Question about Channel Catfish in a new pond

[kc5dlo]

I guess I will just sit back and see what happens. The preferred fish in my pond is the channel cats. The reason I purposely did not provide structure was to keep the re population of the channel cats down. I only have a half acre pond so too small for bass. Also this is a dug pond and it's only source of water is from run off, no stream or creek involved.

 

[drssg]

I guess I will just sit back and see what happens. The preferred fish in my pond is the channel cats. The reason I purposely did not provide structure was to keep the re population of the channel cats down. I only have a half acre pond so too small for bass. Also this is a dug pond and it's only source of water is from run off, no stream or creek involved.

I don't know if it's different in Texas, but I also have a half acre pond that is filled from run off water in Ohio. I stocked it with bass and bluegill, and they've done fine. I didn't provide any structures in the water, but I'm not real dedicated at keeping the weeds out. If they aren't too bad, I figure they provide shelter for the small ones.

 

[drssg]

And here is Old Mose with the biggest catfish of his life. 13 pounds and still the pond record. Sadly, he passed away shortly after catching this channel cat.


View attachment 665714

It's nice that he was able to be active and enjoy life. Some people rot away in a nursing home years.

 

[aspg4]

Did you get your fish from Tyler Fish Farm?

Who advised you of those ratios? seems kind of low on the perch.

When I stocked my pond, I put in the minnows and bluegill the first year, and then added bass and catfish the second year.

I created as much structure as I could when I dug my pond. It was my understanding that by having all that structure in there, I would ensure the safety of my fingerlings and allow them time to grow. This also gives my predators areas to hunt. Without structure, how do you keep the predators from eating all your prey fish?

I have no idea how long it took my catfish to reproduce. The last time we fished for them, they where about 5 pounds each and a couple years earlier, a guy that has since passed away, caught a 13 pound channel cat in my pond. My goal is to have big fish, which means catching lots of little ones and taking them out of the pond.

Look at this site for fish attractors: porcupinefishattractor.com I put a few in my small pond. The Game and Fish Dept. are also putting some similar attractors in some of the larger lakes around here. They say that hooks will not get hung on these like they do on sunken trees.

 

[jaxs]

Based on more than 50 years of maintaining ponds in NC Texas primarily for livestock water and secoundarly for fish,here is my oberservations. Channels never overpopulated,even in ponds that were rarly fished. On the other hand,every pond that neighbors stocked with Crappie was over-run within 3 years. As few as 2 or 3 Appaloosa per acre eventually ate everything small enough to swallow which resulted in starvation for remaining fish and themselves. Channels grow much faster when fed,regardless what kind and how many prey fish/minnows are in pond. If you can't afford to feed recommened amount,feeding a lesser amount will stimulate channels to persue prey more aggressivly. I will expand on that because I believe you can use to help kids catch channels and sport fishermen can use to catch more in lakes and streams. The key when feeding for max growth is follow instructions on bag to feed only the amount they can eat in a measured time. No more,no less because channels will continue gorging themselves long after eating what they need. Just before dark,broadcast hog pellets in a likly looking hole on a lake or stream then return a few hours later to fish. Channels will eagerly take your bait in spite of being crammed full of pellets. To afford shade from Texas sun and safe retreat for small fish,lash cedar trees into floating rafts. Cats won't spawn amongest the branches but minnows will.