Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose LOOKING FOR BLUE CATS!

does anybody know of any hatcherys that would deliver blue catfish to the state of PA?

Ditto for Mississippi.

Man!! Tough order most of the guys who sell blues are in Texas there is one guy who is in the state of LA. I got mine from a guy in South Carolna.
When I called these hatcheries about half of them will say their blues are not very hardy and transporting them was difficult! They will say they have problems with mortality. Then their will be others who will tell you their blues are as hardy as their channel catfish. The person I bought my fish from told me his fish were just as hardy as his channels, and I would not see any dead fish. He was RIGHT! The fish I bought were Excelent!! No problems, they ALL survived. I have bought fish from him twice already.

Blue Cats aren't gamefish?

One man's trash fish is another man's gamefish. :-)

Chris

Robinson, isnt the world record trash fish from Tn.?

ps..most folks dont put 40 lb fish in their pond.

Don't know why Mr. Robinson calls it a trash fish...shoot this fish will whip up on ANY large mouth bass ANY day of the week.
Correct, when blues come to the pond the large mouth bass become BAIT!!!

I've got one, maybe two in my 5 acre pond right now, with a flathead or two. I told the benevolent stocker (my father in law, holder of all my hunting leases) that maybe that was plenty and we shouldn't stock anymore. I haven't seen a population impact at all yet.

Several people on the board think they are not the best in a pond, unless you are stocking for them and only them. Otherwise, they are going to impact your other fish pretty severely.

I stocked 250 of them in a 9.3 acre lake. I hope at this size they don't eat the bream. But it is possible they have already done so..

Mr. Robinson,
Here is GA it is harder to catch blues down here, we do have a few flatheads in our lakes and rivers but not alot of blues.

We also catch blues real easy on artificial lures

By the way Carp and bullheads are trash fish, blues and flatheads are game fish.

They're not bottom feeders. They prefer the middle column of water.

I caught a big bass on a budweiser lure one time. VERY sporty.
Gentlemen, and ladies,it is all about managing for what you want, And interpreting all the posts. If Meadow had maybe a couple blue cats for predation on bluegills, maybe he wouldnt have too many poachers, especially not from Tn. The point is, dont take each post as absolute gospel, but absorb, digest it all and come up with your own personal game plan, based on pitfalls and successes of others. How do you think the experts got to be experts?

I think most of us are looking for a balanced pond ecosystem. Big blue cats are like the proverbial bull in the China Shop. What they don't eat, they either tear up or crap on. However, if thats what floats your boat, go to it. Its your pond and none of my business.

Think about it, some people have great danes and others pomeranians.

MR. Robinson, I will bring my pot bellied blue cat up there when I come next wk. and sic him on your pomeranian and your blue tick hound.

Seriously, though, if channels and blues are stocked as juveniles, they have very similar dining habits. A 1 or 2 lb. blue is actually better to eat than a channel. You are missing the point. You keep alluding to BIG cats. My first post reads, "most people dont put 40 lb. fish in their pond". The idea is to let FEW (3 or 4) blues help the LMB control the bluegills; then you will have giant bluegills. You occasionally put a bluegill on a hook, catch a bluecat, lots of fun, and eat him, lots of fun; catch them all before they get big enough to eat the big bluegill. elementary.

Zetts Hachery in West Virginia has what they call "Missippi Blue Channel Catfish" in their cataloge. I have not inquired about Bules but MOST of what they have in the cataloge is in stock, although I've found a few things (Trout, Smallmouth Bass, and Red Slider Turtles) that are listed but never seem to be available. Zetts phone number is 304-229-3654. Good luck.

Good one, Robinson. Peace!

Mr. W. Robinson,
The Mighty blue is the BEST fresh water fish that GOD every made in my humble opion. Shooooooot, sorry about my pond ?? For what it not filling up?? OOOooooh because it has bules huh?? Well in just a few years you can bring them "Trophy Bass" to my pond for lunch! I am sure that these fish I have would love to eat a few "trophy Bass" :p :p

Buzzards....huh

Because the Drum or Buffalo, are as big and strong as the blue cat he ate the TOP of the food chain...
Have you ever put your hand inside a blue or a channels mouth? They have an incredible bite!! Heck if they had teeth like a shark we would be in trouble!!
There is NO fish like big blue... he's the best

I wish the guy that stocked and manages for gar was here. Or maybe the guy that wants to know where to find black bullheads. It's about your goals.

Black Bull heads?? Gar??? We can't compare blues to these trash fish :p

By the way I think the guy was looking for yellow bullheads

I prefer Bass, Bluegill, redear, blues, channels and crappie

hey guys, I DON'T WHAT TO STOCK 40 OR 50 POUNDERS! I just what to stock 6-12 INCH blues! does Zetts in west virgina deliver to PA?

There is a small place outside of Orangeburge South Carolina that sells blues. He seem to have a real good strain of fish. But you will have to pick them up your self

hello, i agree with some of the comments but i can tell you i have a great respect for the blue cat. i have been noodling since i was 7 and if you ever noodle a blue cat, of any size, you will gain a great respect for them.(not legal but you come across them looking for flatheads in oklahoma) anyway they fight you 5 times harder than a flathead and there teeth are 2 times longer. about 20, 20lbs to 40lb blues found there way to one of my 1/4 acre ponds, and i found they will eat floating catfish food right with the channel cats. this is very fun to show people and they won't take over because they are all males. i must tell you i am a blues man and they will try to tear your arm off if given the chance. how can you not respect that?

Man I can tell we are going to be GOOD buddies!!So you notice that they fight much harder than the flatheads?? Yes I have always heard that as well.
I talk with alot of hatcheries and they said more and more people are wanting to stock these rascles becaues there sporting Qualities are so good.

Where did you get your blues?? I curiouse because I might want some of that strain of fish for my lake..

Have you ever noodled a blue cat? I have thought about the concept of having my own private bluecat lake were people could come and noodle a big cat and feel the rush. I don't mean standing in waist deep water catching a flathead in a barrel or under a rock. For me, noodling to be fair to the fish , needs to be in about 8 feet of water or more. When you come out from a hole in the bank (you had to go up to your ancles in to reach the fish) you have to put him in a leg scizzors hold, as he is fighting you under water. Then once you have him between your leggs you realize you are out of breath. You still have to let go with one hand and use it to swim to the top of the water before you explode. Then your buddy grabs you and keeps your head above water while you catch your breath and helps string him up. no gloves either . You get this big boy on the bank take a picture with him, look at him and guess how long he's been swimming around. You take a look at his battle scars he has recieved over the years defending his nest and breaking lines. You take a look at your own arm as the blood clots on the surface and for some strange reason you are proud of you wound. Then you turn him back while thanking God he didn't way as much as you do, or he might be sharring this story with one of his buddies! You carry a scar on your forearm for a few months or sometimes a few years. The crazy thing is, its one of the best times you have ever had in your life and you never forget the fight, ever! hell i have myself ready to go noodling, i love the sport as if you couldn't tell.