Turkeyfootnc,
You mentioned you plan to keep what you catch, does that mean your managing for eating size 1 to 2lb catfish? If you plan on eating alot of the fish you stock then you could stock up to about 100 with a feeding plan. But, if your goal is the occasional fish for table fare and more for the sport than you should stock alot less probably up to about 60 or so. Doing this also will allow your fish to grow faster.
Also, if you have bass up to a foot long and some even longer then you may have a problem with stocking 4-6 inch catfish. I recommend at least a 8" catfish. A bonus to this is you will be able to start harvesting sooner.
One last thing, are you going to encourage your cats to spawn or will you replace the catfish you take out every year?
The problem with encouraging your cats to spawn is that they may overpopulate your pond.
Better go the easy way and just stock new ones every year.
- Jighead
