Stocking pond with catfish

This forum is for general discussion that doesn't fit in the other topic-specific forums.
User avatar
stitch
Duck South Addict
Posts: 1695
Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2005 10:05 pm
Location: Corinth, MS

Re: Stocking pond with catfish

Postby stitch » Mon Mar 06, 2017 9:39 pm

May not have stated it clearly in my initial post. I want to catch catfish. I don't want to put in a bunch of small catfish and have the bass gobble them up. I figure the catfish will eat some of the bass eventually, but not the primary purpose of getting them.

Me and my kids have taken abut 120 bass out in the last week.....making progress.

Consensus seems to be that I can stock a pond with catfish and most will survive.

Do I need to section part of the pond off and feed the fish until they get a little larger?

How many catfish per acre should I stock?
User avatar
cajun squealer
Duck South Addict
Posts: 1352
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2003 12:29 pm
Location: Madison, MS /Tampa, FL

Re: Stocking pond with catfish

Postby cajun squealer » Mon Mar 06, 2017 11:15 pm

If you absolutely want to catch catfish, then stock catfish into your bass/bluegill pond if a dedicated catfish pond is not an option. Opt for the 8"-10" CCF. As Pondman stated, they're not that much more expensive, and their survival rate and "transportability" will be much better. No need to section off a portion of the pond. As far as stocking rates, Pondman could probably advise you more accurately, but, conceptually, I would start off with a lower density, perhaps 15-20/acre, until you can gain better control over your predator/prey (bass/bluegill) balance before you add in another predator. You can always add more CCF, and adding a known quantity (balance/percentage-wise) is always easier and more accurate than quantity removal (balance/percentage-wise). If you could hold off on your CCF stocking until you can control the balance or even get it to shift a little prey-crowded, that may be optimal. Regardless of your timeline or approach, supplemental feeding will be critical to the success of your fishery. I would install 2 feeders minimum and also implement a fertilization program.

On another, yet applicable note, it would be interesting to see the difference in results of an all-floating feed program versus a part-floating/part-sinking feed program. I've seem instances where larger species (catfish, grass carp) have run off or interfered with smaller species (bluegill) feeding in all-floating feed programs. Perhaps a variable feed approach could minimize or offset these possible effects, or it may be a non-issue all together. Pondman, are you aware of any research or literature on the topic?
Them that don't know him won't like him, and them that do sometimes won't know how to take him.
--Willie
User avatar
Buckwabit
Duck South Addict
Posts: 3350
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2006 3:31 pm
Location: PTown if you down....

Re: Stocking pond with catfish

Postby Buckwabit » Tue Mar 07, 2017 8:05 am

That was a problem in a buddy's pond. We put catfish in it and can't catch them. Tried everything. They will eat food but won't bite a hook. So mine is almost full after a $10k rebuild, and I'm going to put bass and brim in mine. I'm going to leave the catfish alone. Too much trouble for the dollar
Chad Miley


I love the "Ole Man"..Plenty of Birds and No Company...
pondman
Duck South Addict
Posts: 1589
Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2004 4:31 pm
Location: Ridgeland, MS

Re: Stocking pond with catfish

Postby pondman » Tue Mar 07, 2017 8:07 am

"That's the one trouble with this country: everything, weather, all, hangs on to long. Like our rivers, our land: opaque, slow, violent; shaping and creating the life of man in its implacable and brooding image." William Faulkner
pondman
Duck South Addict
Posts: 1589
Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2004 4:31 pm
Location: Ridgeland, MS

Re: Stocking pond with catfish

Postby pondman » Tue Mar 07, 2017 8:07 am

"That's the one trouble with this country: everything, weather, all, hangs on to long. Like our rivers, our land: opaque, slow, violent; shaping and creating the life of man in its implacable and brooding image." William Faulkner
User avatar
Buckwabit
Duck South Addict
Posts: 3350
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2006 3:31 pm
Location: PTown if you down....

Re: Stocking pond with catfish

Postby Buckwabit » Tue Mar 07, 2017 8:24 am

Chad Miley


I love the "Ole Man"..Plenty of Birds and No Company...
pondman
Duck South Addict
Posts: 1589
Joined: Mon Aug 16, 2004 4:31 pm
Location: Ridgeland, MS

Re: Stocking pond with catfish

Postby pondman » Wed Mar 08, 2017 4:36 pm

BW,

Why are you waiting for it to fill up completely? Most ponds get stocked when they are 1/4 to 1/3 full. Also, if you leave a pond empty during the growing season, I can almost guarantee you will get wild fish in the pond.

Pond
"That's the one trouble with this country: everything, weather, all, hangs on to long. Like our rivers, our land: opaque, slow, violent; shaping and creating the life of man in its implacable and brooding image." William Faulkner

Return to “General Discussion Forum”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 19 guests