250 channel catfish per acre are a lot of catfish in a normal recreational sportfish pond. When these fish are about 16"- 18" long, and if you have 900 of them in abt 7 -16 months, they will collectively be eating 40 to 60 pounds of total food per day for proper growth. This includes natural and or artificial foods. If they do not get this amount of food growth will be slower than normal. Also with this many catfish expect your water to be continually cloudy due to the activity of the catfish working the sediments in search of food due to the high density of fish and shortage of forage items. Continually cloudy water will stiffle filamentous algae and rooted weed growth which some see as a positive.
Also since a stream enters your pond expect native fish from the stream to enter the pond and establish themselves. Your main problem in this area will probably be with species such as bullheads, probably carp and green sunfish (TX green perch. These fish are basically bad becasuse they take up "fish growing space" that could be used by more desirable and intended fish. Native minnows should not be problem in your pond.
Expect the catfish to successfully reproduce and add to their numbers without a bass populaiton present. You could easily get in a situation where catfish are stunted in your pond. Be aware of this situation. Manual thinning of their numbers may be neceassary to maintian good growth rates. I have very little experience with how cannibalistic they are and if they will provide any population self control.
The high numbers of catfish could theoretically provide predator control for the coppernose, redear, crappie, fatheads and trash fish from the creek. But if the cats keep the water cloudy the panfish and BASS will have a hard time seeing through murky water to feed properly and overall growth of these sight-feeding fish will be slower than normal if not poor. Do not expect them to do well in murky water - visibilities less than 18"-20". Water visibility of at least 24" is best for bass feeding.
I am not a big fan of catfish. A few are okay in a pond but high numbers of them I think cause more overall water quality problems for an overall general sport fishery than they are worth. If you love catfish for catching and eating then manage the pond for them as the top line predator. Seek good management information from those that are truly experienced with high density catfish ponds. Supplimental feeding will no doubt improve their growth. After you have lived with this current pond stocking combination and its output results for the next 10 to 15 years, I think you will decide to renovate this pond and restock. Plan for this and be prepared to physically and financially perform this in your long term pond management plan.
A few catfish experts may be able to provide additional help for you. We don't have very many true catfish experts that frequent this site; our mentor Bob Lusk is probably the one with the most catfish raising experience here.
You might try this site for advice with catfish raising.
http://aquanic.org Note there may also be a NOAA Sea Grant regional site in your area of the country.
