Hey guys. I got a pond on my hunting lease, well 4 actuaslly, but 3 of them I am told are made to hold water to drain into the larger pond.

Anyway I am told that the largest pond was stocked about 10 years ago with Flathead catfish and flathead minnows. About 4 years ago they say it dried up and now it and the 3 ponds above it are all full and i am granted permision to stock it.

Anyone know where I can get about 10-15 pounds of live flathead minnows? What about 30-50 flathead catfish?

Thanks.

Brian

Brian,

What size are the ponds and what are your goals for the ponds?

I think you are referring to "fat head" minnows which are commonly stocked as a forage fish for bass and catfish. Flathead catfish are at the top of the food chain and are generally not suitable for stocking into small ponds. Channel cats are much preferred over flatheads and in fact I do not know of any source that sells flatheads for stocking.

Give us your objectives for the ponds and I will try to recommend something which may help you achieve those objectives.

I have a 1/2 acer pond, that used to be stocked with catfish, that is now empty. It full of water and the landowner said they stocked 50 catfish and 8 pounds of flathead minnows about 10 years ago and it was a productive pond for a couple years till it dried up. I am looking to do the same thing here.

I ment to say. It was once stocked. It dried up years ago. Now it is full, and the two tank above that seep into tha main pond are full as well.

In the past they had stocked it with catfish and flathead minnows. The PH is a solid 8.5. The water
is clear with a muddy and rocky bottom. Frogs are everywhere and its about a half acer. Anywhere for 8-10 feet deep but I need to jump in and see. Cattle water there and at the other tanks as well.

Brian,

Here's a suggestion. Stock about 10 pounds of fathead minnows and about 200 coppernosed Bluegill. Let them get well established and then next spring stock channel cats, as many as 100 or even more if you intend to regularly feed them.

That should get you going with a very nice pond. Don't stock flathead catfish or blue catfish as they are really top of the line predators that will simply overcome your forage fish. Treat the catfish as "put and take", i.e. take some to eat as they get to 1 to 2 pounds and replace them with young ones. It is very unlikely that they will spawn in your pond. Good luck.