Originally Posted by nvcdl
Originally Posted by ewest
Suggest you get the pond water / dirt tested to eliminate uncertainty. Often alkalinity is a limiting factor and no fertilizer is needed. If larger LMB are skinny (other than immediately post spawn) then there is a shortage of food at the right size ( i.e. 4-6 inch BG for example) for 3 lb LMB.

I have no doubt the pond needed liming as it made all the difference. There seem to be a good number of BG that would give the bigger bass a meal. I'm debating now how long I should keep a bloom going. When the initial bloom wore off the visibility went to about 3.5' -4'. When I added recommended amount of perfect pond + last week the visibility dropped to about 18" (where it is now). I'm wondering if I should keep bloom going through summer or stop fertilizing.

Check alkalinity when the bloom goes away and if it is still over 40 ppm, then and only then add more fertilizer. You might not need to add any more. I'd keep the bloom going, but be very careful with the fertilizer - it's a lot easier to add more than to take some out.

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3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).