Stocking catfish in pond...good or bad idea??

[La Mike]

Quote:
Lol you just aint had a good cooking cause I personnally could make you fall in love with some good fried, Grilled or blackened catfish

You would have more issues of bass eating everything than the catfish. I stocked mine with Crappie ( white perch) also.

 

[dacjohns]

I have a pond of similar size and similar stocking.

My catfish are channel catish and I have some large (close to two feet long and longer) ones now. I've been too lazy to catch them because I don't like cleaning them. They seem to eat about anything. Worms work good. I throw in old dog food sometimes and they are like vacuum cleaners. I've even thrown mice we've caught in the pond and the catfish have eaten them.

I have noticed that my bass, bluegill, and redear aren't as large as I would hope for. The pond has been in for about 10 years now and the bluegill aren't much larger than my hand. I think it is from competition.

I only have one grass carp, sterile, and it is about two feet long now. I've had it for about four years. The carp and catfish don't seem to muddy the water.

 

[Matthew3590]

Quote:
I never seen a bluegill larger than my dads hand. I think it is just the fact that they are bluegill

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Just a matter of taste. Catfish is about my #1 choice, and I wouldn't eat a trout or walleye. I do love northern perch, though.

 

[chicks4kids]

The grass carp are sterile and we lost one within the first 2 weeks-so we only have one now. The flathead minnows were put in for "food factor" since the pond had just been dug. I'm thinking of dropping another 20# or so in this season yet.

I'm torn...I guess...I don't know-maybe I'm just being a wimp and don't want to clean or cook them. You know, something different, a change. I'm so used to bluegill and bass. That may very well be it. OK...Now I just need to find a good recipe...one with corn meal preferably

and if I can cook up a good catfish dinner, well, then........bon appetite! They can stay

(See, I'm still torn) At what length is a good "eatin'" length?? I really don't want any muddy tasting cats

Anyone have a good recipe with corn meal???

 

[dacjohns]

Quote:
I never seen a bluegill larger than my dads hand. I think it is just the fact that they are bluegill

Under the right conditions bluegill can get good sized. The state record for Illinois is 3 lb. 8 oz.

 

[dacjohns]

chicks,

Pan sized would be good eating size. Get yourself some already made breading or fry mix like this

http://www.zatarains.com/Products/Breadings-and-Fry-Mixes.aspx

 

[Legendchicken]

Isnt this a chicken forum?