Crappy Pond

[Piperflyer]

I have a small pond on my property that is loaded with crappy. I've been feeding them bread & worms once in awhile. Is there any kind of a fish food I could buy to fatten them up; where would I buy it? I live pretty rural. Thanks

 

[irwin]

Interesting... Try calling a pet store that specializes in pet fish.. Years ago my uncle had a pond he built-stocked it with trout and bought food pellets for them... hey, they might have something for ya..

 

[LMTC]

Most feed mills carry a floating fish food, generally in 50# bags. Probably cost lots less there than any specialty store.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have catfish and bluegill in my small pond, and I feed them floating catfish food. You can get it at any feed supply store or Tractor Supply. Price is always about the same at $15 for a 50 pound sack. I don't know if crappy will eat it or not, but for what it costs, you might as well give it a try. I use a plastic coolaid pitcher to through out the food, but just about anything will do.

Eddie

 

[MossRoad]

If I had a pond full of crappy fish, I'd dose it with rotenone and start over!

I think it is spelled crappie.

Anyhow, I think they like to eat minnows. Check with your local state biologist to find out which kind to stock in your location.

 

[wjmst]

My pond has mostly blue/gill, sunfish, and minnows. We feed them handfuls of Jap. Beattles this time of year. They seem to really enjoy it!

I also has some floating goldfish pellets (from Wal*mart). The larger fish refuse to eat it them, but the smaller ones seem to like it.

Wes

 

[schmism]

i was at rural king this monday to get chicken feed for my new girls....

next to the chicken feed was the floating fish food... 50# bag for like $10 if i remember right...

 

[czechsonofagun]

My pond has mostly blue/gill, sunfish, and minnows. We feed them handfuls of Jap. Beattles this time of year. They seem to really enjoy it!

I also has some floating goldfish pellets (from Wal*mart). The larger fish refuse to eat it them, but the smaller ones seem to like it.

Wes

Interesting, I remember reading somewhere about bass spitting japs out. Looks like I am gonna hang some feromons from the pond pier

 

[Slacker]

We feed the fish ole' Roy! The brim and cats love it. The bass enjoy the brim!

 

[tommu56]

My pond has mostly blue/gill, sunfish, and minnows. We feed them handfuls of Jap. Beattles this time of year. They seem to really enjoy it!

I also has some floating goldfish pellets (from Wal*mart). The larger fish refuse to eat it them, but the smaller ones seem to like it.

Wes

Could it be larger ones don't eat the food because they eat the smaller fish?

just kidding

tom

 

[Partsman2]

I have large mouth, blue gill, amd sun fish. I feed them Purina Game Fish Chow. It costs $15/50 lb. bag at the local feed store.

If you feed them regularly and at the same spot in the pond they become like dogs begging for food. I drive the RTV down to the pond and throw the food out and they are hitting it within seconds of it hitting the water. I agree that you feed the small ones so they can feed the large mouth. Funny how that works.

 

[jinman]

I have large mouth, blue gill, amd sun fish. I feed them Purina Game Fish Chow. It costs $15/50 lb. bag at the local feed store.

If you feed them regularly and at the same spot in the pond they become like dogs begging for food. I drive the RTV down to the pond and throw the food out and they are hitting it within seconds of it hitting the water. I agree that you feed the small ones so they can feed the large mouth. Funny how that works.

We get the same Purina feed, but a little cheaper here. I think we pay $13.50 at our local feed store.

Also, when we drive down to the lake at about sundown, it does not matter what we drive: car, truck, Kawasaki Mule. The catfish hear us coming and start swimming back and forth along the shoreline. There are so many big fish that they cause a swell that looks like a mini tsunami. As soon as the food hits the surface of the water, they are all over it. Hundreds of 10-15 lb catfish sure make an impressive display.

 

[MarkV]

The Purina Game Fish Chow comes highly recommended by several pond management people I have talked to. They point out that the Purina food has several different sizes of pellets to accommodate a wider variety of fish and that with a 41% protein level it has a better nutritional value than most fish food. According to Purina you will gain 1 pound of fish weight for every 2 pounds of food fed.

MarkV

 

[Captinjack]

For those that can't get to their ponds regularly, install a bug zapper over the water with a photo cell for night time use only. The killed bugs will drop into the water and the fish will love them.

Another way although not very esthetic is to install a 1/4 wire mesh platform and deposit your dead chickens, grounhogs, roadkill etc. on the wire screen. The maggots will drop into the water and will feed the fish as well.

 

[fishman]

piperflyer,

Crappie are very difficult to manage in a small pond. They may take to the feed (try Purina game fish chow as others have suggested), but unlikely. Odds are that you have a big population of stunted crappie that needs removed, particularly if they are all 6" long. You could stock some 12" largemouth bass and watch the fun and that may fix your problem too. Some additional details as to where you are, what other kinds of fish are in your pond, how large your pond is, and just what the crappie population is like would be helpful.

 

[MarkV]

piperflyer,

Crappie are very difficult to manage in a small pond. They may take to the feed (try Purina game fish chow as others have suggested), but unlikely. Odds are that you have a big population of stunted crappie that needs removed, particularly if they are all 6" long. You could stock some 12" largemouth bass and watch the fun and that may fix your problem too. Some additional details as to where you are, what other kinds of fish are in your pond, how large your pond is, and just what the crappie population is like would be helpful.

Hey John it is good to see you around again. This time of year you must have too much pond management work to do tractor work. You need to fix that.

MarkV

 

[fishman]

You are right Mark. Texas finally got rain this spring and I have been very busy. I am also working on a combo rv/boat barn. The shell is up, and I'm working on the electricity now. I really overcommitted myself this year for sure.

Send me a pm letting me know how your pond is doing when you get time.

Maybe Piperflyer will chime back in and we'll get his pond fixed up.

 

[meadowlarkponds]

Piperflyer,

I hate to say this but, I know of several people who have tried and failed to get crappie to eat artificial feed. They just don't seem to take to it like some other fish. They prefer minnows and other small fish. Because of their unpredictable spawning habits, they are a very difficult fish to manage in a small pond. I wish it were not so, because I love to catch and eat crappie....but do not have a single one in my ponds.

 

[jonbravado]

yeah, crappy can overtake a pond if you're not careful.

as far as fishfood. my late uncle had a great pond with fish that he fed normal pellet dogfood to. They were good healthy fish.

he bought the cheap stuff in big bags and as soon as he stepped out on the pier the fish would come. bream, bass, catfish, etc.

good luck.

J