Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations I think I have a few Channel Catfish

Took ownership in winter 2021 but spent many hours walking around the pond and doing maintenance but only saw these two new fish in summer 2022. Once, walking the pond at night I saw what I expect to be a CC in the shallows hunting but it quickly took off. I've spotted glimpses here and there at night mostly but not enough to make any definitive identification. I assume they are channel cats from their concrete gray color and tail. We hand feed from the dock and the shiners and sunfish will actually come over when they see you approach the pond. They are tame enough that we can "pet" them, as the wife likes to do, or have them eat from your hand. I think its pretty funny and can only imagine what the neighbors must think we are doing. Anyways, feeding one evening I spotted the CC feeding near the dock on the 3' bottom and then spotted the second one.

I'm surprised its taken this long to see these two channel cats although I can go weeks without seeing our bright orange koi that is the size of spillway carp. From reading I dont think they'd spawn, we do not have any structure but there are a few holes from previous muskrats, which the dog seems to have chased away permanently. The CC also do not seem to have put any dent in the panfish population as they are on average size awfully small, maybe 3-4". There are so much larger sunfish which look like dinner plates but they are much more skiddish and stay deeper in the water if they do come for any pellets.

Will CC get any tamer? I assume they have been bucket stocked at some point.


Pond:
~60 years old
Max 10' deep
1/2 acre
Golden shiners, lots, all size classes
Bluegill, small sizes with some large ones
30 LMB added summer 2022
1 24" plus Koi
3 Commets, 6-10"
Various minnows or similar type fish
Previously unmanaged

If you’re seeing the cats, they are already somewhat “tame”. Two cats in a half acre won’t make a dent. That takes bass. And, the cats have a tough time pulling off a successful spawn. They are slow swimmers, go everywhere in a tight school and are easy groceries for everything.

Bass and bluegills have a symbiotic relationship. Only bluegills can spawn enough to feed bass and only bass can control the rolling (never ending) spawn of bluegills. The fatheads and other minnows are temporary when faced with the bluegill spawns. That’s OK. They’ve done their job.

Have fun and don’t get caught lieing to your wife about the costs. A bunch of us can tell you about that.