Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Raising Forage and Bait Questions about my catfish spawn boxes

I have a 1.5 acre lake. After 2 years from when I stocked it all my fish have repoduced except the channel cats. After some research I built 6 boxes to put in the bottom of my lake so they could spawn in. Should I
1- put them about 6 ft deep and a aim the opening towards the middle of the lake.
2- Do they got to be flat or can they be on a slope. Going to be a little hard finding a perfect flat spot.
3-put them right beside each other or spread them out a little.

I have 3 boxes with 2 spawning boxes on each one with a divider in them.
I also got 1 cream can which I heard does good. And info would help. Thanks.

If your pond level doesn't fluctuate, I'd put them shallower, around 4 feet, and yes, place the open end towards deeper water. Spread them out - better chances of having them in an area that the CC like. As flat of an area as possible.

If the pond does fluctuate, I'd put them in an area where the water level would be around 3'-4' deep during the time when CC would be spawning. (based on photo period and water temp)

Last year was the biggest drought we have had around here. My lake did good. Only dropped a foot or so. I thing they spawn in may or June here in Kentucky so i will get them out by then.

urup...if ya get a chance post a pic of the boxes you made

How do I post them from my phone. Do u have an email. I can send them there.

You might find a few answers about posting from a phone here... http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.ph...true#Post309329

Channel catfish prefer to spawn in water two to four feet deep. Be sure the box is only open on one end and there's a lip at the bottom of the opening so the fry can't roll out while still in the sac phase. Aim the open end to the south (An old timer catfish farmer taught me that factoid 30+ years ago...seems it has something to do with photoperiod).
But the biggest question is...why do you want your catfish to spawn? As inexpensive as they are to purchase, you stand to lose control of their numbers if you have a successful spawn.

They are the only fish we really take out and eat. Not very much and can't find anyone to buy the catfish from unless I drive a couple of hours to pick them up. The guy that first stocked it delivered for free but I bought a lot of fish from him. I don't want a lot. I figured that the large mouth bass would eat most of them up anyways and I could pull the boxes up later this summer if I started seeing a lot of small one when I was feeding them.