EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
In the end of 2004, I dug Alissa Pond. It's 3/4 of an acre and only about 4 to five feet deep. It was dug to be an ornamental pond that looks nice as you drive up into my land. I never planned to put fish in it, but did consider putting a fountain in it. The water is brown, it's always been brown, and always will be. I did clear it up once, but it turned a nasty green almost instantly and stayed that way all summer long. It was gross, so now I leave it brown.
In April of 2006, I stocked it with channel catfish, coppernose bluegill and fathead minnows. At the time, I was told that if I fed them, they would grow faster and by the fall, I'd have one pound catfish. This turned out to be true. The following year, Steph caught several that were pushing three pounds. Last year, we also caught several more that were in the 3 pound range, but nothing over that. From seeing them while feeding them, I knew I had bigger fish in there, but we were unable to catch anything that was over 4 punds until today.
Casey is a friend and his Mom is a client of mine. He just graduated highschool last month and will be leaving for a missionary pretty soon. He called and asked if he could come out and spend the day fishing my ponds with a friend of his and his mom. When I got home, he was shaking. He was just about jumping out of his skin,he was so excited!!!! As I was walking up to where they were sitting, he yelled out across Alissa Pond that he had caught the biggest fish of his life. I turned around to and got my camera.
As you can see in the picture, it's a pretty good sized catfish. When you realize that it's just a bit over three years old, it's an amazing catfish!!! We put it on a scale and I read with my own eyes, 9 pounds.
I realize that they will grow faster with the fish food, but 9 pounds is way beyond any of my expectations. I'm in shock and disbelief, but the picture is true, as are my observations. It's just a matter of time until we break ten pounds, the only question is who will break this record?
Eddie
In April of 2006, I stocked it with channel catfish, coppernose bluegill and fathead minnows. At the time, I was told that if I fed them, they would grow faster and by the fall, I'd have one pound catfish. This turned out to be true. The following year, Steph caught several that were pushing three pounds. Last year, we also caught several more that were in the 3 pound range, but nothing over that. From seeing them while feeding them, I knew I had bigger fish in there, but we were unable to catch anything that was over 4 punds until today.
Casey is a friend and his Mom is a client of mine. He just graduated highschool last month and will be leaving for a missionary pretty soon. He called and asked if he could come out and spend the day fishing my ponds with a friend of his and his mom. When I got home, he was shaking. He was just about jumping out of his skin,he was so excited!!!! As I was walking up to where they were sitting, he yelled out across Alissa Pond that he had caught the biggest fish of his life. I turned around to and got my camera.
As you can see in the picture, it's a pretty good sized catfish. When you realize that it's just a bit over three years old, it's an amazing catfish!!! We put it on a scale and I read with my own eyes, 9 pounds.
I realize that they will grow faster with the fish food, but 9 pounds is way beyond any of my expectations. I'm in shock and disbelief, but the picture is true, as are my observations. It's just a matter of time until we break ten pounds, the only question is who will break this record?
Eddie