Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations CC Spawning Age??????

Two years ago, this month, I put 200 Channel Cats into my small pond. We've fed them every evening except in winter with excellent results in their growth.

Last fall, we cought several over 3 pounds. Yesterday, we had family out for a birthday party, and cought 17 of them. The largest weighed 2.75 pounds with a total weight of all 17 on the stringer at 39 pounds. That averages out at 2.3 pounds each!!!!

While cleaning them, we noticed huge egg sacks in the females. Is this normal? Are they mature enough to spawn?

My understanding, and I don't know where this comes from, is that they had to be 5 years old to spawn. I think that I'm wrong on this, but I also don't know if those eggs are fertile, or if the males are mature enough to do their part.

At what age do Channel Cats spawn?

Thank you,
Eddie

This is my Brother in Law with most of the fish we cought.

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I bet they were old enough last year, Eddie, I think they only have to be 2, and maybe 12" long.

If you had 50 CC that are 4 yrs and 5-10 lbs,how many do you think would spawn?

Given suitable spawning structure for them in the pond, pretty much all of them. They prefer cavities with access holes just big enough to slip through while they enter (perhaps so larger CC can't usurp their nest).

Successful recruitment is a different thing, dependent on what other fish are in a pond with them. In the presence of mature populations of BG and LMB (lots of hungry mouths in many sizes) CC eggs, fry, and fingerlings seldom survive to adulthood.

Thanks Theo.Im hoping to figure out how to catch a bunch of them when they school at the surface after they hacth and move them to another pond for a friend.If I cant I hope they are all eaten as I am well overstocked as it is.Im pushing the envelope enough that Im scared of a fish kill

Eddie, I think bluecat need to be five years old to spawn.

Theo,

Thank you, that was what I was looking for. I don't have any bass in that pond, just the CC and CNBG. My guess is the blue gill will eat most of the eggs, but I guess anything is possible.

Eddie