Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding NEW POND FISH GROWTH - Beyond My Expectations

I had read much and was very interested to see what growth rates I might get. (I am most pleased with the growth rates of the fish in our pond (that we dug last July/August). Besides the 15 1/2" albino catfish, my hubby caught a bass Monday that was 14 1/2" (before that his largest was 12"). Our bluegill from last Sept (5-7 in are running in the 10" range). I am feeding them the regular catfish food you get at the local Rural King and have had no problems. For anyone with a new pond, if you stock the 5-7" you will be highly pleased with your results if you have a good forage basis and feeding plan. Take in as much information from this sight as you can...it is a wealth of useful information at your fingertips. My husband is like the rest of you fisherman--waiting to get the next one that will be just a little bit bigger.

Glad things are working out for you. Are you tracking relative weights on your fish? Any idea how much the catfish or bass that he caught weighed?

I agree with you, PB is a wealth of info and gives an ignorant pond meister like myself access to some of the great minds of pond management.

Make sure you take some photos of the fish and post them!

Gosh, No. He thinks the Bass was probably one and one-half pound, didn't have his scale with him. The good news is I caught my first BASS (sigh!:) )...it was 10 inches long--yippie. All the fish we catch are pretty fat from the feeding. I notice the fish feeding frenzie going on at feeding time, the big fish coming in after the smaller fish eating and I notice some substantial size circles and splashing, let's put it this way, I don't want to catch one of the big ones unless my hubby is around to take it off the hook for me. My husband said it crossed his mind to run in the house and get the camera but I have a dog who would love to kill/eat a fish and he was concerned he wouldn't be able to get the fish back in the water quick enough. I will take some pictures of the next bunch we catch and post--the fish are all pretty and healthy thus far. Believe me, I'm always learning and I listen to what everyone says (of course no one believes his fish story so I better get those pictures, huh.

Congratulations on your first bass. I try to remember to carry my camera every time I'm around the pond but I forget to fairly often also. Tracking relative weights is a good way to determine how well your fish are doing. My bass looked more like trout until I stocked more forage fish now they look much better.

My wife is the same way with the fish handling - she loves to fish as long as she doesn't have to touch one.

JHAP, my wife once actually got a 3 pound LMB off a spinner bait and onto a stringer without touching it. I wasn't around. When we fish together, she catches one and give me "the look". I'm sure you've seen it.

A woman once told me to let her wear some cheap cotton gloves so she won't have to feel the fish.

Don't laught guys, but I keep a box of surgical throw away gloves in the shed and when I fish, I put one on my right hand just for taking fish off. (Now you can laugh).

If it helps, a LMB that is 12" should weigh approximately 1lb. In the first year of the pond, all fish will experience their greatest rate of growth in that time period. There is very little competition for food and you are no where near your holding capacity. Let me make one recommendation and that is make sure you are stocking bait fish ie. minnows and shiners. They are the absolute best way to feed your fish for the money. The reason I say this, is because when you feed with pellets only the largest and most aggressive fish will feed. You will begin to see this if you haven't already especially if catfish are in the pond. The bait fish should ideally be stocked in the spring and fall each year until you get them established.

PS. there is nothing wrong with wearing gloves! It is funny but hey the more women that fish the better!