Wild about Warmouth!

Comment

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on May 23, 2014 at 7:54pm

"Red shiners can live up to three years. They are omnivorous; they eat both aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, as well as algae.[3] Red shiners have also been known to eat the eggs and larvae of native fish found in locations where they have been introduced.[4]"
They will compete with. and even prey upon, the bluegill.
Surely, in excess, they can diminish the number of bluegill. Better get some bass in that BOW.

Comment by Mark Williams on May 23, 2014 at 7:27pm

Do any of you know if the red tail shiners will effect bream population? These ponds I'm fishing are absolutely overrun with them.

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on April 14, 2014 at 5:38pm

Welcome to the group Eric........look forward to your contribution.....

Comment by Tony Livingston on March 22, 2014 at 8:14pm

Mark, feed is available in either floating or sinking varieties. With a sinking feed, you probably won't be able to tell what, if anything, is eating it. With a floating feed however, you can usually see or at least catch a glimpse of what is eating it. If you see Warmouth's taking it, then there you go.

Be aware however, that it usually takes time to condition the fish to take pellets. And with Warmouth, I don't know if they ever will, at least with any regularity and in any numbers.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on March 22, 2014 at 8:04pm

This is why I suggested earlier to not go too far down the path of feeding.
There are just too many variables out of your control, in a BOW you don't own. Without control, you can't be sure of anything.
This is why I think feeding the pond LIGHTLY will give you the best return. Sure, some fish may get a free ride. But so will the lower life forms upon which them warmouth feed. In the end, you can only do so much in what is essentially a free for all.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on March 22, 2014 at 7:55pm

I'm no pond boss, but I'm on one almost every day. I'm thinking bass probably won't take to the feed, but the shiners will. These being wild fish, the shiners are probably the first to go for them. They are foragers. I've seen them swarm over chum I make from dog food.
My guess is the warmouth will avoid them, initially. The commotion of he shiners on the feed may tempt them, however.

Comment by Mark Williams on March 22, 2014 at 7:36pm

So, based on what your saying, how do I know if the warmouth are eating the feed? Will the shiners or bass eat the feed?

Comment by Tony Livingston on March 22, 2014 at 7:33pm

To a certain extent this is true. However, if the fish are not utilizing the feed, then you need to ask yourself "what is?" Fish feed is a wonderful fertilizer......and uneaten feed sinking to the bottom will oftentimes cause an explosion in aquatic vegetation growth. This may lead to reduced predation, which can lead to increased recruitment, which can lead to inadequate forage, which can lead to stunting.....etc. etc.

When I feed, my goal first and foremost is to get the feed into the fish. it's optimal forage theory at its finest: the least amount of energy expended for the greatest nutrients consumed.

 

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on March 22, 2014 at 7:21pm

Remember, too, that feeding the POND will improve the overall health of the BOW. You may not need to feed the fish, directly, if the lower lifer forms are dining on your offerings.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on March 22, 2014 at 7:16pm

Shiners? I envy you - lots of fun. Did you know a century ago they were considered good eating?

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