Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Fly Fishing & Other Fish Species channel cat spawn?

hello everyone, I have a question regarding possible CC reproducing in my 1/2 to 3/4 acre3 pond. The pond is on it's second year and has tons of GS and BG in it. Last May we stocked 75 CC in the 8-10" range. We fed twice a day through mid november and caught some up to 3.5 pounds. We started feeding a small amount within the last week since we've had mild weather. We have been seeing CC in the 8-10" range come to the feed. Could this be offspring of the original stock? The pond is isolated and does not connect to any other pond or source of water. The north side has a steep bank. We were wondering if they could have spawned since a few of the CC were up to 14". Any thoughts or ideas? Thanks in advance!

It is possible, however they are most like just the CC you stocked that have a slower growth rate than others. There is a huge variance in growth rates because of genetics.

Since CC are cavity spawners, are there any areas in your pond that even one pair could have spawned? i.e. old barrels, etc.

I was catching CC from my pond in the 4#-6# range last year. The last stocking of them, I fin clipped the whole batch. I caught one that was 12" long, and panicked because I thought they spawned in the pond. I relaxed when I saw that it was fin clipped too. Last stocking was Spring of 2008.

esshup, there is a brush pile in the northwest corner, a cedar tree in the middle of the pond and a live willow on the north bank. The north bank is pretty much vertical and was wondering if they could have wallowed out a hole or two in the bank? cjbs2003, we didn't realize the variance in growth rates could be that different. We see some 3# plus and then there some little ones. If it's the same ones we stocked, they didn't grow any. Could that be possible because of the genes?

Some grow fast..some "normally" and some grow hardly at all.....I wouldn't worry if they spawn as few if any CC fry will avoid predation with LMB present in a relatively small pond.

Yes, it could be possible because of genes. Could for a number of other reasons as well. I seriously doubt your catfish are spawning and if they are, as Rainman said, the bass will gobble the little catfish up like candy. It's why most lakes, even large ones in excess of 200 acres rarely produce fishable populations of CC without supplemental stockings by fish agencies.

I kinda doubt it too. But if they managed to pull off a spawn that would be ok. Wouldn't have to buy any CCs for awhile as there are no LMB present in the pond . I did stock Tilapia in June but of course they are all gone now. We just didn't realize the growth differences. But I guess that's true of all species . I should have fin clipped them as esshup said. I will in the future. Thanks.

Landon does your pond have bass in it?

no it does not,just bg,gs,@red ear along with the cc.

In my personal experience with CC, I would be surprised if they didnt pull a spawn. Keep heavy on the sunfish, and they should do a real number on any CC that do spawn. I have one pond, that's HEAVY on the CC, and there are thousands of fingerlings. Another pond, that's HEAVY on the sunfish, and fingerling CC are very uncommon now.

Not to pull away from the title of the thread and hijack, but what's the plan for controlling the BG in this pond?

harvest and trapping for relocating to one of our larger bow. anp possibly adding smb. or hsb. later this spring or maybe in the fall is the tentative plan for bg control. kinda a put and take pond.

Esshup why do you fin clip the cc's? is it to make them easy prey or to track them? Or is it something else entirely different????

I fin clipped the last batch that I stocked to see if I had any reproducing in the pond. There were CC in the pond from previous stockings, and didn't know if they would reproduce or not. So far, it looks like not.

I'm glad that I did because I most of the fin clipped fish are around 5# now, but I did catch one last year (or was it 2 years ago) that was only 12" long. I thought for sure that it was one hatched in the pond, but it's fin was clipped too. Really, really slow grower!