Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Winter feeding

Sorry to ask what I think is a very basic question - I just can't find it in the archives! My year old 1 1/2 acre pond is well stocked with breeding and developing CNBG put in the pond last April but I have not ever fed them. Can I start feeding them in the winter or do you not feed in winter?

They are definitely growing - I caught a bunch on worms over the weekend ranging from 3-7" and can see many fry in the water. I just put six 8" LMB in there from my neighbors pond and will continue to put 6-10" LMB as I can catch and release them up to about 30. Hopefully they will lay eggs in spring and that will suffice for my stocking.

Fish metabolism drops way down with lower water temperatures in the Winter, plus many species don't like to surface when the air is cold. Populations that are well established floating pellets feeders may take feed on warm, sunny days, but otherwise BG don't feed much in water below 60 degrees or so. If your temps are getting down to or below that range, the CNBG would not be too likely to pick up feeding at this time, IMO.

The population should be good and ready to learn to feed next Spring, however.

The intermediate LMB stocking plan sounds copacetic to me. Even 10" LMB should not be eating your larger CNBG, ensuring the forage base will have a good spawn in 2008. I am not sure how many of them will be old/big enough to spawn next year (personally, I think of 12" as the minimum size for LMB spawning) - maybe early next Spring you can add a few slightly larger bass (12"-13"). Or just figure that there may not be a bass spawn in 2008; this would mean there would be a very well developed forage base present for YOY bass in 2009.

We built a pond last year and started feeding this spring. The catfish are always eating and a few CNBG can be seen taking the feed. Should I continue to feed through the winter? Change to sinking feed? Or just discontinue when the temperature drops?

Feed much less (and just on really nice days) or not at all.

Up here, we have such a long cold season I just let the feed run out in October and don't worry about getting more until April.

I stop feeding bluegills, bass, and yellow perch when the water drops below 50 F. Just above 50 I use rehydrated feed.

Levon I think there is period where they will take sinking better than floating as it starts to caool. However maybe only a 1-2 bags worth, after that when temps drop even more they will take little to none no matter if sinking or not. I think many feed stores have convinced clients to buy sinking food and they continue to fed all winter at the same rates and that is a waste of money.

My pond is a year old and I train fed them from beginning and continue to feed, however, what I've learned from this site and what I've heard from others with ponds, and that you want to stop feeding when the water temperature gets below 60. I have noticed the last couple of weeks that the 'coming to eat' has just about quit so as soon as my feeder runs out I'm not feeding thru the winter. Even the fatheads are hiding and not coming to eat so that tells me the temperatures are dropping in the water, I haven't checked my temperatures yet. Hard to believe that fish metabolism slow down and they just kind of float until spring again (I have visions of them starving, right!:) ) Here, in Indiana, we've had some unusually warm weather. This morning it is 29 degrees and maybe get up to 53ish today. I will look forward to the spring when I can again feed and you will too. You can train them, it's not hard to accomplish. Just have to have patience.

One note of interest. Fish food use , activity and eating are closely connected and each species has a different metabolism. This is one of those "It depends" questions. BG eat little in cold water - but some , LMB eat a little more - but not much , FH are more active in cold water than BG and LMB - but not that much , RES not much at all , tilapia die , TShad look for refuge and if to cold will die , but trout, YP , SMB , eyes , northerns , etc are much more active and thus eat quite actively in cold water. In fact some of those Yankee fish are more active , thus eat more in cool to cold water than in high summer temps and some of them die in high summer water temps. So keep in mind what Bob often suggests as very important - know all you can about each of your fish species.

Another good question is when should you start back feeding or should you feed during warming periods in winter ponds (after ice out up north) ? It is important for fish to come out of the cold water period in good condition with the energy needed to produce (or to have produced) gametes in order for the species to survive. Thus their energy needs are programmed by genes to increase their metabolism as the water warms and as the photo-period increases but before their activity level ramps up. So they really need food before they get active. The studies show a surprising amount of energy is diverted to gamete ( fish gametes are called eggs and sperm) production prior to a pick up in activity level caused by warming water temps. So depending on the type of fish - learn at what water temp their metabolism picks up during the late winter/early spring warming period and start feeding (a little) when the water temps are a few degrees colder than that. In the deep south near the gulf coast water temps may not get to 50 and if they do it is not for long so the non-feeding period is very short. More like a temporary slow-down. You can do what Bruce does and move them inside in RAS tubs and feed all winter or what George does and feed during winter warming periods.

Temps around here had been unseasonably warm until last Wednesday. Fish were still eating pellets later than they have ever before. But then Wednesday it dropped to the low 40s during the day and below freezing at night and I thought for sure they would quit eating. But Saturday I went to Moms and after picking up leaves for a few hours I walked out on the dock and sure enough the fish started to assemble. I got a can of food and the fish ate well (but a little slower than normal). One on the bass was even making assault runs on the HBG. Air temp was 39F but it was sunny and no wind.

I have read and read all about feeding in the winter here and everyplace I could find. Here is what I have noticed since I am feeding everyday in the winter because of the trout I stocked. The catfish totally quit a long time ago I would say just above 50 degrees. The HSB fed until the water got about 47 then they quit. Here is the thing about the bluegill. They are feeding in the dead of winter, water 41-42. What I noticed is if it was warm and cooled they practically stop but if it settles even consistantly cold as long as its consistant they feed and on a warming trend they feed to. Not agressivly like summer but there feeding, floating pellets. Its not like I can stop them because I have to feed the trout. There was a lot of talk about problems, I am just hopeing that no problems come from them feeding in winter. Its not like I am forcing them, there willingly chowing down. There not coppernose, so maybe this has a little to do with it. I dont see the green sunfish feeding only the common bluegills.

Joey I don't think you will have a problem with your BG because they are in a pond (southern location) and can get natural food as well. All of the fish mentioned are probably still eating some pellets (not actively or visible but off the bottom ). Around 55 F warm water fish activity slows as does their food intake. Some species are a little lower some a little higher and local adaptation does occur ( Minn fish eat to a lower temp than Tx fish). Trout are a cold water species and keep eating and YP are a cool water fish and will eat also but not as actively as trout in cold water.