Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Running Feeder At Night

Having issue with Herons and Ospreys taking fish at my 3 feeders. Will running feeders only at night reduce or eliminate Heron and Osprey predation of fish at feeders? Will fish feed equally as well at night? Any input on this topic will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Al Allison

I've heard of others feeding at night to reduce predation. I dont know if they'll feed equally as well at night but they will feed. The osprey problem would be eliminated, but I'm pretty sure heron feed at night. I've seen them on my pond after dark. But it may take them awhile to figure out you've changed the feeding time.

Al, I wonder if fish might feed better at night under artificial lights. Never seen info on the subject. In my case cormorants are main enemy, don't know if they cease fishing at night.

Interesting question and I don't know but have my doubts as to effectiveness. I've night fished for bass and crappie but not bluegills. On bass I've used lures that made some sound and vibrations in the water. On crappie, I've used floating lights that drew minnows and hence crappie.

But my bluegills are sight feeding on floating feed. I haven't tried sinking feed in over 20 years. I expect that they hit sinking feed as it is sinking or picking it off the bottom probably from smell. The downside of sinking feed is that we don't know how much is actually eaten. Interesting question and I think it night be worth an experiment. Good chance that some will come to the sound of the pellets hitting the water. This will probably make my Wife roll her eyes again.

I'm gonna get a light to illuminate the dock (and feeder on dock) at night and see how CNBG react to pellets.

Interesting topic. LMB are excellent night feeders and BG are not so much. I wonder if the increased LMB predation will more than offset the birds. Feeding over cover helps the fish hide. A net suspended over the feeding area will help deter flying birds (osprey , hawks, etc.). Let us know what works.

I appreciate the replies as the flying predators know exactly when the feeders activate. I am not at my farm most nights but will make a test run for a few weeks by running feeders at 9:00 pm . I will make an effort to observe to see if there is good response to feed at that time and if there is a reduction of flying predators.

Al Allison

Could a floating large gauge net be a permanent deterrent to avian predators, but not interfere with feeder operation.