How to Raise Catfish & Bass

Stock your pond with small bass of about 2 inches in length, to ensure they grow at the same rate. Your population ratio should be between eight and 10 bass per one acre of surface water (about 210 feet by 210 feet). Stock between 50 and 100 catfish per surface acre of water. However, if you are raising the catfish in a separate pond -- which is preferable, to ensure more oxygen in the water -- you can stock as many as 1,500 per surface acre.

Place fathead minnows in the pond, as these are a favorite food of bass. They will also eat bluegill and bream, which should be stocked in adequate numbers to ensure your bass are well-fed. Catfish will eat minnows as well as most man-made fish food. The best option is to place the food in the middle of a circular piece of flexible plastic pipe so it is not blown to the edges by wind or current. This will also help the catfish know where their food is at all times.

Ensure water quality is maintained in your pond by asking local fish farmers or biologists to conduct a water analysis. This will highlight problems related to alkalinity, pH or ammonia, and can usually be corrected by liming your pond. Local soil experts or county agents will know what the correct amount of lime is for your area.

Monitor the shallows of your pond for spawning bass, after heavy rains. They usually deposit their eggs on any solid structure such as rocks, tree branches or even submerged bottles. The parents dig holes for the fry, to stop them from swimming away. Eventually, the fry start free swimming, but are escorted by their parents until they can fend for themselves. Catfish need a carefully prepared pond, free of other fish, and stocked with tree stumps and other hiding places in which to spawn. Once the eggs are laid, the male will guard them until they hatch.

Remove some of your bass or catfish if you suspect they are overcrowded, which can occur if they have been breeding indiscriminately. Signs of overcrowding include a stunting of growth, even though the fish appear to be feeding copiously, and sluggish behavior due to lack of oxygen in the pond. Overcrowding also leads to an increased risk of disease, which is evidenced by your fish not eating as much as usual.