Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
Shotgun01, Dan H, Stipker, LunkerHunt23, Jeanjules
18,451 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics40,899
Posts557,050
Members18,451
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 28,407
ewest 21,474
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,110
Who's Online Now
2 members (Rainman, Bobbss), 284 guests, and 147 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#284411 03/16/12 04:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 45
H
OP Offline
H
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 45
Well has anyone ever tried this before.









Catfish dens on both sides, had to guess a little with what I believe wind direction to face the opening and I place them 6 feet below what water level should be and that what research showed was within the range of most used nesting. Hope this eventually gives catfish a chance with the bass.

Well I found an obsure article online about catfish nesting boxes that gave some size, then found a obsure photo of game and fish department that was using them, then found a research paper on different fish and found more information about depth of nest and what was most succesful depth was for channel catfish and they used nesting boxes to control the depths for their research.

Really not alot about them online took about week just for those three sources and the first two didn't add up to about 4 lines.

Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 88
M
Offline
M
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 88
Interesting. What are the box dimensions?

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 45
H
OP Offline
H
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 45
This information I gathered was 30" long, 15" wide and 8" depth with a 6" hole.

I made my 30" long that worked well using 16' and 8' boards I had.

I made my 16 1/2 wide because that what 3 - 2x6's equal I had.

Depth over all is 7 1/4" inside because that what a 2x8 is and overall 10 1/4 because I used 2x for top and bottom and that what I had.

Did the 6" hole.

Again I wanted to pour sakete over them so if they rot out I still had a den but run out of money and now it rain 2 1/2" yesterday near by not sure what my place is so I am sure they are underwater.

Not sure how long till they wood will rot out. Any guess?

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458
Likes: 2
C
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
C
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458
Likes: 2
I just hope they aren't too successful and they over populate and stunt. CC are awful cheap to buy at the hatchery, meaning you control exactly how many are in your pond.

Very interesting project though!

Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,712
Likes: 3
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,712
Likes: 3
They certainly look like great honeymoon cottages. If I was a catfish, I think I'd check in.

Several years ago I dropped some 8-inch PVC pipe in my main pond, and I've had some channel cat and white cat recruitment. If I can find the time yet this spring, I plan to dig a small pond (may 50' x 100' across the downhill side of a spring) that will be for catfish only.

Right now, I've got 50 5-8 inch channel cats in a 3'x3'x4'cage at the end of my dock. I've pretty much decided I don't want these unruly, but tasty and fun-to-catch critters, in the main pond with my prized bluegill.

Keep us informed.

Ken


Subscribe to Pond Boss Magazine

Peculiar Friends are Better than No Friends at All!
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 45
H
OP Offline
H
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 45
Watching my old video from Master Wildlifer Class I took in 2003 they talked about how the bass will eventually eat all the catfish so I am hoping this will make some type of balance.

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,025
Likes: 274
D
Moderator
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Lunker
D
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,025
Likes: 274
They will generally eat all of the fry and small cats. However, when cats get to about 2 pounds they are all but bullet proof.

The entire PB Mag this month is devoted to cats.

Last edited by Dave Davidson1; 03/17/12 08:36 PM.

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
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135
A
Ambassador
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Lunker
A
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135
I wonder if it would help much if you put a Pine bush or some type of cover next to each spawning box to give the fry some cover as they hatch out.



Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,544
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Offline
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,544
Man that's a good idea Adirondack..


I believe in catch and release. I catch then release to the grease..

BG. CSBG. LMB. HSB. RES.

[Linked Image from i90.photobucket.com]
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1
5
Offline
5
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1
I have been trying for several years to get my catfish to reproduce in my pond. I have tried sinking old tires, sections of pvc pipe, etc. but have never seen any signs of fingerlings nor have i seen any signs of the adults messing around near these staging sights. Does anyone have specific proven methods that have worked for them? I was thinking about stacking several pallets and weighing them down into the water. Not sure how deep I should do something like this.
Anyone with thoughts or ideas? My catfish are adults at this point (most larger than 18".) The pond they are in is 3 acres in size with depths up to 14'. They are very active around our dock because we feed them from there.

Last edited by 50243; 03/17/12 11:01 PM.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,025
Likes: 274
D
Moderator
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Lunker
D
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,025
Likes: 274
I expect that they do spawn but it is rare for baby channel cats to escape predation.


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
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 45
H
OP Offline
H
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 45
The research I found said that the most used nesting boxes was between 2' and 4' meters. Will this be the case in my part of the country only time will tell.

Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,183
Likes: 44
Offline
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,183
Likes: 44
I had always read that you should put gravel in the bottom of the catfish spawning boxes, has anyone else read that?

If I try to get more recruitment of my CC, I have been told to use small plastic feeders turned upside down and add an opening in one side. They seem to be about the right size here in North Texas and some of my neighbors are having great success using this method.


Brian

The one thing is the one thing
A dry fly catches no fish
Try not to be THAT 10%
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099
Likes: 22
R
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Online Content
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
R
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099
Likes: 22
Careful what you wish for with CC spawning...a lot easier to stock CC as wanted/needed than to remove monsters or an over abundance. Good lookin cavity nests!!




Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
Bob Lusk, GaryK, GrizzFan, PhotographerDave
Recent Posts
Happy Birthday Bob Lusk!!
by Rainman - 03/28/24 02:53 AM
Relative weight charts in Excel ? Calculations?
by Mark Dyer - 03/27/24 10:18 PM
Reducing fish biomass
by esshup - 03/27/24 06:17 PM
New 2 acre pond stocking plan
by esshup - 03/27/24 06:05 PM
1 year after stocking question
by esshup - 03/27/24 06:02 PM
Questions and Feedback on SMB
by Donatello - 03/27/24 03:10 PM
Paper-shell crayfish and Japanese snails
by Bill Cody - 03/27/24 10:18 AM
Brooder Shiners and Fry, What to do??
by esshup - 03/27/24 08:47 AM
2024 North Texas Optimal BG food Group Buy
by Dave Davidson1 - 03/27/24 08:15 AM
Dewatering bags seeded to form berms?
by esshup - 03/26/24 10:00 PM
Freeze Danger? - Electric Diaphragm Pump
by esshup - 03/26/24 09:47 PM
Newly Uploaded Images
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
by Tbar, December 10
Deer at Theo's 2023
Deer at Theo's 2023
by Theo Gallus, November 13
Minnow identification
Minnow identification
by Mike Troyer, October 6
Sharing the Food
Sharing the Food
by FishinRod, September 9
Nice BGxRES
Nice BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, July 28
Snake Identification
Snake Identification
by Rangersedge, July 12

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5