Catfish can also be stocked in larger ponds alongside bass and bluegill. We do not recommend hybrid sunfish be stocked with largemouth bass, as hybrid sunfish do not reproduce fast enough to feed the bass. Stock 250 hybrid sunfish per acre with or without catfish. You can stock either channel or blue catfish. We recommend channel catfish as they can handle extreme weather better, but can be harder to catch.
Blue catfish can grow larger and eat some of the smaller fish in the pond.
Avoid stocking bullhead catfish as they will overpopulate and stunt if your pond water is turbid. The best remedy for overpopulated bullhead ponds is to stock bass if the water is clear, or stock flathead catfish if the water can't be cleared up. We recommend only three to four species be stocked. Contact our office for more information on stocking rates, managing established fish populations, vegetation management and clearing muddy ponds. Galen Jons is a fisheries biologist in the Abilene office of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.