Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

The pond I fish at has a fish feeder on it and my grandpa puts Purina Game Fish Chow into it and the fish seem to be feeding fine. My question is 'Is there a better fish food out there and if there is what is it and how much does it cost?'

Views: 269

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Ksfisher, I'm too new at this fish feeding thing myself to have my opinion carry much weight, but I believe that purina GFC is 32% protein. I am feeding Purina Aquamax 500, which is 41% protein, and I hope that will equate to bigger fish, faster growth, or both. It is my understanding that any Purina dealer can order aquamax, even if you only need one bag. Around here, Aquamax costs about 6-7 dollars more than GFC. Hopefully, someone more knowledgable than myself will weigh in on this.
You are correct that Aquamax will equate to faster growth and bigger fish. I am currently participating in a study on just that.

But don't forget, that higher quality feed means less nitrogenous waste. This means better water quality, which also means fish that live longer, and you are decreasing your liklihood for fish kills.

I think that all of the Purina feed is "quality", but in smaller and/or closed systems, you should try to lean towards the highest quality feed you can afford.

You should develop what I call a "nutrient budget". Educate yourself (Pond Boss magazine and forums are a good place to start) about what sorts of factors increase nutrients and which factors decrease nutrients. Then manage for having no more nutrients than what you absolutely need. This will mean fewer algae blooms, which lowers the chances for an algae crash and subsequent oxygen sags.

Nutrients in:

1. Runoff events, especially those through fertilized farm fields. Nitrogen will attach itself to soil particles.

2. Fish stocking

3. Fertilizing the water

4. Feeding fish.

Nutrients out:

1. Harvesting fish

2. Nitrogen cycling, in particular nitrogen loss to the atmosphere. This is amplified by adequate aeration

3. Outflows of water, especially during times of active algae production.
I'd be curious what your study showed. And, did you have a pond with fish that you only feed regular food, and one that you feed AquaMax?
Wow- great info Bruce, thanks for the input. I've been spending a lot of time over at the Pondboss site, asking questions about my not so successful HBG cage-rearing episode. I will take your info to heart if I can ever get to that point!
Did your grandpa switch to AquaMax, and if so, did it make a difference?

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Lots of Predators in May…..5/22/2025

A lot of largemouth are guarding Frye…..when you cross through the pod with your bait it may be…
4 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Clinton Reservoir Smallie 3

"Bucktail!…..old reliable……"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Clinton Reservoir Smallie1

"Very nice…..we had great weather over the weekend but now we have a May Noreaster tomorrow…"
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Greg's 1st of two

"Watershed Property ,Jeff. Yes very pretty .I told Greg ,Indians still live there ,lol!"
yesterday
John Sheehan posted an album
yesterday
John Sheehan posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

499002469_10239073026024130_905664003242523886_n

"Greg tags a smallie….pretty area…."
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Great Fish That Has Begun Working Shallow….5/19/2025

If you look closely above the tail fin you can see the scuffs and missing scales of a nest…
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

The Masked Monarch Coppernose…..5/19/2025

Give me a couple of these fish and I celebrate any fishing trip……a beautiful 10 inch class male..
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Very Fortunate to be Able to Fish Quality Like This…5/19/2025

I never saw another vessel on the water for the four hours I was out…
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Had a beautiful May morning, light westerly winds…62 degree air temperature, 74 degree water at normal levels…slightly stained..let’s go!!!"
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Well it’s official, after 42 years I’m retired….time to go fishing!"
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

This One Got the Kinks Out….5/18/2025

Beautiful flexed out Shellcracker…..
Sunday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service