Can you give me some tips on growing big fish in my own pond?

Sure, I can. Fertilizing your pond promote the growth of phytoplankton, the first link in the pond's food chain. Phytoplankton is eaten by zooplankton, the tiny animals or microscopic organisms in the water column that are eaten crustacean and small fish. Naturally, these in turn feed larger fish. So by providing nutrients to phytoplankton you are actually stimulating the entire pond community.

A good fertile pond can increase growth rate 3 to 4 times as opposed to a pond that is not fertile. It is important to remember that a body of water must maintain at least 20 parts per million or lime or alkalinity for proper phytoplankton growth.

Some ponds are naturally well buffered, others may need periodic liming. In early spring before you begin fertilizing it is best to check with your local NRCF office, or contact a professional pond management company for advice.

OK, another key suggestion is supplemental feeding.

Catfish, bluegill and baitfish and many other species all benefit directly from this. These fish utilize feed extremely efficiently. In the proper environment fish can convert feed at a 2.1 ratio, producing a full pound of weight gain for each 2 pounds of feed. Fish that are fed grow faster and have increased reproductive potential too.

Fish can be hand fed or by using a quality built automatic feeder, which dispense a selected amount of feed during specified time throughout the day, that are very effective and reduce time and labor.

Feeding with 32% flowing food usually begins in the spring when the surface temperature hits the 60-degree range and feeding should continue until the water temperature reaches the mid 80s. It is best to reduce the amount of feed when water temperature exceed 85 degrees, and do no feed at all when water temps exceed 90 degrees, or during hot, still, cloudy days when phytoplankton is not capable of producing oxygen.

All right, what about winter-feeding when the water temps are below 60-50 degree range, should you continue to feed? Good question. It is true; fish can get by on 1/10th the food intake during the good water periods. However, it is smart to feed year round, but during the winter switch to sinking food and feed small portions only a couple of times a week. By doing this you will have a healthier fish come spring for better reproduction.