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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