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28 • Nebraska Game and Parks Commission � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � eggs and young for one to two weeks. Spawning beds, consisting of many nests in close proximity, provide excellent fishing during the spawning season. Bluegills rarely need to be restocked. Channel Catfish Although channel catfish are native to streams and rivers, they do well in ponds and are favorites among many anglers. Channel catfish have a deeply forked tail, gray back, white belly, and eight barbels, commonly called whiskers, around their mouth. Young catfish have some black spots, which disappear as they mature. Large males develop a bluish color and are often misidentified as blue catfish. The anal fin of a blue catfish is straight along the bottom edge and has 30 or more rays; whereas, the anal fin of a channel catfish has a curved bottom edge and 24-29 rays. Catfish eat a wide variety of foods, including invertebrates, small fish, and aquatic plants. Fish eaten are usually dead or injured, and appear in the diet when catfish reach 12 to 14 inches. Channel catfish can be considered a bonus fish in the pond. Since they are not an important part of the predator-prey relationship, bass and bluegill will function just as well with or without them. But a pond's potential to produce fish is more fully realized if all three species are stocked. Channel catfish grow rapidly if sufficient food is available, and often attain a trophy size of 12 pounds or more. The state record fish weighed 41 pounds, 8 ounces. Channel catfish spawn in early summer when water temperatures reach 75 to 80 degrees. The male makes a nest in a hole in the bank or in a hollow log, or next to any material that will provide protection for the young. The female deposits the eggs, which are then fertilized by the male. He then guards the eggs and young fish for about two weeks. Because bass and bluegill eat most of the eggs and young, periodic restocking will be necessary to maintain catfish populations in clear ponds. Restocked catfish should be at least 10 inches in length to ensure good survival. Other Potential Species There are numerous other freshwater fish species that will live and grow in ponds. The following species can provide additional enjoyment or benefits; however, they can also create problems. Redear Sunfish Redear sunfish are native to the south- eastern United States. They are sometimes stocked in place of, or in combination with, bluegills, because they can grow larger than bluegills, and have a low reproductive potential. Redears are a deep, slab-sided sunfish with a relatively small mouth. They are golden or light olive-green in color with a yellow or orange- yellow belly. The gill cover flap is black with a whitish border and, in adults, a prominent orange or red spot. Redear sunfish spawning behavior is similar to that of bluegills. They typically have low population densities, especially north of their native range, where young-of-the-year are very sensitive to cold water temperature during the 10-inch channel catfish will have to be restocked periodically to maintain populations in clear ponds. REDEAR SUNFISH CHANNEL CATFISH