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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 37
Fingerling
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Fingerling
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 37 |
During the winter I constructed catfish caves for my channel cats to spawn. I used two five gallon buckets wired together at the mouth. I cut a entrance hole about 8 inches in diameter in one end as well as holes drilled throught out so that air could escape. I set a couple out about 3 weeks ago. Earlier this week I found one floating and the buzzards had started to accumulate. When I retrieved the cave I found three of my monster catfish stuck in the cave and had died. It took a while to get them out.
Two Questions.
1. Should I have cut openings in both end of the buckets?
2. I can understand two catfish in the cave, but why would their had been a third?
Patches on your jacket don't buy you experience, you gotta fish!
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,055 Likes: 277
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,055 Likes: 277 |
I think that was just a fluke. However, I think I would have cut the entire bottom out of one. Maybe you need more of the caves.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,752 Likes: 33
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,752 Likes: 33 |
I would cut the bottom out or try to find something large in diameter for the catfish. What are the size of these monster catfish?
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 7
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 7 |
a couple years ago i stocked my 3/4 acre pond in nc with 50 5 inch Channel cats. this year with the drought, i observed approx 10 or so caves dug into the side of the pond.
nature will provide a way..............
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,712 Likes: 3
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent  Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,712 Likes: 3 |
Two Questions.
1. Should I have cut openings in both end of the buckets?
2. I can understand two catfish in the cave, but why would their had been a third?
Answer to Question 1. Maybe. They may have just been too big for the 5-gallon buckets. Several years ago I dropped a number of pieces of various-length 8-inch and 10-inch PVC pipe into my pond. I didn't block either end. I did this because the catfish were digging caves in my pond banks.   I've had some survival from the spawns. I know that the white catfish have definitely been successful. I suspect that my channel cats have also been successful. I've caught channel cats that were too small to have been in the pond otherwise. I added another 50 channel 5-6 inch cats earlier this fall. Answer to Question 2. Ménage à trois????  
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