Would White cats be a good (smaller) alternative? Do they taste the same? are there any concerns about predation, overpopulation, or competition with other species?
I am NO LONGER the "Someday" man.
The only white cats in our area I've ever seen or heard of is the occasional albino channel cat.
I'd like to pose an answer to your question from a slightly different angle....how about if you could get a great eating, great fighting beautiful fish that never overpopulates and is absolutely a blast on light tackle? The fish I speak of is the hybrid striped bass (HSB). I have had them for going on four growing seasons now and have only glowing comments to say about them.
I love to fly fish and a 3 to 4 pound HSB on a 5 wt is an absolute blast, unequaled in pond fishing, in my opinion.
I would not suggest sotkcing white cats. They are slow growing but will take up food intended for other fish, not a good option IMHO. ML has a good suggestion for you to try.
The white cats I refer to are actually a different species (Ameiurus catus) from channel cats (Ictalarus Punctatus)altogether. I know they don't get as big, but I've never actually caught, seen, or eaten any.
So Meadowlark, I've thought of HSB for a pond often, but I thought they would get too big. 3 to 4 pounders would be cool though. Is that the general size of your 4 year olds now?
I have done a lot of white bass (not hybrid) fishing and they are a wonderful little fish imho.
Yes that is the general size of the 4's. I stock every spring and fall so I also have 3's, 2's etc.
Not sure how large they will get eventually in this pond, but "too big" isn't a concern to me...as long as they will attack a fly, I'm happy.
Bjack - When buying white catfish in the midwest US be careful what you are getting. Every white catfish that I've seen so far in the midwest are albino channel catfish (red/pink eyes). Who is selling the white catfish that you are referring to? The white catfish (albino channels) that I have experience with get quite large (30"-36") and grow fairly fast depending on food amounts.
Bjack- Okay about learning and planning about the white cats (A. catus). I am curious about where you you are thinking of getting your fish for stocking. I am at a remote location during the holidays and away from my reference material, so I cannot provide very much backgound info on A.catus.
They supposably don't get as big as CC and they can spawn in lakes and ponds on gravel. I've read somewhere that overpopulation is a slight problem with them.
I considered them too several years ago. Forked tail like a channel but has better spawning success like bullheads. A mixture between the sizes I think.
Living the dream, 21 acres. No pond, yet.
In addition to having a smaller sized "channel catfish", white catfish offer the possibility of a state or even a world record.