Chris,

It sounds like you are well on your way to the pond you want. If you add Bill Cody's tips, it won't take long to get there. I may sound like an infomercial, but I've achieved what I wanted using the advice Bill posted.

I too have black crappie in my pond, but none of them ever go back.

As for channel catfish, I think that since the first Pond Boss conference three years ago when there was a presentation about what catfish eat, many of us have really felt that they add to growing big bluegill. They are definitely "put and take" fish. Just don't allow them to get too big, as they can become real pests.

My pond is a little bigger than yours (about 0.7 acres). I put about twenty 10-12 inch catfish in per year. We take out all that we catch over about 18 inches. The ones I put in 15 months ago are now 22-24 inches and about 4 lbs. I figure there are about 7 or 8 left of that year class. They are voracious eaters and you never know when you'll catch one. I've caught them on flies when fishing for trout, and we've caught a number of them when fishing for bluegill with ultralight equipment. They are just plain fun to have in the pond, plus they are great eating.

Ken

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