One point I need to emphasize that may be misunderstood. Fertilization, in terms of fish production, focuses only on small, newly hatched fish. Fertile water feeds babies. These babies grow into a food chain, ultimately to benefit larger game fish which won't eat fish food, such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, etc. The concept of fertilization is simple, and I readily recommend it to a novice...as long as they understand the rules. The rules are...don't fertilize muddy water or ponds with infestation of plants. Fertilize clear water, with visibility greater than 30 inches. Mix the fertilizer well into the water column, when temps are consistently above 60 degrees.
While fertilization doesn't directly benefit large gamefish, it certainly sets the table for them during warm summer months. I believe fertilization sets the stage to prevent the biggest problem I see in fish management...overcrowded bass. If you do your job with the water, baby fish respond, then bass respond accordingly. It's a cause and effect thing. I have seen many, many ponds and lakes with overcrowded bass and plenty of adult bluegill where I was simply able to fertilize and make a huge difference in growth rates of existing bass. It's a simple, inexpensive solution to what could become a bigger problem.
I have seen lots of posts over the last few months where attitudes are beginning to shift away from largemouth bass, toward hybrid stripers and bigger sunfish. If people really understand the entirety of how fish and pond management works, the decision to stock other fish would be motivated more by the desire to diversify, rather than frustrations related to stunted,non-growing largemouth bass. This process is holistic, not piece-meal.
Personally, I would rather accept the challenge and figure out how to manage the pond completely, with any or all of the tools, than feel the need to settle with a strategy which doesn't meet my expectations.
At the same time, I completely understand the wants of pond owners to figure out what's best for them. If that means easier ways, do it. If it means trial and error, then a shift, do it. Meadowlark is right, it's all about the journey. That's the fun. Trying different things and figuring out what works.
I have the luxury to spend many hours in the field, in hundreds of different environments, trying to figure out what works best for that pond, for that client, for those fish, for those plants.
I love this job.
