I watched the Youtube presentation of the dialogue between Bob and Dr Condello, and was struck by the comments on the need to keep BG fed day by day. When natural forage declines, artificial food can step in and keep the fish fed & growing.

But then Bob said something that really surprised me. He mentioned the 3 lb plus BG at Richmond Mills Lake were the product of a feeding program that never stopped, 365 days a year. Thus, a hungry BG could always get a meal.

I was under the impression that feeding should stop when the fish eat little or nothing, usually when water temps drop into the 40s. But maybe I misunderstood, or maybe 365 day feeding is only helpful in certain circumstances.

Any thoughts?

PS If you answer "it depends," please specify: Depends on WHAT?

I have been told that if warm water fish like BG are fed in very cold water, the food will ferment in their stomachs and kill them.

I've fed caged CNBG several times with the water in the upper 30's, and multiple times in the mid to upper 40's. Here at least, none have died.

Again, I'm just referring to what I've actually done, but cold water caged CNBG eat better than free range ones. My WAG was/is that they do not have any other options for food, and the shallow nature of the cage keeps them in the upper layer of cold water. They can't retreat to warmer water, so rising through colder water to get to the food is a nonissue.

Winter CNBG that I hand feed don't eat more than a very small fraction the volume of food that summer CNBG do. Because of that, I only hand feed during the winter. Some days they eat more, and some days less.

Just my $.02 but with Condello raising "Big" bluegill in Nebraska, I would tend to heed his advice over what's being done at Richmond Mills Lake. Which I hear is more of an anomaly than just another BOW. Described as "One of the most intriguing bodies of water in North America" and "intensely managed", what they do there seems completely outside the norm, let alone the size of fish being raised.

I was happy getting my BG to the 1 lb size (1.63 lb largest), fed daily but when their feeding slowed with dropping temps, so did I. And I'm in Nebraska as well.

And completely agree with FireIsHot, "Some days they eat more, and some days less".

John, that was my understanding as well. Which is why I was surprised to hear that 365 day a year feeding is apparently being done at the number one giant bluegill fishery in the nation.

While I'm on the subject of feeding, what ratio of BG to LMB feed is recommended when you have about 12 Northern feed trained LMB per acre?

I think with an unlimited budget, feeding year round is ok. The way I understand it, below 55 degrees fish may eat the feed but won't convert into muscle mass the same as they do when the water warms up. More feed fewer results and more nutrient load put in the water in cold temps.

Richmond has water flowing in/out year round so water quality wouldn't be as big an issue as those of us with an average pond. If they can get 10% return, still better than 0%, but it would be at a bigger cost for most of us. In warm waters, we get about 80%+ return on our feed.

It depends on your fishes' metabolism. They are cold blooded and feeding and digestion slows greatly during cold temps depending on species. Feeding year round can work if properly done in the right location. IIRC Richmond Mills feeders are Wi-Fi or radio controlled or are highly managed so no big deal to turn them down to 1 second if needed. There is no inconsistency between what Bob and Bruce were discussing.

See antenna on feeder in pic.

Great comments, everybody. Thanks!

My water is naturally acidic, infertile and has a constant water inflow, though none of these as extreme as Richmond Mills. Overfeeding leading to water quality issues is very unlikely, especially in the winter.

Wish I had the money to radio control my feeders, it's slightly over an hour drive to my BOW!

I remember Bob mentioning that he also had special feeders set up near Richmond Mills BG beds which put out very tiny feed for newly hatched YOY BG. I'm thinking of doing the same thing.

Thanks, Eric.

Question: Do you think it would be wise to emphasize sinking feed when water is cold? Fish don't like to move up the water column, and decay processes are slow at the bottom. True, you can't see feeding, but if you aren't throwing much it shouldn't matter.

In winter there is a trade off between sinking food and fish preference for soft food (moistened pellets). I have seen a tin platform in 5-6 feet of water used to keep regular pellets that have become water logged and sunk up off the bottom used with success. My guess is to use some of both types. If you are hand feeding then just wet the sinking pellets for a few min before feeding.

Thanks. Sounds like Purina MVP might be suitable.