How to get Channel Catfish to Spawn in a Farm Pond By Gordon Schomer, Durant State Fish Hatchery manager

Most Oklahoma fishermen have containers can be anything from old probably enjoyed fishing in one of metal milk cans or kegs, Oklahoma’s more than 250,000 earthen/ceramic chimney pipe, fiber- farm ponds. Besides bluegill or glass or plastic crocks or barrels. bass, channel catfish are one of the Even old water heaters can be used. most sought after species by farm Never use containers that have held pond anglers. Not only are channel PCB’s or other potentially harmful catfish relatively easy to catch, but chemicals. The main thing is to pick once they’re given a "cornmeal and something that both the male and hot oil bath" they can keep anglers female channel catfish can comfort- coming back time and again. Yep, ably swim into at the same time to fresh-fried catfish fillets complete spawn and be able to get back out of with hushpuppies and cole slaw is a easily. It helps to have one side of true Oklahoma delicacy. the container sealed off, allowing for For the farm pond owner, raising one way in and one way out. One channel cats can be almost as fun spawning container for every two to as catching and eating them. With five spawning pairs of fish should be just a little basic knowledge of spaced out around the perimeter of channel catfish biology, some gen- the pond in about two to five feet of eral pond management skills and a water. Face the open side of the con- few common items, you can easily tainer away from the bank towards raise a self-sustaining population of deeper water. This helps to keep channel cats even in small ponds. wave action from forcing mud or silt One factor to consider before raising cat- to continue, will deter spawning and sur- into the container. Get all the air out of the fish is will there be other species of fish in vival of juvenile fish. Proper harvest will container before sinking it and to help you your farm pond. If bass, bluegill, crappie or take out an amount of adult fish equal to locate the container attach a small buoy to other sunfish species are present, your the amount of juveniles spawned each mark its location. level of success may be limited. year. To see if your fish are spawning success- Largemouth bass, bluegill and others will Some of you may say, "how can you tell a fully, check the containers carefully every readily prey upon channel catfish eggs, fry male channel catfish from a female?" few days after placing them in the pond. and fingerlings, particularly when other Generally the male has a much wider head Slowly lift the spawning container to the food sources are less abundant. For this than the female. This clue can be tough to surface and visibly check for eggs or newly article, however, we will assume that chan- judge for the beginner without comparing hatched fry. Depending on the water tem- nel catfish are the only species of fish in several same-sized fish. Also, the time of perature the eggs will take anywhere from your farm pond. Spawning and rearing year has a lot to do with being able to visu- three to eight days to hatch. The male will channel cats can still be attempted in ally look at them to tell "which is which." typically stay near the eggs protecting ponds with other species present, however Channel catfish spawn in water tempera- them and keeping fresh circulated water to predation may inhibit your overall success. tures between 72F and 82F. In Oklahoma them until they hatch. Female channel cat- Selecting the proper number, age, body this usually occurs in late May, June, and fish weighing about three to four pounds condition and sex ratio of channel catfish early July. When temperatures approach will typically lay about 4,000 eggs per brood stock to spawn in your pond is very 72F, males will develop pronounced mus- pound of body weight and larger females important. Ideally, the farm pond owner cles on their heads. The underside of the about 3,000-3,500 eggs per pound of body would select a ratio of two females to one male’s chin will also turn darker and his lips weight. male or three females to two males of fish will thicken. Overall, the male is darker Depending on how many brood fish in good body condition, and at least three than the female during the spawning sea- spawn and how successful the hatch rate to four years old. son. is, a tremendous amount of fry can be pro- For recreational fishing purposes, farm Female channel cats will be lighter in color, duced in a season. The farm pond owner pond owners should begin conservatively. have a slender head without pronounced must keep this in mind because in order to Begin your operation with no more than 20 head muscles, the underside of her chin maintain a healthy pond with catchable to 30 total brood fish (males and females will not be dark and her belly will be well sized fish, the pond cannot be allowed to combined) per surface acre of water. Due pronounced. Another helpful tip in deter- get overpopulated. to the reproductive capabilities of channel mining the sex of channels is when you cats, the pond owner needs to be able to hold them for a visual inspection. Males harvest an adequate number of fish (either will typically have a broader tail than through angling or seining) each year to females, making them easier to hold. prevent overpopulation. A pond overpopu- Once you select your brood stock and lated with channel catfish is usually indicat- release them to your pond, you will need to ed by poor body condition; and if allowed put out spawning containers. Spawning

6