Diversify The Food Chain So Bass Star–Not Stunt

Feed bluegill. You’ll notice results.

To bulk-up bass and bluegill, you must serve high protein.  A steady diet of Purina Aquamax MVP grows more bluegill.  Schools of threadfin shad or tilapia accelerate bass growth? Top it off with crawfish for dessert.  This strategy produces good weight gain from April to December. It’s time to evaluate the forage menu.

Only one thing keeps bass or bluegill from reaching their potential— availability of food.  Remember, a bass must consume eight to 10-pounds of food to gain just one-pound.  Area lake levels have been dropping since last summer.  Forage fish are losing cover to escape predation.  Bass and other predators will feed at will.  This could be a year for rebuilding food chains.  We recommend utilizing shad and/or tilapia to take pressure off bluegill so they can restore balanced populations.

Threadfin shad. Bass caviar.

Our minimum threadfin order is 5,000 fish. Stocking rates vary with individual goals.  Threadfin tolerate water temps to 42-degrees and survive four out of five North Texas winters.  We recorded extended below freezing periods over the holidays.  This may be the year to supplement shad.  Tilapia are stocked at 10 to 15 pounds per acre. Tilapia are tropical species and survive until early December when temps drop below 52-degrees.  Shad and tilapia thrive in ponds with plankton.  Establish a healthy bloom before stocking either to promote greater populations.  Add 75 to 100-pounds of crawfish per acre.  Unless preferred habitat is present, the majority will be consumed and not establish a long-term population.

Tilapia serve a dual role–algae management.  If nagging algae covers the surface or interferes with fishing, tilapia are a great biological method for controlling algae.

Deliveries begin in April.  Demand is increasing annually.  Place orders now!

We can’t say it enough. If you haven’t tried tilapia, you’ll be impressed.

Bass can’t resist.