Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Bullheads ( Yellowbellys is what we call em! )

Will channel cats eat yellow belly catfish? I recently posted about stocking some channel cats in a pond. The owner has informed me that he believes there are lots of yellow bellys along with the green sunfish in there now.

There is no doubt in my mind, CC will feed on bullheads small enough for them to swallow. However, for the most part I doubt CC will make much of a dent in their population. Now flathead catfish are another matter, they are very effective predators on bullheads.

Thanks for the reply. If I throw in a few adult bass in the 12-18 inch range, will they hammer the yellow bellys?

Absolutely, but then you will also end up with a reproducing bass population...

Im OK with that, I just don't want to over-do the carrying capacity. The pond use to be pretty balanced with sunfish and bass but we had a bad die off during a hot summer a few years back. We don't really know whats left in there except lots of green sunfish and supposedly yellow bellys now so I was just going to use it for a CC grow out pond. I am going to feed a little but mainly let the CC hammer the green sunfish. Maybe in a couple years drain it and start over.

The channel catfish went in today. I picked them up this morning from our local feed mill. I was not to impressed with the fish hauler. They were from Jones fish farm out of Ohio. I think their parents forgot how to teach them manners, they were quite grumpy and not-so talkative. I was happy with the quality of fish though and I guess that is the most important part. I tried to discuss the pond boss family with them but when I explained what this site is all about I was told " well that's our job and what we do ." Needless to say, I just grabbed my fish and headed about my business. Thanks for all the wealth of information you all give. I will update as the summer goes on about the quality of this pond.

Interesting comment. Correct - their job is to sell fish and as many fish as possible. Explaining how fisheries actually work may result in fewer fish sold.

I think Jones has a decent enough reputation.

I went to a hatchery in western PA last week, and dropped of a few editions of Pond Boss magazine. The guy I was dealing with for the pick up was a few generations down from the founder.

I felt he thought I was trying to sell him something by giving him the magazines. In reality, I was just passing them on to someone who would have an interest.

Some of the 'employees' of the hatcheries don't always share the same enthusiasm that we have for ponds and fish. So you don't quite see the mutual excitement there. Not to be taken as a negative though...these cats are dealing with it daily.