OK... 17 acre pond built and stocked with FH, CC, BG, RE in 2003, LMB in 2004 and HSB last year. Started feeding a little last year; but mainly this year even though probably not necessary with fertility and etc. Taking out channel cats. Relatives went fishing the other evening and reported catching several ranging from 2 to 15 pounds plus a few large bullheads. The size range surprised me. Ones I had been catching were mainly in the 7 - 9 pound range. Didn't realize had any that big and am somewhat shocked to have any that small. There is no real structure (pipes, barrels, etc.) of note for channel cats to spawn in. Do you think there has been some reproduction or just extremely slow growth?

I grew up on a sandpit lake in Nebraska and we had reproducing population of CC - it was a 100% recreation lake - no vegetation or structure except floating docks, and they somehow found a way to reproduce. Any crater type area in hard clay seems like it would suffice for CC spawning IMO.

As long as the CC have cavities to spawn in or the ability to create those cavities in the bank, they will reproduce.

At one time I wanted my CC to reproduce so I had 4 galvinized trash cans in the pond with rocks layed up a quater of the hight of the front for the CC to spawn and protect their fry in. Later I took the trash cans out when I didn't want anymore CC.

John, I once did that but the small cats didn't escape predation.

That is generally what happens in ponds with LMB. The CC will spawn, but the LMB quickly eat their young.

Thanks for the info. I think I'll choose to believe that some reproduction occurred and survived rather than some had very slow growth.

Dave I can't really say my CC reproduced either. I did see some in later years that were not as big as others. They might not generically have been as big as most from the original stockings. But I had 20 really big KOI that had to be producing lots of fry but I never saw any extra KOI ever. So my predators had to be scooping up most all the minnows in the pond. My guess is that some of the CC probably developed into minnows but were also eaten. I remember Andrew Zetts saying he got rid of his GC because he saw them scooping up his bass fry. I had 18 very large GC in my one acre pond and I suspect they were eating their share of minnows.

I fin clipped all the CC that I added. The last batch are 5 to 7 pounds now, but I caught one that was only 12" long. If it didn't have a clipped fin I would have swore that there was reproduction in the pond.

I wondered this as well, since we have a pond we fish that probably have not been stocked in 15 years or so but many CC are in it, but they are all the same size in the 3 pound range with a few 5 pounds, I am sure larger ones are there just do not come to the feeder or bite the line.

Could these be the same fish from 15-20 years ago?

How long do these fish live?


We also have another pond we stocked 2 years ago and all the CC in it are only 1.5-2.5 pounds, does that seem like a good size or growth rate?

Please let me know.

Thanks

CC Growth rates are just like other fish. They'll grow quicker with the correct size and quantity of food, not so fast if they don't have it. As the fish get larger, the food size also has to increase or they have to expend more energy per mouthful.

Max age that I've heard of is 40 years, but I honestly have no idea how long their average lifespan is.

In natural waters, the average size channel catfish caught by fishermen is probably less than 2 to 3 pounds, but the world record of 58 pounds was caught in Santee Cooper Reservoir, South Carolina, in 1964. The size and age that channel catfish reach in natural waters depends on many factors. Age and growth studies have shown that in many natural waters channel catfish do not reach 1 pound in size until they are 2 to 4 years old. One study in the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, found that channel catfish did not reach a size of 13 inches total length until they were 8 years old. The maximum age ever recorded for channel catfish is 40 years, whereas most commercially raised catfish are harvested before they are 2 years old. In production ponds, the growth rate of channel catfish is determined by water temperature; length of time held at different water temperatures; quantity and quality of food fed; palatability, or taste of food; frequency of feeding; water quality, etc. Most farm-raised catfish are harvested at a weight of 11/4 pounds at an age of about 18 months.

Sounds like I may have a few slow growers.

Well according to the above I guess mine must be growing at standard rates which I guess is ok.

But since I do feed them and they have all the GSF and HBG they can eat I would think they would be larger.

Growth doesn't just depend on age of the fish and amount of food available. Water quality is also part of the equasion.

Update: We've been hitting them hard with trotlines and nets. Catching quite a few large bullheads and channels. Channels averaging in the 7-9 pound range yet; but a few in the two pound range and one that was less than a pound. Either a really slow grower or a bit of reproduction occurred.

Update: Catching quite a few more fish. Most CC in the 7 - 9 pound range. One that was less than a pound.

With as big as your body of water is, there is a better chance for natural reproduction with recruitment from CC. How big are the bullheads running?

3/4 to 2 lb or thereabouts. No small ones (relatively speaking).