How To Grow Big Fish
The question on everyone’s mind is how to grow big fish. What does it involve? How can I achieve the best results? Don’t worry, we have all the answers to your questions! If you love the thrill of a tug on the line, you’re in luck. The size of the thrill, however, is directly related to the strength of the tug — the bigger the bend, the better! Read the outline posted below from Purina to learn more.
Supplemental Feeding:
Research has shown that ponds stay healthy, fish grow big and fast, and sustainable per-acre populations are larger with supplemental feeding. This remarkable difference is due in part to the fact that this affects a pond’s entire food chain. Also, feeding fish also supplies nutrients to the water, which enables phytoplankton to grow. Since phytoplankton are at the very bottom of the food chain, they affect all the animals above them. When they thrive, other life flourishes.
Feeding Full Circle:
At the other end of the food chain are the predators, such as bass, walleye, and larger catfish. They eat the bluegills, minnows, small catfish and other forage fish that have been supplied with supplemental feed. The food chain has now come full circle.
10 Steps to a Successful Fish Program
- Start with fish bought from reputable vendors, as they will already be trained to eat commercial feeds.
- Match the feed size to the size of the fish. If the fish vary in size, use Purina® Game Fish Chow® with multi-sized particles. The floating ration allows for monitoring of the amount of feed consumed. Feed only as much as fish will eat in 10 to 15 minutes.
- If training the fish to eat pellets is necessary, use Purina® Game Fish Chow®. It contains attractants to help train fish to eat a commercial diet.
- Begin feeding in the spring, when the water temperature rises above 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Follow a routine each day, feed at the same time(s) and place(s).
- Choose a convenient location where you can throw the feed out over deep water.
- One feeding station is sufficient for small ponds. Ponds larger than 10 acres should have multiple feeding stations, with one station for every 10 acres of surface area as a rule of thumb.
- To keep floating pellets from drifting into the shoreline, build a simple, inexpensive feeder ring with 10-foot sections of 1½-inch plastic PVC pipe. Connect the sections with elbow joints, then tie it to your dock or secure it to the bottom with weight tied to a string.
- Do not try to get too close to the fish when starting a feeding program. Stand back out of sight and move slowly. As the fish become accustomed to feeding, you can begin to move closer. Some fish can even be trained to take feed from your hand.
- Never fish at a feeding station near or during feeding time. This will cause the fish to shy away from the feeding area.
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