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channel cat growth
#12795908
06/18/18 01:47 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,959
marcus254
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,959 |
Hello I've got a pond that is 1.5 acres, its over run with bluegill up to 8". I was looking to throw in some catfish to feed on them and cut them down. How long would it take the cats to get enough size to start eating the middle aged gills. How well do blue cats do in tanks, or just stick with channel? At full the depth is around 15' and stays above 10' through the summer. lots of vegetation. thanks
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Re: channel cat growth
[Re: marcus254]
#12796262
06/18/18 05:28 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,327
Meadowlark
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,327 |
Blue cats do exceedingly well in ponds...so well that at some point all you will have will be one or two big blues and not much else remaining.
Bass will do a number on those gills and provide you with some great fishing...and much better predators than channels and they will reproduce leaving you, if stocked properly, a relatively balanced pond.
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Re: channel cat growth
[Re: marcus254]
#12796440
06/18/18 07:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,959
marcus254
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,959 |
I was afraid of blues growing to large. I have to many large mouth as well, The larger ones I've caught some 23" ones that should be 8 lbs that are so skinny. I know I need to cull the small large mouth they are over crowded too. I know they are feeding on the gills but its not enough to keep up. The big gills seem to not be slowed down they are booming. I need something to put them in check. Channels get a good size but not to massive I was wandering how long it took to get them 10 lbs or so, or if they even will reach that large in a 1.5 acre tank
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Re: channel cat growth
[Re: marcus254]
#12796767
06/18/18 10:49 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,327
Meadowlark
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,327 |
I guess my question would be why? Why do you say "you need something to put them (big gills) in check"?
If your bass are skinny, then most likely you don't have a problem with overpopulation of blue gills....you likely have a problem with too many bass. Evidence of numerous 8 inch 'gills is not indicative of overpopulation of blue gills, quite the opposite. Adding catfish to the mix will simply compound the problem of skinny bass.
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Re: channel cat growth
[Re: marcus254]
#12797428
06/19/18 01:54 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,959
marcus254
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,959 |
I guess your right I was looking at it wrong. The problem is the smaller bass. I need to weed alot of them out.
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Re: channel cat growth
[Re: marcus254]
#12809811
06/29/18 04:08 AM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,327
Meadowlark
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,327 |
Yes, get aggressive at removing all the small bass that are caught, under 12 to 14 inches, and you will soon begin to see dividends.
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Re: channel cat growth
[Re: marcus254]
#12885899
09/03/18 08:15 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,869
pil,b
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,869 |
My son lives on a 12 acre lake that has 8-10 houses around it and 4-5 people fish on it and it was stocked with some blue cat years ago and some of them have been caught that weigh 30+ lbs. It has coon tail and other grass in it and they catch some 8-9 lb bass out of it and some 1.5-2 lb. crappie.It also is loaded with blue gill. It is 25 ft deep when full. I think the blues are keeping the lake balanced.When i first heard of the blues being in there I thought not good but I believe I was wrong
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Re: channel cat growth
[Re: marcus254]
#12933707
10/15/18 11:57 AM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,902
fmrmbmlm
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,902 |
Start catching those blue gills and eat them, better than catfish and bass.
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Re: channel cat growth
[Re: Meadowlark]
#13005479
12/26/18 01:06 AM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,067
bill oxner
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,067 |
Blue cats do exceedingly well in ponds...so well that at some point all you will have will be one or two big blues and not much else remaining.
Bass will do a number on those gills and provide you with some great fishing...and much better predators than channels and they will reproduce leaving you, if stocked properly, a relatively balanced pond. I had blues up to fifty pounds. They would eat out of my hands. They died over the years. We put in 80 more back in the spring. They are up to a pound already. A couple of alligators moved in. I'm not sure what they ate. Seems as if they got along well with the turtles.
The birds and the guides follow mr out
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Re: channel cat growth
[Re: bill oxner]
#13048149
01/31/19 09:27 PM
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1
CombatKitten
Green Horn
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Green Horn
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1 |
LOL, Now thats a cool set of photos. thanks for posting them.
Be decent to each other. It doesn't cost anything and you'll sleep a little better at night.
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