Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Simplify this for me please?

We built our 4.05 acre pond and started filling in Sept of last year and was full pool by the end of the year. In December we stocked BG, RES, fatheads and golden shiners and have the LMB on order reserve for late June stocking. I began feeding Locklear sportfish feed off the dock about a month ago and am starting to have some action at. I'm only feeding once a day late evening, for a short period as the feed remains for about 10+ minutes post feeding. I'm getting mixed reports on the quality of this feed from a growing perspective and therefore am looking into it and others to verify the quality of what we are running through our feeder. I have a Purina dealer in town, but am not opposed to ordering any good feed as well.

What do I look for as to when to adjust both feed sizes and times? At other ponds my kids love to watch the frenzy around the feeder and with time I'm sure ours will be there but I just want to be sure I'm doing this in a semi normal method to achieve it.

I am also considering adding another feeder on the pond but don't know if that is economically wise or even necessary. I don't have a giant feed budget but I can afford to push it a little. Our goals are not "trophy" bass, but rather just a quality fishery with potential for a big one every now and again, more less we want to get bites most trips.

Thanks!

If you are not too limited on budget, you probably want to continue feeding a smaller ''grower" feed for newly born fish, as well as adding a "Bluegill" size, maybe 1/4" in diameter.

Eventually, the bass that you stock will become feed trained, and you will need to add a bigger size to keep them growing (in addition to the various forage fishes that you have stocked).

I've never heard of Locklear feed, but truly, any feed is better than no feed. Of course, once you are on a feeding program, some feed brands are slightly better than others.

Adding another feeder won't hurt anything except your wallet.

And welcome to Pond Boss!

Welcome!

Our feeding program is almost a year old now and what I've observed is amazing. We were like you in the beginning with a few fish eating here or there. Now, it's like piranhas with 100's of fish participating.

1.) I chose Purina Game Fish Chow. It has different sized pellets and the fish absolutely love eating it.
2.) I feed at 8:30 a.m. / 12:30 p.m. / 6:30 p.m. I think the three feedings are better than one big feeding. In the early days it was just (1) second at a time. We've gone up to (2) seconds each time now.

I think consistency is very important. The feeder throws food from the same spot at the same time(s) every single day. I'm like you; not trying to break the bank but definitely wanting to supplement the food source.

I've even got four bass that take pellets....I've also got a few more bass that take bluegill that are focused on pellets...so it's working out!

Thank you for the replies and welcome. I think I'll up the number of feed times this afternoon may just start with adding a morning session. Again, thanks this place has a ton info!