(also known as spotted cat)
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ictalurus punctatus
Fender's Fish Farm sells channel catfish for pond stocking. Channel catfish are native to Ohio and can be found in most large streams, lakes, and many farm ponds. Channel catfish prefer areas with deep water, clean gravel boulder substrates and low to moderate current. However, they are tolerant of a wide range of conditions. This is an excellent fish to stock. The stocking rate on channel catfish is only one hundred per surface acre stock with other fish. The reason for the low stocking rate is because the pond only produces so much feed for these fish.
The average size channel catfish in Ohio is around 12 to 14 inches in length. However, fish over 10 pounds are not uncommon, especially in large rivers and productive lakes. The state record catfish weighs 37 pounds and 10.4 ounces.
Channel catfish begin spawning when water temperatures reach 70 F. They use natural cavities, undercut banks and muskrat burrows as nests. The female lays a gelatinous mass containing between 8,000 to 15,000 eggs. The parents remain over the nest to fan the eggs and guard the young after hatching. Adult channel catfish are bottom feeders that use smell and taste to locate food. They are omnivorous and will eat insect larvae, crayfish, mollusks, small fish, and dead fish.
The channel catfish has an excellent feed conversion compared to other fish. They are now grown commercially in many states. The channel cat has a slender body with a deeply forked tail. The upper jaw is longer than the lower jaw and there are barbels around the mouth. The dorsal and pectoral spines are sharp and deeply serrated, and the anal fin is curved and has between 24 and 30 rays. The body is bluish silver on the sides and generally has dark spots. Some anglers mistakenly call channel catfish with few or no spots blue catfish, but the blue catfish is found only in the Ohio River.
The ideal time to stock channel catfish is winter season. The colder the water temperature, the better it is to stock. That holds true for Bream (Bluegill), Shellcracker (Redear), and Fathead Minnows.