Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking What do CC do ?

Neighbor got 2.7 but I’m at a higher elevation and some of the clouds veer away. Need to get there and see.

What good are catfish in a pond? Aside from table fare or as a target species, all they are is competition for your predator species. They really offer no benefit (other than bluegill control) if you happen to have that problem. They are not a desired species to me so I have zero reason to stock them.

As far as taking pellets I would bet once the weather warms it won't take long at all till they'll start taking pellets if you're consistent with time and location of feeding.

Many people enjoy having them, catching them, watching them feed, etc. All personal preference.

I hav always wanted to try a pond with fatheads as a starter, then bluegills and catfish. I fear that, sooner or later, it would be out of balance with too many BG.

Lusk sez: only bluegills can spawn enough to feed bass and only bass can keep up with bluegills booming spawns.

Catfish fry go everywhere in a school and are easily picked off by everything. But, on a new pond, stocked with bluegills and bass
they can compete. However, they do not successfully replenish themselves in the face of predation.

I have a 1/4 acre pond that, after many years and generations, is now all green sunfish. It’s now less than 1/8 acre due to drought. If, or when, we get enough rain to refill it, I intend to restock with fatheads, bluegills and catfish. I want to find out if I can balance a bluegill pond with cats. Due to the distance, a mile from the house, I can’t use a feeder and can only get there by 4 wheeler. If hogs didn’t destroy it, poachers would steal it. Afraid I’ll screw things up. With the limited spawns of GSF, I don’t have O2 problems. Other species like BG could over populate it causing an O2 crash. We will see if cats can be the answer.

DD1 - I look forward to your results from using FHM, BG/GSF and CC. I think if enough CC of mixed sizes are present they could control BG numbers. I would start with at least two sizes of CC. 5"-7" and 8"-10" with fingerling BG. Feed the CC until the first BG spawn; then stop feeding them. If you don't feed the CC for 1st year then 1st year stock a few spawner size BG with the fingerlings to create food for the smaller CC.

Bill, no matter what I do, I need a lot of rain.

I’m with you Dave I need a lot of rain also down over 4’….