Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking how to "fish out" the accidental catfish

I mentioned before that my virgin pool, stocked only with fathead minnows, red ear, bluegill (4 varieties, let natural selection work that out), and last month black crappie.

One of my fish vendors, I am convinced, slipped in some catfish into their sale. I see some "large" catfish. The response earlier in this forum, and by 2 of the vendors is to "fish them out."

Ok, what is the fastest way to fish out the catfish, i.e. bait/hook size/lure... that will not keep me unhooking and throwing back the desirable, but still undersized fish?

I "inherited" some cane poles. Are they effective?
I have been told by one of the vendors "use liver." Fresh, smelly, turning green?

To answer your last question, I prefer fresh liver over old liver (for bait, that is). For my personal eating, I don't prefer either.

As far as best ways to catch the catfish, it depends upon how big they are. I'm guessing the catfish to which you're referring are channel catfish??

If they're under 5 lbs, a cane pole could work (at least I've caught them that way). For the bigger fish...not so well.

To get an idea on how to catch bigger CCs, see this thread: http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=114737#Post114737

and the link to Catmandoo's thread within the thread above. Good luck!

If you are trying to catch ONLY catfish, I have caught nothing but CC on Berkley Gulp Catfish bait. I have had a couple of hungry LMB strike on liver. Maybe Crappie would hit on it too?

IndianPaintBrush,

I would suggest using large, very sharp, circle hooks -- probably 4/0. They are a little expensive, about 10 for $3-$4, but well worth it. The chances of a fish swallowing a hook that size is slim, and even relatively small catfish and small largemouth bass can still get successfully hooked with that size hook if you are vigilant for any action on the other end of the line.

When I was trying to get my big cats out, I found that my bass would eat most anything I threw in. I think the big cats were eating the bass's lunches, so the bass were extremely hungry. For example, here is a desperate bass that choked to death on a hotdog! (This was a large circle hook in the hot dog.)


Fishing after sundown has always seemed to be most effective for channel cats. As I've mentioned elsewhere, I "chum" with cut up pieces of shrimp near sundown. Then, I bait a circle hook with a full shrimp, and throw out more chum.

I love cane poles. But, if your cats are more than about five pounds, I don't think the cane poles will be adequate. For my big cats (24-36 inches, and eight to sixteen pounds), I found it necessary to use my musky equipment with at least 20 lb. test line. If you can't "moose" them out quickly, they will take line until they can wrap themselves around your dock pilings or bottom structure.

Whatever you do, don't throw any channel cats back. They have memories like elephants.

Good luck,
Ken

I'm new at this, but we also found out quick that CC do have 'great' memories! We finally figured out a way to catch them though. We feed them in the normal way about 45 minutes before dark. Give them about 15 minutes undisturbed feeding time, and tried to spread out the feed in about 80 - 100 feet area. After a while the feed would drift up next to the bank. Then, throw out a 'catfish' hook with liver on 20 lb test line, maybe 2 or 3 feet from the bank. I think they are like sharks in a feeding frenzy. After I caught one on the north end of the feeding area, I would walk down toward the south end to try again. Seemed less likely to be spooked if I didn't just keep fishing the same area.
I also used a swivel above the hook because I have a hard time getting the hook out of their mouth. I would just click the swivel, pull off the hook "fish attached" and slip on another hook. I felt like 'speed racer'. After I caught as many as I was willing to clean that night, I would head to the shop and then I would 'retrieve' my hook for use the next night.
I've learned a lot this past summer. Thanks to you Pond Boss!

It all depends on the cane pole. I love them and have started cutting down bamboo to create some thicker ones. No cat can whip mine.

I still have my calcutta cane striper rod that I built 30 years ago. With a decent spinning reel, I have landed some awesome stripers and cats.