Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Albino catfish stocking

So I picked up 50 albino catfish fingerlings back in February and I’ve been growing them out in my RAS system until they are large enough to go into my 6 acre pond. They are at around 8-10” right now. How much longer do I need to grow them out to expect a decent survival rate?

That all depends on what is already in the pond.

It’s got a pretty good population of 2-4 lbs bass feeding on threadfin shad and bluegill. There are a few 6-10 lbs bass. Plenty of 2-4” bluegill and plenty of 6-9” bluegill. Pond is fertilized properly each month. Just added fresh brush piles and fish attractors this past winter. A few weeks ago I purchased the piece of land above mine that has a 1.5 acre pond that seems to be a typical bass stunted bond. Lots of 6-12” bass.There is hardly any forage in this pond and little to no cover. I’ve been hitting the bass hard trying to get the population down before I add more forage. I’ve probably taken around 25-30 bass out and also one 4lbs bass that I moved down to the trophy bass pond. I was thinking about using this pond to grow them out a little more then move a few of them down to the bigger pond once they get to say 1 lbs or so. Has anyone tried stocking albino catfish in either of these situations and if so how was you survival rate? Im just wanting to get the catfish out of the RAS system, the water quality has done great so far but the catfish are around 8-10” and I don’t want to push it. I also want to make some room for the next batch of fish.

I have stock albinos in a few ponds with big bass at less than 10" size and it did not end up well. I had a few survive, but they were so shy with the larger bass present they would not come up for feed for the first whole year.

If it was me and my money. I would build a floating cage in the pond and cage feed them till they get to a 14"+ size.

jsand13 Can you give us a formal update on your fishery experiance? is it anywhere already?

I’ve got a 4+ acre pond south of St Louis and I stocked 20 6-10 inch albino last spring and 220 8-10” this spring. I have a Tx hunter set at 6am and 6:45 pm every day with MVP and I have never once seen one of the albinos come to the feeder. We haven’t caught one nor seen one since stocking. I’ve got loads of 8-12 inch crappie and am over populated with 10-13” bass. We have a handful of 7+lb bass but very few in the other size classes. Don’t know if it’s the GBH getting them or the bass eating them but I don’t think I’ve had much if any make it. I and going to fence off a section of a cove next year and get them bigger before releasing into the main pond.

A 6-7 lb LMB can easily eat a 10 in CC.