Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Sadistic Fish

A number of you may know of my travails with catfish. I've tried most everything to get a number of them out of my pond, especially the big ones (32 inches and larger -- but I'll take any catfish that decides to bite). I'm now convinced they've spawned and a number of them have survived to the 12 to 18 inch size. The younger ones seem to be even more wary than their parents.

I've tried about everything. I believe it was Bruce Condello who suggested, here on the forum and at the PB convention, to try shrimp.

On the way home tonight, I stopped and bought some 38-41 count fresh shrimp.

The big guys were circling like sharks when I went down to the pond about a half-hour before sundown. Because they were close to the surface, I used a small styrofoam bobber about a foot above a reasonable sized circle hook completely hidden in a shrimp.

Within seconds of hitting the water, the bobber took off and didn't come back up. When I finally decided to set the hook, I was both pleased and surprised when it turned out to be a really big male bluegill (10 to 11 inch, and fat) who somehow managed to get a rather large shrimp and circle hook in his mouth.

As the sun was going down, I'd see four or five large cats circling the bobber. Then one would slap its tail like a beaver, and they'd be gone for several minutes. None were tempted to sample the shrimp.

A little while later, as it was getting pretty dark, I assume it was a silly bass that jumped out of the water with my bobber, and took it for a short ride.

Over the past three seasons, I've tried about everything except dynamite and black walnut shells. I've tried crawlers, chicken liver, raw chicken, blood bait, dough, stink bait, plain hot dogs, marinated hot dogs, Cecil Baird's pantyhose, small and medium size bluegill with and without tails, golden shiners, various sprays (including WD-40) -- and now shrimp. I've fished at all times of the day and night, with rods, trot lines, and jugs. We've had multiple Friday and Saturday evening fishing parties with so-called catfishing "experts." We've only gotten a few catfish.

I'm going to buy a sein this weekend and try feeding them behind it for several days. As big as they are, I just hope they don't rip it to shreds if I happen to trick a few into getting behind it.

Maybe it is just best to let them be. Many of the bluegill we catch are citation size -- but we'd sure like to have some catfish dinners.

Someday, I'm going to win -- maybe!

Ken G.

Catmandoo,

How about a gill net with openings too big for the other fish (bass will avoid them) but not big enough for the cats to get through? Be aware that they will tangle themselves in the net a little though and the spines will get you if you are not careful. Been there done that as a biologist aid one summer.

What does anyone else think about this idea?

You must have patience or law & order neighbors. I'd have tried shooting them by now if I were you.

Nothing personal, Catmandoo, but this is turning into such an odyssey that I'm starting to root for the cats!

Do you think you could keep them in a cage for a while? Maybe Big_Pond would come pick them up for his pond in Ga-such well educated fish sound like they're pretty well poacher-proof.

Large catfish could possibly tear holes in the gill net - be prepared for repairing gill nets.

What pound test line are you using?

Bill,

Don't they nake the larger mesh gill nets accordingly stronger for bigger fish? I knew a paddlefish grower that harvested his large paddlefish this way. The fish were, I believe 5 to 15 lbs.

They make gill nets out of several types of twine and monofilament. I would want some good advice before I invested in a fair amount of money in a net.

I've had some good luck with cut bait, bluegill, fished weightless off the bottom.

Yeah, mine see the bobber and do a tail slap. I caught a couple by making a bobber out of a small piece of dead limb and a tiny weight with nightcrawler.

I thank you all.

Cecil/Bill Cody -- where do I find a gill net like that? I've seen gill nets at the ocean for croaker and spot, but the openings were only about 3 x 3 inches.

Theo -- Patience! Heck, I've got plenty -- I've never used any of it. As for law and order neighbors -- I live in West Virginia! The thought of shooting them has more than crossed my mind. Does anybody have any real experience with shooting fish outside of a barrel? I'm afraid to use a rifle, because when I was in the Navy, I got to shoot "tracers," and I saw how they ricocheted off the water. So, that leaves me with a shotgun. Birdshot is probably too small. Would buckshot do?

Yolk-Sac -- I'm unfortunately beginning to agree with you.

Time for bed. Thanks for the replys.

Ken

Catmandoo,

Here's one supplier:

http://www.memphisnet.net/

I forgot what size pond you have. Could you please tell me? Please?

I have had experience with shrimp that might work for you, we bought some for eating, not bait, but since they don't have a due on date we accidently let them ripen, even cooked in beer didn't help. I was later able to use them for bait and the result was 5 for 5. I have since cooked and used them before the odor was there and they worked the same, I did fish the bottom though and the fish was a pacu not a cat.

Absolutely! I would talk with the manafacturer about options and which would be best. I would think they would be straight up with Catmandoo if they wanted him as a possible repeat customer.

Catmandoo,

If you do go this route can you let us know how it works out? The situation of not being able to remove big cats is not unusual. It would be nice to know there is a viable option. Could even be good for a article in Pond Boss.

When the catfish (or any other species) are shy, I use small shrimp and a small-ish hook. And no bobber. I quit using a bobber many years ago. Sometimes you have to back off and cast further so the wary fish won't see you. Changing technique will help you some, but probably won't solve your entire problem.

I never thought catfish could be so smart before coming to the Pond Boss site! You learn something every day. Glad I don't have any in my ponds. They don't do anything for me.

MAn I SWARE I would pay Big Money to have these very fish in my lake!!! These things sound absolutly AWSOME!!!!!! Circleing like sharks? and Yes!!! they would become poacher proof!!!!

Go cats Go!!!!!

Another thing that has worked for me. My cats are also absolutely hook shy.

I got some fresh, really large, Gulf shrimp. When the bag is opened, the salty smell is overwhelming. I tore the heads off and tossed them in the water when I fed pellets. The bait shop also gave me some heads when I told him that I had a kids fishing deal coming up. Then, I followed by putting the tails on a hook and tossed them out on a weightless hook. They went nuts for it. Five kids caught 5 eight to ten pound cats before they wised up. I've done it since and it worked again. I still have some of the shrimp left and am keeping it frozen until I can get some more kids to show up with me.

When I finally clean these big guys out, I'll restock with ten to twelve inch ones. The kids love catching them.

Catmandoo:

If I were shotgunning my cats in my pond, I'd try catching them at the surface with #4 shot when they're cleaning up pellets (actually, I'd probably see what high-speed varmint bullets do when they hit the surface of the pond before going to a 12 Ga). I figure that would get some and at least teach the rest to leave the fish feed alone.

As Robert Duvall said in Second Hand Lions: "Try not to eat too many of them pellets - they's made out of lead."

WRT living in West Virginia, your fair state is generally accepted by Ohians to contain our most charming and erudite neighbors.

This is beginning to have all the plot elements of a Homeric epic:

The central conflict:

Brave, well meaning pondmeister trying to do The Right Thing, create a safer, more productive environment for appreciative, innocent life forms. Wiley cats like things the way they are, and resist his every move. Who can help but empathize with their simple desire to exist as they always have?

Secondary story line:

Evil aerospace engineer proposes to resort to Ultra Violence [set to the music of Beethoven?] in quest to rid the world of these brutes forever [supported in this by purist accomplist in Indiana]. But wait-enterprising Georgia boy rushes to save the cats before they can meet a pyrotechnical end!

If anyone can think of a love interest to round things out, please chime in....

Big_Pond, if you have any desire to visit W. Virginia, better make it soon!

Do I get nefarious laughter?

You may laugh to your nefarious hearts content.

Okaaaay, okaaaaay. Fess up! Who's responsible for cloning Theo???

Wow. I'm not sure how to respond.

But, lots of good ideas which I really appreciate. Cecil, if, I am ever successful, I will seriously think about an article.

It is about to storm, so I came in early tonight. It's been thundering off in the distance for quite some time.

Neither my wife nor I fed pellets tonight (she does the 4:00 pm feeding, and I do the 7:30 pm feeding). Instead, I thought I'd try chumming with some cut up shrimp this evening. For some reason, no cats came to visit, but the bluegill went absolutely berserk. Maybe it was the approaching storm.

I used some of the cut up shrimp with my jigging rod, and as soon as the shrimp hit the water, I'd have a big bluegill -- male and female were both hitting, all between 8 and 11 inches. I think I brought in eight of them in less than ten minutes. I'm still not seeing any nests, but they all looked like they were ready to start filling the nests.

Anyway, no cats to be seen anywhere tonight. But today, a friend at work (another evil aerospace engineer) said that if I can get the cats to come up for feed, he'd be glad to come over a couple of times per month with his "fishing" bow. That may be the answer to at least thinning a few out.

Lastly, if I ever get them thinned out, the replacements are going in cages the size of Cecil's. In Bill Cody's latest installment about cages, I think he said cats were moderately difficult to raise in cages. Bill -- I can't wait for the next installment.

Thanks all --

Ken G.

Dang, I'm wearing out my FunkinWagnall.
Did we ever vote Yolkie in as fingerling?

Last attempt at bait suggestions. Peel the shrimp and sprinkle garlic powder on them and let 'em set for a while. You should be out there fishin while it's storming. My best catfishing was done in rain storms. You've gotta go a couple hours past dark to keep the bream off it.

That sounds more like a sinister suggestion from my catfish than a helpful suggestion from a fellow pondmeister!