When and How to Start Feeding Your Trout in Spring (and the Best Way to Do It!)

As winter fades and ice recedes from your pond, your trout will start becoming more active—but when should you begin feeding them again, and how much should you feed? Feeding too early can waste food and degrade water quality while feeding too little can slow fish growth. In this guide, we’ll walk through the best time to start feeding, how much to feed as temperatures rise, and how to optimize feeding with the American Feeder H125 and Pond Pro Premium Trout Food.

When to Resume Feeding Your Trout in Spring

Trout metabolism is directly tied to water temperature. When the ice first melts, your fish may appear sluggish, and their digestive system isn’t fully active yet. The key temperature to watch for is right around that 8-10°C mark. Once your pond consistently reaches this, trout will be ready to eat again.

Early spring feeding tips:

• Start slow—feed lightly every other day and observe fish behaviour.

• Feed at a consistent time and place.

• If trout eat actively within 10-15 minutes, continue regular feeding.

• If food is left uneaten, reduce feeding frequency.

How Much to Feed as Water Warms Up

As water temperatures rise trout will eat more aggressively. At this stage, you can increase the amount of supplemental food that is fed, assuming your trout readily eats everything within 10-15 minutes of feeding. Overfeeding, not only wastes food, but it can diminish the water quality by adding excess nutrients.

In general, for maintenance feeding it is acceptable to feed approximately 0.5-1.8% of a trout's body weight. In optimal growth conditions, and where natural food sources are unavailable, feeding levels can range between 1.5-6% of a trout’s body weight. 

Trout are cold water fish and their metabolic rate is directly tied to the water temperature. Their feeding is drastically reduced in the winter but also slows down in the summer when water temperatures exceed 18-20°C. This is because trout become stressed as oxygen levels can drop when water temperatures rise. When this happens, reduce feeding frequency to 1-3 times per week to prevent overfeeding and protect water quality.

Optimizing Feeding with the American Feeder H125

For efficient and consistent feeding, an automatic feeder like the American Feeder H125 can make a big difference. This high-capacity, solar-powered feeder ensures your trout receive precise, scheduled meals without manual feeding.

Key Features of the H125 Feeder:

• Holds up to 70 lbs of fish food

• Programmable digital timer—dispenses food at precise intervals (up to 60 seconds per feeding).

• Battery-powered with a solar panel for low-maintenance operation.

• Durable, weatherproof construction designed for outdoor use.

Setting Up the Feeder:

1. Attach the housing legs to the base and adjust the height as needed.

2. Secure the feeder on a dock or shoreline for easy access.

3. Program feeding times based on trout activity and seasonal needs.

4. Fill with Pond Pro Premium Trout Food and let the feeder handle the rest!

 Full setup guide available here.

Why Choose Pond Pro Premium Trout Food?

The type of food you use is just as important as when and how you feed. Pond Pro’s Premium Trout Food is specifically designed to support:

• Fast, healthy growth with balanced nutrition.

• Bright, natural coloration in your trout.

• Optimal digestion to reduce waste and maintain pond water quality.

By pairing high-quality trout feed with a reliable automatic feeder, you can ensure your fish get the right amount of food at the right time—boosting growth, minimizing waste, and maintaining a healthy pond ecosystem.

Final Thoughts

As spring arrives and your pond warms up, careful feeding practices will set your trout up for success. Start feeding when the ice is off and water hits around that 10°C mark., Adjust your feeding frequency and quantity as temperatures change, and consider using the American Feeder H125 for consistent, hassle-free feeding. Combined with Pond Pro Premium Trout Food, your trout will thrive all season long!