Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding New Pond - Not Eating Optimal Feed

We wrapped up a new 3-acre pond build in December here in NE MO, was blessed with some serious rains and it is holding around 10' deep at the deepest and averages 5-6'.

We added 100 lbs of FHM, 100 lbs of Golden Shiners, 375 1-3" RES, 825 3-5" BG and 325 BC about 6-weeks ago. About 4-weeks ago, I installed a new Texas Hunter Feeder and filled with a mix of Optimal Starter #4 & Optimal Junior. I initially ran the feeder for 3-secs twice a day and ran for two weeks, hardly any fish touched the feed. I upped the time to 10-secs twice a day for a week & a half now thinking it might kick start them, but just a few shiners and FHMs swipe at the feed. Not a sight of a single BG or RES. Haven't found any evidence of a fish kill, literally have only found 1 dead FHM & 2 dead GS.

What am I missing here? I've been feeding for a month now with no joy. I put the feeder on the far side of the BOW from where we dropped the fish and there is significant cover between the feeder and there, I would think they would've found it by now.

BTW, I'd estimate the feeder is throwing food to depths from 3'-5'.

RES may not show up to the feeder. They are hard to feed train from what I hear. Your BG may just be slow to show. Mine have just begun to feed in the last two weeks and they have been on feed for 3? years. You may still be on the chilly side being further north and a larger pond. I don't think throwing more food will help. In fact, I would get tight and throw less until they find it then ramp up to a more filling level. Back when my pond was freshly stocked, the FHM found the feed first, then the BG about a week later. I'll bet you'll see some takers soon.

I agree with Quarter Acre. BG are always the last to show at my feeders in the spring, they like warmer water than my other fish. Give it a little time & some higher temps.

Suggestion.. Set feeder for 3 sec max. Feed 1 time at 20-30 min before sundown. Eventually they will come. You can adjust feeder later after they have become accustomed ..

We have had a slow start to fish feeding in all our lakes due to lower than normal water temps and a few cold fronts. We are located near Warrenton MO. Our BG showed up but we had cold weather and snow arrived. Water temps went from low 60s to mid 50s and fish stopped feeding. They start back this past week, but now it is going down to 40s tonight. I start with one feeding time for 2 secs in early morning light. Ramp it up after they show up. We did create a SMB (500) and RES (5000) only lake two years ago. We hardly ever saw RES actively feeding but they grew quite quickly.

Agree. Feed right before dusk, and take your water temp. Don't bother trying to feed until the water temp is above 60°F.

I read threads like this and get outrageously confused since my pond is 80*....

Location, location, location.

Water temp was 62°F last Wednesday, and I was thinking about starting to stock Tilapia. Then I looked at the 10 day forecast and decided to hold off a week (or more). Cold front blew through on Sunday with 2" cold rain. Water temp today was 56°F and since we will have temps tonight in the upper 20's it might drop even more.