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At our pond we try to let our trout thrive on natural forage but it's just not enough for fast growth so we began supplementing their diet with Purina Aquamax 600. While it's not formulated strictly for trout Purina says you can use it for rainbows (I'd assume other species of trout as well). I've seen people that recommend using feed that is developed strictly for trout but the reason we've gone with the Aquamax is 1) The feed store down the road keeps it in stock and 2) A guy just down the road with a pond similar to ours uses it on his trout and grows trout in excess of 8lbs.

Just curious to see if anyone else on here has trout that they feed and what they feed them.

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Only a seasonal RBT guy here, but my experience is that they will eat anything that fits into their mouth. We feed Cargill Triton with a 48/18 protein to fat ratio, and have had outstanding results considering our limited RBT season.


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Like Al, I'm just a seasonal RBT guy. However, I've been pleasantly surprised at how fast they grow on Aquamax Sportfish feed. Went from 1.0 to 2.5 lb in just 9 weeks!

Very strong fighters, we had fun with them yesterday.

Last edited by anthropic; 02/18/20 02:23 PM.

7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160




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Originally Posted By: anthropic
Like Al, I'm just a seasonal RBT guy. However, I've been pleasantly surprised at how fast they grow on Aquamax Sportfish feed. Went from 1.0 to 2.5 lb in just 9 weeks!

Very strong fighters, we had fun with them yesterday.


That's impressive. How many times a day are you feeding them?

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Only feed for 3 or 4 seconds once a day from two feeders, my winter schedule. CNBG almost entirely shut down for me in winter, so I have to cut back feeding.

I'm really impressed that the trout grow so fast. Somebody said that they grow more per pound of feed than any other fish. My results are consistent with that.

Last edited by anthropic; 02/18/20 04:39 PM.

7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160




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Originally Posted By: anthropic
Only feed for 3 or 4 seconds once a day from two feeders, my winter schedule. CNBG almost entirely shut down for me in winter, so I have to cut back feeding.

I'm really impressed that the trout grow so fast. Somebody said that they grow more per pound of feed than any other fish. My results are consistent with that.


What kind of feeders do you use? I feed by hand... Row out to the middle of the pond and toss about half a scoop of feed out. I'd be interested in getting a feeder though.

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Just curious, does the supplemental feeding turn the flesh putrid gray and ruin the taste?

I rarely eat my brookies but when I do, they are pink and tasty.

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Originally Posted By: Joey Quarry
Just curious, does the supplemental feeding turn the flesh putrid gray and ruin the taste?

I rarely eat my brookies but when I do, they are pink and tasty.


Couldn't tell ya. I can't stand the taste of trout whether it be farm raised, hatchery raised or wild. On top of that it's catch and release on our pond.

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Originally Posted By: Joey Quarry
Just curious, does the supplemental feeding turn the flesh putrid gray and ruin the taste?

I rarely eat my brookies but when I do, they are pink and tasty.


My fishing buddy took two large rainbows we caught home for his wife, who enjoys fish. She told me that the trout were delicious. No grayness, no off taste.

Now that doesn't mean a purely pellet fed trout is just as good as a wild caught one. My trout eat other fish as well as pellets. If not, there's no way they could gain weight so fast based on the relatively small amount of feed I throw them.

Last edited by anthropic; 02/18/20 07:39 PM.

7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160




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Originally Posted By: Uncle Sean
Originally Posted By: anthropic
Only feed for 3 or 4 seconds once a day from two feeders, my winter schedule. CNBG almost entirely shut down for me in winter, so I have to cut back feeding.

I'm really impressed that the trout grow so fast. Somebody said that they grow more per pound of feed than any other fish. My results are consistent with that.


What kind of feeders do you use? I feed by hand... Row out to the middle of the pond and toss about half a scoop of feed out. I'd be interested in getting a feeder though.


Sean, I use Texas Hunter 70 lb feeders. More expensive than some, but reliable. I'm not always on site, so need an automatic way to feed.

To me, you have the better way being on site and hand throwing, because you can gauge how they behave & feed. Plus it's fun to watch!

Last edited by anthropic; 02/18/20 10:36 PM.

7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160




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I and a few clients that feed their seasonal trout use Texas Hunter feeders, and we all use Optimal Bass food. Like was said, while it's not formulated for the trout, they do well on it.

The color in the fish flesh comes from them eating specific food. The color has no bearing on the flavor of the fish. A fish taxidermist friend who raises Brook, Brown and Tiger Trout for the taxidermist fish competition market uses Optimal Bass or Optimal Bluegill food with great results. When it's time to get the fish ready for market, he mixes Astaxanthin in the fish food, either with water and then softens the feed before hand feeding, or dissolves it in fish oil and then soaks the feed with the Astaxanthin laced fish oil and hand feed the fish. They really color up fast and the flesh is a bright orange color.

I've had Rainbow Trout gain 5# in 7-8 months and go from 14"-16" to around 24" in the same time frame. Feeding 40# Optimal per month in a 1 acre pond to an initial stocking of 80# Trout.

Currently I have Golden Rainbow (similar but not technically the same) as Palomino Trout.

Last edited by esshup; 03/10/20 03:03 PM.

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Good thinking on the bass feed. The Purina Aquamax that I use is formulated for feed trained bass, bluegill, hybrid striped bass and trout.

Our pond has been ice free for about two weeks now and I've been feeding them since. I was able to fish for the first time today and was shocked at the growth of my trout. I put them in at 12"-14" with a weight of about 1.25 pounds each... I only got one that was 12" the rest were all 14"-16" and I'd say 2.25lbs. Got one that was 19" and probably 3lbs. I can honestly say that with all the he other things I've done at the pond to make good trout habitat supplimental feeding was the best idea yet. They growth was from feeding them this fall, them eating whatever under the ice and feeding them so far this spring.

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Look for an article in PB mag soon on extensive feeding and adverse effects of high-carbohydrate diets for certain predator fish.
















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I have eagles, cormorants, herons, ducks, and Canada geese. Geese love to gobble fish food, most of the rest like to dine on fish.

Given those realities, I have decided to synchronize feeding times as best as I can. Goal is to have all go off within seconds of each other. This makes it harder for geese to go from feeder to feeder eating the pellets, and harder for piscatorial birds to focus on fish in just one location. Also, I think sinking pellets cut down on goose theft, plus fish are less vulnerable when they can eat under the surface.

Maybe Purina and/or Optimal should think about feeds that are 20% floating/80% sinking, rather than reverse. We could still watch some fun surface action, but the fish would be better off.

Last edited by anthropic; 03/10/20 12:16 AM.

7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160




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Can you synchronize shotgun bangs with the feeders going off? Not only do the geese eat the feed, their poop does a number on the water chemistry if there are enough of them. 1 goose = 1# poop per day.


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3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).

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