Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Channel Cats, Blue Cats or Hybrid Cats???

My fish supplier has all three, and I just don't know what to do. CC's are the cheapest, but he tells me that over about 2 lbs they start getting yellow fat in their meat. The Blue's don't have the yellow fat problem, and grow larger. They're a little more expensive. And, the hybrids, according to my supplier are much more aggressive than the other two, and grow much faster. Supposedly, they're so aggressive they can be caught on lures (I've caught CC's on lures before, but it is rare).

I've got a 3/4 acre pond (at least it will be when we get enough rain to fill it). I'm stocking with CNBG's, LMB's and some kind of cats. It is about 25% full now, and I've just pre-stocked 1000 FH's and 50 CNBG's because I coudn't stand it. They may all perish if we don't get any more rain soon.

So, what are the expert's opinons on the cats?

Thanks!

I wouldn't call it yellow "fat"; it's more like the muscle around the dorsal fin is just yellow tinged. It may cut slightly harder when filleting, but I can't tell the difference after cooking. In my experience CCs up to five pounds (the biggest I've removed from the pond yet) are still good eating.

Lots of other points to consider, though.

I put in 25 6-8 inch channels a few wks. ago and with very little fishing for BG(3 hrs) have already caught 5 of them with worms or small shiners. I use a feeder so they are not overly hungry. I would think it is a tossup. Small blues are terrific eating and very easy to skin, but get very large if not caught. If hybrids grow faster than them, I would hope I could catch them all due to their aggressiveness. I may lean toward getting some of each just to check the growth rates etc., and restock the ones that fit the scenario best.

Of course! Get some of each. That was my wife's answer, too. I think I'm gonna get some CC's and some Blue's, and see how they do. I figure if I got the hybrids too, I might get confused on which was which.