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Joined: May 2014
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OP
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,864 Likes: 298 |
We love our ponds, our fish, and the serenity water (usually) brings. But sometimes things go awry. In the spirit of sharing helps us laugh at our blunders, mistakes, and pratfalls, here's my contribution. WPE ever: A few days ago I discovered the lid to my TH feeder had come off -- one latch was bent during delivery and has proven problematic. This time, it rained hard on 40 lb of feed. I didn't realize the problem until a couple of weeks later... The smell of rotting fish food just about knocked me over. It looked exactly like it smelled, a box full of feces. Maggots crawling in it, but I wondered how even they could stand the stench. Had to control vomit reflex while I dug it out, and a friend shoveled a deep hole for burial purposes. Took 30 minutes of my life that I'll never get back. My wife threw away the trowel I used and made me shower & change clothes -- but she still complained about the smell. Washed my hands eight times... Just hope the neighborhood dogs don't dig it up.
Last edited by anthropic; 07/18/19 05:06 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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Joined: Feb 2015
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Joined: Feb 2015
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I feel your pain! I had a a feed can leak once and do the same thing with about 20 lbs of MVP. Worst smell I think I've ever had to deal with. Absolutely horrible.
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 277
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 277 |
That same smell is present when I gut bluegill who have been eating pellets.
I have learned to turn the feeder off for a couple days prior to harvesting fish.
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Joined: Feb 2011
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Sorry to hear that anthropic. Been there, done that with a TH latch not holding. I wound up using a bent piece of barbed wire as a easy off lock.
I might wait until it's totally dry inside, and then wait a few more days before I called it good. I used a 3" putty knife and scrape all the hopper sides and corners until all the dust and crud is gone. I also paid particular attention to the corners, and used a small brass gun brush to really clean the corners. If not, then it'll stink forever, and the remaining dust is the first thing to hold moisture.
I might also hand spin the big slinger to make sure it's not binding. Over time, fish food dust can fall between the slinger and the housing, and if it gets wet, it can swell up and it'll burn through batteries, and cut down throw distance. It's just a consequence of all that fish food banging around.
AL
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Joined: May 2014
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Joined: May 2014
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Thanks, guys. Good to know I'm not the only one!
Because the stuff on the bottom was the spitting image of what happens after you eat a bad tortilla, I couldn't scrape it all out. Had to pour water to break it up, which eventually worked. I guess will have to scrape sides with wire brush, then pour water, then let sit in hot sun a few days. Nasty!
I like the barbed wire idea, too. Gotta secure that latch!!!
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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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,864 Likes: 298
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OP
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,864 Likes: 298 |
That same smell is present when I gut bluegill who have been eating pellets.
I have learned to turn the feeder off for a couple days prior to harvesting fish. Never thought of that, but then I haven't personally eaten any fish from my BOW yet. Also I bet the bite would be faster if they haven't been fed for a day or two.
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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Joined: Jan 2006
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Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
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A big wind caused it for me a couple of times but no feed got wet. I now use snap locks to keep it from happening.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Sep 2014
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Joined: Sep 2014
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Frank, it's time to eat some fish lol. I have not sampled my hsb nor my lmb and I have not eaten my res either but the cnbg are great eating I see why the lmb like eating them. And I also lost the lid of my TH Feeder once due to high winds and not locked properly. I could see down about 5 foot deep laying on bottom. Kind of a pain in the arse to get it out at the time.
Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.
Tracy
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Joined: Sep 2003
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Sep 2003
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So you're saying the smell of the rotten fish food could knock a buzzard of a sh*t wagon????
Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:" "She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."
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Joined: Apr 2018
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Joined: Apr 2018
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Makes me wonder how well wild hogs would take to the smell of sour fish pellets. They usually like the rankest stuff you can find to throw out for them.
.10 surface acre pond, 10.5 foot deep. SW LA. The epitome of a mutt pond. BG, LMB, GSF, RES, BH, Warmouth, Longear Sunfish, Gambusia,Mud Minnows, Crappie, and now shiners!!...I subscribe!!
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Joined: May 2014
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OP
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,864 Likes: 298 |
So you're saying the smell of the rotten fish food could knock a buzzard of a sh*t wagon???? Maybe even two buzzards!
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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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,864 Likes: 298
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OP
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,864 Likes: 298 |
Makes me wonder how well wild hogs would take to the smell of sour fish pellets. They usually like the rankest stuff you can find to throw out for them. That's one of the problems with it: I was afraid it would attract animals (dogs, coyotes, raccoons, whatever) that would die after eating. Couldn't dump it anywhere within the watershed, either, or it might end up in the pond.
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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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,220
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Joined: Apr 2018
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I was thinking of an alternative to using feed that had gotten old or wet as bait! Hogs aren't usually very particular, and the smell would definitely get their attention from quite a ways off.
.10 surface acre pond, 10.5 foot deep. SW LA. The epitome of a mutt pond. BG, LMB, GSF, RES, BH, Warmouth, Longear Sunfish, Gambusia,Mud Minnows, Crappie, and now shiners!!...I subscribe!!
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