Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - Forage base - can it be effected by feeding LMB

I have been feeding my LMB more this summer than in the past. I have noticed in the feeding area (and other places around the pond) fairly large numbers of baby bluegill and bass that I have not seen in those numbers in the past. The bass,1-4 lbs, seem to have little interest in pursuing these fish. So my question is - can heavily feeding the LMB result in the forage base not being trimmed down adequately and I end up with way too many extra bass and bluegill as adults because of reduced predation ?

The pond is 1/2 acre.

Yes, however, there could be other causes too, or at least 'ripple effects.'

For example, some of your bluegill are eating that feed too, most likely, and if so, then those bluegill may pull off more abundant spawns, thus recruiting more Young Of the Year (YOY) bluegill. Some of those YOY may grow beyond easy predation by some of the LMB population.

Simply put, if you didn't feed the LMB, they would probably eat more young bluegill and bass.

On the flip side, you could probably achieve more growth in all species of fish by using feed vs. not using feed.