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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 21
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 21 |
I have the $80 feeder. It attracts bluegills by the hundreds. Also a few cat will feed and come to the top. My HSB are hardly growing, and I never see them feed. This feeder will only put out about 50 lb of feed per season. Enough to have fun , but maybee not enough to actually get fish to grow. The pond is 7 yrs old , 1.5 acres and full of bluegill ,catfish LMB, and 150 HSB that were put in at 8-inches almost 2 yrs ago. Now they are only 10 inches. Any suggestions on getting them to grow would be appreciated, thanks, Kevin
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 14,383 Likes: 420
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 14,383 Likes: 420 |
What kind of feed are you using? HSB will do best with a high protein, low carb diet.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling ![[Linked Image from i.pinimg.com]](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ed/b5/e7/edb5e7f935843b996cf52be593c9ebd2--smoothie-smooth-collie.jpg)
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,794
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,794 |
Originally posted by kjmiller:
I have the $80 feeder......
This feeder will only put out about 50 lb of feed per season. Enough to have fun , but maybee not enough to actually get fish to grow. The pond is 7 yrs old , 1.5 acres and full of bluegill ,catfish LMB, and 150 HSB that were put in at 8-inches almost 2 yrs ago. Now they are only 10 inches. Any suggestions on getting them to grow would be appreciated, thanks, Kevin Kevin, we have two Aqua Pro feeders (Stren ADF 70?) in a >1.2 acres pond that feeds ~6 lbs high protein Aquamax/day. How many of your 8 inch HSB stockers survived predation by 7 year old LMB? It is possible that your 8 inch HSB were intimidated by your 7 year old BG and CC, and should begin feeding on outer edges of feed pattern with a larger feeder. Good luck... 
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds
Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent  Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1 |
You're right. That's terrible growth.
150 HSB at ten inches should weigh at least 100 pounds. They will eat at least 2% of body weight per day. That means if you have a 150 day growing season that each fish will need 300% of his weight, in feed, per year. Therefore, even if all of your other fish stopped eating the feed your HSB are being underfed by 83%. HSB generally don't forage in a small pond situation effectively like other fish, so you are starving them.
Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
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Joined: May 2004
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Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 14,383 Likes: 420 |
Other than feed quantity and quality, Bruce, any tips on feeding HSB effectively in the presence of these other species (BG, CC, LMB)? I have kind of a personal interest myself.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1 |
The biggest tip I can offer is that HSB feed much more effectively and consistantly if you place the feeder on the typical upwind side of the pond. If the pellets are drifting across the main area of the pond, especially in the morning, the fish will do the rest of the work for you.
Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,794
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,794 |
Originally posted by Bruce Condello:
The biggest tip I can offer is that HSB feed much more effectively and consistantly if you place the feeder on the typical upwind side of the pond. If the pellets are drifting across the main area of the pond, especially in the morning, the fish will do the rest of the work for you. How true - our prevailing winds are SSE and feeders are on South and East banks of pond - plays heck when wind turns....NORTH... 
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds
Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
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New pond
by 4CornersPuddle - 07/15/25 10:27 PM
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Koi
by PAfarmPondPGH69, October 22
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