get it here!! They are started on the Purina Catfish 32 that I got at the coop, don't laugh...all I could get at the time.. lol I have been hydrating 3 to 1. Putting in a folgers can, then putting it in the fridge. They nibble at it and probably get some out of it...but they are learning how to eat. Can't wait to see what they do with optimal!
Talked with Dustin at the South Dakota office of Optimal today. He said they've come out with smaller feed, BG Jr, for those who prefer it. Also have a LMB product.
Dustin indicated that all Optimal is made at the same mill now, except for small specialized orders. Differences in composition such as floating or sinking are mostly due to mill issues, not reformulation.
Talked with Dustin at the South Dakota office of Optimal today. He said they've come out with smaller feed, BG Jr, for those who prefer it. Also have a LMB product.
Dustin indicated that all Optimal is made at the same mill now, except for small specialized orders. Differences in composition such as floating or sinking are mostly due to mill issues, not reformulation.
I hope they don't change the 'mill issues'. I like that about 5-10% sinks. It has helped a few of my more timid redears feed train. Or so I believe. And great news on the Junior sized feed.
Fedex dropped my optimal off a few minutes ago. Can't wait for 8 o'clock when I go feed. I'm sure they will take a few days to get on it...but I'm anxious. They have really just in the last few days began to really hit the hydrated catfish feed I've been putting out. I have to sit about 20 feet from the shore, but after a few minutes you see the feed bouncing up and ever so often get hit and disappear.
I opened the optimal bag and the smell is so much different from the catfish feed. The catfish feed after hydration smells like wet livestock feed. I'm assuming due to the fact of so much grain product in it. The optimal smelt like aquarium fish flakes, or that was my first impression. Anyways, will post vids when they really go to taking it.
Ive been feeding it in one of my feedees for a couple days now. They are starting to eat it better this afternoon. I've been feeding Aquamax for 10 years now but if this feed turns out to be as good as everyone says then I'll swap all the feedees to optimal. Aquamax must have changed there formula a few years back cause it isn't the same as it was when I first started feeding it. I used to get 110% relative weights but now is more like 90% to 95% on average.
Second day on optimal. I hand feed. We had a storm going by today, so I stayed on the south end (shallow end) so the feed would stay put. Yesterday was pretty much business as usual. You could see the feed bounce and get pushed around (pecking). Today as I made my way around the shallows, I saw something I haven't seen the past two weeks...(remember I was feeding hydrated Purina Catfish 32, not great, but feed)...they began breaking the surface to get the feed. I wasn't a riot by any means...but probably 20 or so breaks. They broke the surface enough to see their heads...a couple up out of the water. Lots more feed hits. I think by the end of the week they will really be getting after it. They actually stayed close enough for me to see a few today. First time for that also.
Aquamax must have changed there formula a few years back cause it isn't the same as it was when I first started feeding it. I used to get 110% relative weights but now is more like 90% to 95% on average.
+1
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
Could the lower relative weights have to do with the number of fish being fed rather than the feed? Larger number of fish being fed the same amount of feed might divide the weight between more fish????
Ive been feeding it in one of my feedees for a couple days now. They are starting to eat it better this afternoon. I've been feeding Aquamax for 10 years now but if this feed turns out to be as good as everyone says then I'll swap all the feedees to optimal. Aquamax must have changed there formula a few years back cause it isn't the same as it was when I first started feeding it. I used to get 110% relative weights but now is more like 90% to 95% on average.
Could it be that your fish are becoming overpopulated? May be more of an issue of not harvesting enough.
1.8 acre pond with CNBG, RES, HSB, and LMB Trophy Hunter feeder.
Hoping to get a photo of Optimal Bass, Optimal BG and Optimal BG Jr tomorrow night. Here is video of redears attacking the Optimal BG. They feed like this for 3-4 min each feeding 6x a day. This seems pretty good for redears.
Placed an order with Optimal for a couple of bags of BG Friday to try it out. Do they notify you when it is shipped? Tracking number? I received an acknowledgement of the order but my account only shows that the order is being processed. Not in a hurry but need to arrange for someone to be present for delivery.
Just an FYI. I went by the pond yesterday. I hadn't been by for about 10 days. I had started the newer Optima feed right before I left for vacation. I looked in the feeder to see how much was left, and was pretty surprised that the feed level hadn't dropped very much. The new feed must be a bit larger than last year's production. It isn't going through my feeder as well. I'll be back up this weekend and try to adjust the opening. I hit the test button, which send s out a 10 second feed. It took a while to start shooting feed out. I shook the feeder, and it picked up a bit. Had a pretty good reaction even though it was mid afternoon. I'm thinking my FHM population took a hit over the last week or so, without the feeder running.
9 yr old pond, 1 ac, 15' deep. RES, YP, GS, FHM (no longer), HBG (going away), SMB, and HSB (only one seen in 5 yrs) Restocked HSB (2020) Have seen one of these. I think that's about all I should put in my little pond. Otter attack in 2023
My feeder doesn't take large feed very well at all. I'd have to shake it once in a while with the Optimal BG to keep it casting feed well. Now that I've mixed a bit of Optimal BG Jr. in with it it doesn't have near as much trouble.
Sounds like I need to get some Optimal BG Jr. Thanks
9 yr old pond, 1 ac, 15' deep. RES, YP, GS, FHM (no longer), HBG (going away), SMB, and HSB (only one seen in 5 yrs) Restocked HSB (2020) Have seen one of these. I think that's about all I should put in my little pond. Otter attack in 2023
I have 2 Texas Hunter feeders and 1 Moultrie 30 gallon Feedcaster. Obviously the Texas Hunters are way better, but the Moultrie can work well in certain situations. It doesn't throw the feed far and doesn't take large feed. But if you can put it out over the water on the dock it works adequately for a small pond. And then use smaller feed. It costs about $150 and to replace the feedcasting unit is under $50. So far mine has lasted a couple seasons and has done well. I really like it in situations where I can hand feed on most days but want it throwing feed regularly for feed training purposes. You can see how far mine throws in the video above. I'd guess maximum is 15' with most of it landing in the 5-8' range.
I had looked at those, I have a couple old deer feeders that just need the motor/timers. I wanted a texas hunter for Christmas, but I've about decided on aerator parts and just get the american hunter/moultaire motor/timer.
Does it clog up with optimal bg?? Thats what I plan to feed, but can do jr next if needed, but would rather stay with BG. If going that route I would put it on legs out in the pond and just walk out there to fill it. Thinking the aerator would be a better investment and go with the cheaper feeder.
I have a aquamax, or something like that. I saved a few hundred bucks over the TX feeders, but it was not a good deal. It jams a lot, and it doesn't throw as far and as wide. (From what I've been told) Also, i had to replace the wiring harness not too long ago. They stood behind the product and sent me a new harness, but I had lost two weeks of feeding thinking it was running fine, but it had shut down. When you factor in the price of good fish feed, it pays to go ahead and get the better feeder.
9 yr old pond, 1 ac, 15' deep. RES, YP, GS, FHM (no longer), HBG (going away), SMB, and HSB (only one seen in 5 yrs) Restocked HSB (2020) Have seen one of these. I think that's about all I should put in my little pond. Otter attack in 2023