Skinny fish will regain body weight in a hurry. stick a pipe in the edge of the water and they train quick to come when the pipe is tapped. Feed a little in Sept to get some of them back in shape. Dog food that will float a couple of minutes and no more than 8 or 10% protien will work. They will gain weight to get through the winter. Don't try to fill them all up, just enough to let the aggressive ones eat. The agressive ones will eat the smaller ones through the winter.
Put brush or anyother cover in the water's edge and add to it as the water goes down. this will protect any brim and small fish to create cover to protect a food source. County extension services often have drawings of a good structure pattern to create protection for the forage fish throughout the year. Brim and redfins in good shallow dense cover that runs down into deep sater, make it ard for the cats and other big fish to get the forage fish for a cheaper longer lasting regenerateing food source. If the brim and shiners run out just make a denser patch of brush a little larger and add more "baits" in the spring.
Artificial hollow stumps can be made from old car tires. (EPA doesn't like this.) Cut the bead out all the way around 1/2 way between the bead and tread. Clamp together with hog rings. 2 or 3 tires deep, 4 for a laying can. Cut 2 or 3 diamond shaped holes for fish to swim through, good brim stumps. They will also serve as laying stumps for cats in the spring. 2 or 3 per acre set close to the bank. A layer of concrete in the bottom helps but not necessary.
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