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Supplemental Feeding and Competition

Bluegill (BG) feeding and competition is different in every pond. Here is a recent example. About 2 mths ago the BG in 2 ponds eating slowed so much that I turned off the feeders. Water temp was about 53 at the time. However in the third pond the BG kept eating like pigs until last week (last time I checked ) when the water temp was about 45. In fact all 3 ponds had CNBG (copper nose bluegill) added to the existing population about 3 mths ago but the effect on feeding was different in each pond. In the pond where the BG are still feeding we added 250 3-6 inch CNBG . Their addition must have encouraged the other BG/CNBG to join the feast. I say this because the feeding rate went out the roof. They would eat continuously for 45-60 min as fast as they could. I tried to count (visual and sound)how many strikes per min and there were to many to do so. This does not count those that were quietly eating underwater. My guess at the number of BG feeding based on pellets put out , time and counting , assuming each BG ate 5-10 pellets was 2000 BG+. This would mean that at least 1750 existing BG have joined the new CNBG eating like pigs all at water temps where that behavior would not be expected. This feeding behavior has lasted 2 1/2 mths so far. We have never had BG feeding like that in 8 years on these 3 ponds. The point is every pond and population acts differently to supplemental feeding.

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Permalink Reply by Bruce Condello on January 16, 2009 at 6:50pm

That's really interesting, Ewest.

Do you think it would be possible to dovetail this into two or three key links to Pond Boss discussions about feeding bluegill? It's such a good subject. It would be cool if the people on Big Bluegill knew what a good resource Pond Boss forums could be when it comes to beefing up their bluegill.

Bruce