Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Lowering water level to control recruitment and FA

I've had bedding RES in late Summer/early Fall...guess it's not entirely uncommon.

I've had a late summer spawn both years since stocking RES. So it doesn't sound like I will have much of an impact if I do a spring draw down. I think I'll still stick with a fall draw down to expose the YOY to predation.

I was just texting TJ about the Optimal feed tonight. I don't know exactly why my RES take to Optimal so well, but it is unreal when my feeder goes off. 2 miles down the road my dad has a pond with BG and HBG in it. When the feeder goes off, they feed well. But they don't feed anything like my RES. These RES explode on the Optimal feed like HSB did when I had them in my pond. It's an impressive sight. I'm hoping to break that 12" mark next year.

I had a sub-inch RES in a minnow trap last night from my forage pond so I assume that spawn was fairly recent.

NEDOC were your RES specifically feed trained or did they just take to the Optimal feed on their own?

I got mine at about 3" and they were feed trained with specialty feed. Think of a mad scientist RES lover that used to be on this board a lot. When I stocked them they pretty much went off feed for a year as I was trying to feed them with Aquamax. They didn't take to that at all so I quit feeding. Then I read about Optimal. The RES took to that pretty quickly. But what really seemed to be the kicker was when I mixed in some Optimal Jr in the middle of this summer. At that point it seemed all classes of RES in my pond began feeding well. So yes, my RES were somewhat genetically predisposed to be fish that take feed. But I also believe the Optimal has played a big role in subsequent generations feed training.

Interesting. May have to give that a try.

I put feed out at my forage pond (RES, FHM and GS) but the FHM have been wiped out and I figure it is only the GS I see hitting it on the top. But the AM MVP has some sinking components so was hoping at least some of the RES were getting some.

May have to get another bag of Optimal just for that pond.

It is only 1/20th an acre and the 10" RES I caught recently looked fat and sassy. So either it was munching on snails or GS fry or MVP or something. I have been a little worried about not knowing for sure what is in the pond in the way of RES populations and if they had enough to eat. But all I have caught either looked "ok" or pretty darn good. Did not take any relative weights.

I'd order the bag of Optimal Jr. The little fish take to it much quicker it seemed. And once they got started they go crazy.

Ok, thanks.

I will try to get a bag of each ordered from Esshup Hoosier Pond Pros this weekend some time.

I know my small BG really loved the AM400 I had. Really small pellets.