Roadkillwarrior

There is a pond that I have permision to fish and there are alot of channel cats in it. The guy who owns it dont think that they are spawning. The pond is about 5 acres. The fish range in size from 13" to about 25" and the pond has only been stocked once. So either some fish are eating better or the fish are successfully breeding. Any Ideas.

mauser06

what would stop them from reproducing??? alot of factors come into play...such as the spawning needs of channel catfish..and weather or not the pond is adequte...but if so why would they not spawn? unless they were sterile fish...

childers

why would the stop

Roadkillwarrior

I dont know if it is just a myth or what, but a lot of people I talk to say that channels have to have moveing water to reproduce. But I have read a few things about if you put field tile, old barrels, tires, or anything that a catfish can get back in, that they will spawn. Has this worked for anyone.

Pygmy

I've had some experience trying to encourage channel cats to breed in a farm pond, all with negative results..... Tried putting in the tiles with gravel beds, etc...Actually did get a few to bed but never saw any evidence of successful spawning....This was in two different ponds, my own and a neighbor's...

As far as cats being different sizes, I saw the same thing in my pond....Despite all the fish being the same age, after a couple of years some are much larger than others..The last Time I stocked channels in my pond was 1991 and there are still 20 or 30 surviving....Some weigh 8-10 pounds and some only weigh 2-3 pounds...Might be genetics, or possibly some of the fish are just much more aggressive or successful feeders than others..

bfulton77

Throw a bottle southern comfort and some cheesy music into the pond. They'll be spawning in no time!

Roadkillwarrior

Or maybe if I tossed a couple bottles of viagra in the water would get them going.lol