Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Did I just waste $14.00?

My 3.5 acre middle Georgia pond is stocked with Largemouths(up to 4 Lbs), Hybrid Stripers(up to 2 Lbs.) Catfish(up to 4 Lbs) and Bream. I have harvested alot of cats this year.

The state of Georgia use to give fish away but starting this year charges a small amount. Today I stocked 200 channel cats 3-5 inches long(more 3's than 5's). Cost was $14.00.

Most of the cover is bundles of wood pallets.

Any ideas or guesses on the survival rate for these small cats.

Bill, I would think their chances are slim. It is pretty rare to get a natural spawn of channel cats in anything less than big water. I think it is because of nest predation but, I have been told that small catfish swim very slowly and are perfect prey. One fish supplier told me that subsequent catfish stockings, when bass are present, needed to be 10 to 12 inch. On the other hand, if that is true, how do bullheads ever become a problem?

Hey, just think of it as adding to the forage base with some extra potential.

For $14.00, I don't think it could hurt anything, especially w/ the hopes that you wanted them to make it. 200 shiners would cost like $20.

It would be great if you could create a small side pond excavation where you could grow some of the cats w/out fear of predation.

consider growing out the small channels in cages. i have had very good success with this method. jb

Hello Bill
Just a note on channel cats in bass ponds. We use 5 Gallon spackle buckets cut half the top off point the opening toward shore in about 18" water depth with a couple rocks inside usally 20 per acre. If the bass seem to pressure then will cover them with bails of hay the cats make their own ways in. Bass keep their distance. For bullheads keep the buckets together in grassy or weed shallows with alot of hay on top they will will dig in and and find a sutible nest.

i think jbrockey had a good point...and i can't remember who it was...maybe him...that gave a good description of their cages with pvc/netting/bouyancy etc on a previous post. may want to consider that...you'll see all the pros and cons there. mark

Thanks Guys, I do think I have had some natural spawning. All of the cats I stocked are in the 2 to 3.5 pound range, but I did catch a few 6 to 8 inch cats this year so unless they are stunted cats I stocked I am getting some reproduction.

i added catfish to my 4 1/2 acre pond and had real good luck with them.i put 250 channel's just to have fun with.i also put cheap garbage cans filled with rocks into pond and i know they spawn in these cans.

Bill, I just noticed that you only paid 7 cents each for the fish. That is dirt cheap. I wish Texas went back into the fish providing business but they are pretty narrow minded here on competing with private business.

Dave in Georgia if you are stocking a new pond they will provide 500 bream, 50 largemouth and 50 channel cats per acre for $25.00 per acre. I'm sure this drives the private hatcheries crazy.

Bill; expect survival to be low. Small fish in existing fish populations tend to be eaten. But, if 10% survive, you will have 30 catfish you didn't have before.
The philosophy of giving away fish has been a hot political item before.
Texas came to the conclusion that tax dollars should not be allocated to a small segment of the public. In other words, only landowners with ponds got fish. That left out many others.
Of course, since I am in the fisheries business, I find it a conflict of interest trying to compete in a marketplace where I have to pay to exist in my business, and also to pay taxes so my competitors can exist.
Personally, I think the state of Texas made a solid decision back in 1980, to stop providing free fish.
That decision has made better consumers out of pond owners, too.
In the old days, stock a pond for free, let it mature, enjoy it for a few years, then when it began to decline, heck with managing it. Kill the fish, and get more free fish.
Now, pondmeisters take care of ponds and fish. This site is a testimony to that fact.
While some states still "give" away fish, you will see the level of management is way behind the rest of the country.
You get what you pay for.

Bill how in the world did you get the fish so cheap??? I buy thousands and pay more than that. I hope other folks don't find your source b/c my catfish sells will blummit.

I have at times found it hard to find 9-11 inch catfish I recommend stocking in bass ponds. SO since they are cheper folks have stocked the 3-5 inchers. We have gotten some survivial probably around 10% like Bob said.

Also some GA history, this is the first year DNR has charged a penny for new pond stocking. From what some friends who work for DNR have told me the $25/acre is the beginning of the end for DNR private pond stocking in the state. Also there is a current bill to stop all free pond consulting altogther by 2005. In a way although I may have more business I hate to see this. I feel they keep some idiots in check. Heck if they phase it out anybody could call themselves a pond pro and provide erroneous advice without the states advice as a backup check.

BTW Bill I think you would like the cage plan if you can get those same 3-5 cc next spring for $.07

Greg, the state only supplies cats in the fall. If you are going to put them in a cage it would need to be in the spring would it not?

I have been told the free fish program goes back to the 1940's when the state was encouraging farmers to build ponds, not for sport but to put protein on the table. This was before private hatcheries. As with most state programs once they are active they are hard to shut down.

Update, the 3-5 inch cats were put in 11 months ago and I have had as most said some survival. Along with large cats I am now catching 10-12 inch cats which must be the ones stocked last year.
The State of Georgia has raised their prices(suprise)on cats for next years stocking, $12.00 per 100.
Probably will stock again fall 2005

That's still pretty cheap. I just received my bluegill from the state of TN. TN charges $100 per acre to give you 500 bg and 100 lmb on new or renovated ponds only. That's quite a bit cheaper than getting them from a private hatchery.