Stocking Question

[bowhunter05]

We are interested in stocking our small farm pond with catfics. Right now there are too many bluegill than you can count and every one of them are about 4 inches long. I was just wondering if too many bluegill was a problem and if they would hurt newly introduced catfish because of things like oxygen levels. If so, what would be a good remedy for the problem? I guess I could try to catch all I can and transfer them to another pond, but that would take a while and I still wouldn't get them all out. I heard about a fish killer possibly sold at Rural King, but I don't know exactly about how that sounds. Any suggestions?

[trust me]

Call the KDFWR and get in touch with someone in the stocking program. They'll come out and give you a plan to follow and help you a bunch.

Rotenone is the fish poison. It probably would be best to clean it out and start over, but let the experts make that call.

[CVN71 Ordnance]

Put in some big Catfish, they will eat the blue gill :D:D

[quackrstackr]

Either one of those will work. ;)

The Rotenone will work immediately though....

[killinmammals]

Call fish and game first.

[ClayDog]

Me and my dad stocked a pond full of bluegill anywhere from an inch long to 12 inches. We put 400 channel fingerlings in and well i didnt see where very many or any died still catching um today.

[BunnyBuster]

I know that a couple big largemouths will take out their share of bluegills. If you can get your hands on some big KY Bass it would even be better, they are eating machines.

Try a cast net or seine to get out a large amount at once if that is what you are trying to do.

If your pond is big and deep enough, you won't have to worry about Oxygen levels especially if it has water running into it.

[Wes McClain]

i worked 4 1/2 years with the kdfw stocking crew,we always stocked the catfish with the bluegills in the spring time.depending on the size of you pond or lake that will determine how many cats to add to it.they will eat some of the gills but not all,and the bluegills will not eat the cats.you always want to stock the bass in the fall of the year that gives the cats and bluegill a chance to grow before the bass eat them.but if you add just bass right now they will clean your pond out ,if you put and bass in your pond use the ones that are around the 8 to 12 inch range they grow real fast and do a better job of growing, i would'nt do a total kill on it.just try and ballance your pond out fish to fish ratio. 1/2 acre 75 cats, 200 bluegill , 150 bass should do it.Dont put any 5 pounders in it.