Feeding your
bluegill
One of the easiest and most efficient methods for improving
bass growth is by feeding your bluegill. Feeding the bluegill a supplemental
fish food diet creates healthier fish that reproduce at higher rates, therefore
increasing the population. More importantly, feeding bluegill increases their
weight, which consequently increases the weight of the bass. Feeding can occur
year around in some areas but generally begins in March and continues through
November in much of the southeast. For bluegill, use a moderate protein level no
less than 36%. This is a big advantage versus cheaper 32% protein food.
Feeding by hand is not as efficient as using an automatic fish feeder which can
feed multiple times a day. Having feeders on the pond provides a great food
source on a continuous basis. Bluegill have a short intestinal tract and benefit
from multiple feedings during the day. An automatic fish feeder is one of the
best investments a pond owner can make. It will concentrate fish for easier
fishing and grow the largest bluegill in the lake. It is also a great place for
kids to learn to fish, because the action is always fast. Many people just enjoy
watching the feeding frenzy that occurs and showing off your trophy bluegill to
your friends.
Bluegill will not travel far to consume food. In order to maximize bluegill
growth and production, it may be necessary to feed in more than one section or
to setup multiple feeders in ponds greater than 1/2 acre. All ponds are shaped
differently but typically a minimum of one feeder per acre may be necessary to
feed all bluegill in smaller ponds. For ponds greater than 20 acres one
feeder/two-three acres is sufficient.
Bluegill
Feeding Schedules
How much should you feed? As a general rule of thumb, only cast enough feed so
the fish will eat most of the food within 5 to 10 minutes. Overfeeding may cause
dissolved oxygen depletion and possibly cause a fish kill, especially in small
ponds. The total amount of food consumed will vary due to surface water
temperature, fish species, and water quality. Bluegill experience their most
rapid growth in the spring and fall. To maximize growth feed four times daily in
the spring and early summer. During the heat of the summer, feed only in early
morning and late afternoon. As the water begins to cool in the fall, feed four
times daily. Below is a feeding guide for bluegill based on the water surface
temperature:
Water temperature 55° to 60°F
Feed only one time per day, during the warmest part of the day. Set the
automatic feeder for one second. If fish are not feeding, discontinue feeding
until water the temperature increases above 55°F.
Water temperature between 65°F and 80°F
Feed 4 times per day. Temperatures ranging from 65-80°F are ideal for maximize fish
growth and production. Bluegill will feed aggressively at these water
temperatures. Separating the feedings by a few hours allows digestion of the
food prior to next feeding.
Water Temperature between 80°F and 90°F
Feed 2 times per day during the cooler parts of the day, typically near sunrise
and sunset. The amount of food may need to be decreased as temperatures continue
to rise. Discontinue feeding when water temperature increases above 95°F and
start back up when it drops below 90°F.
Alternative
Species Feeding
It is becoming more common for clients to stock hybrid
striped bass to add some diversity to their fishery. Hybrid striped bass are
predators and require more fat content as they find in the fish and critters
they eat. The hybrid striped bass do really well on our 42% protein 165 fat
pellets. This fish food comes in several sizes from 1/8”, 3/16”, 1/4”, or we can
special order 5/16”. This is an excellent food for feed trained largemouth bass
as well. Feed trained bass do especially well with the larger pellets. They need
the larger pellets to maximize their gain versus the effort for the strike. You
can also use this food in the smaller sizes to grow the biggest bluegill you
have ever seen.
For trout, we carry a 44% protein, 18% fat pellet that is
3/16” in size from November through April. The trout require the highest fat
content food available. While the higher the fat content the more the cost, it
is actually a more economical choice. Many species of fish will eat lesser
quality food. However, the food conversion is maximized with the foods
mentioned. In other words, you could throw less of these higher quality fish
foods and get more weight gain. This means the dollars spent per weight gain is
best when you match the food properly. Below are the fish food types we have
available.
|
BRAND |
PELLET SIZE |
PROTEIN (%) |
FAT (%) |
BAG SIZE (lbs.) |
PRICE PER BAG** |
|
Inches |
mm |
|
AquaMax LMB |
3/4 x 1 |
19 |
45 |
10 |
40 |
$35.00 |
|
Trout Chow* |
3/16 |
4.8 |
44 |
18 |
50 |
$40.00 |
|
Little Strike |
1/8 |
3.2 |
36 |
6 |
40 |
$20.00 |
|
Zeigler 40/10 |
1/8 |
3.2 |
40 |
10 |
44 |
$30.00 |
|
"" |
3/16 |
4.8 |
"" |
"" |
"" |
"" |
|
"" |
1/4 |
6.4 |
"" |
"" |
"" |
"" |
|
Zeigler 42/16 |
1/8 |
3.2 |
42 |
16 |
44 |
$35.00 |
|
"" |
3/16 |
4.8 |
"" |
"" |
"" |
"" |
|
"" |
1/4 |
6.4 |
"" |
"" |
"" |
"" |
|
"" |
5/16 |
7.9 |
"" |
"" |
"" |
"" |
|
*Available in Fall
through Spring |
|
**Does not include
shipping or tax. Quantity discounts are available. |
We also provide a feeder route where we visit your lake
once a month to adjust and maintain the feeders if necessary and fill them with
fish food. Feel free to call our office to speak with one of our biologist to
discuss what services best fit your needs. Also, click on the link below to see
our available fish feeders.
