Catfish info from AGFC

[Quillback]

Didn't know they fin clipped hatchery cats.

Biologists sampled the Beaver Lake Channel Catfish population in June and are in the middle of a stock contribution study. The AGFC annually stocks 60,000 Channel Catfish (average size of 9 inches) in Beaver Lake to supplement the natural spawn and provide better fishing opportunities. To evaluate stock contribution, AGFC staff from Charlie Craig Hatchery and Fisheries district biologists have marked the stocked Channel Catfish by taking an adipose fin clip. Staff can determine how these fish contribute to the fishery by sampling the lake with baited hoop nets. A total of 240,000 Channel Catfish have been marked in the past 4 years! In addition to the hoop nets. In addition to using baited hoop needs, staff are conducting an angler survey from March 2021 to February 2022 on Beaver Lake to get more information on these stocked fish.

Channel catfish with adipose fin

Channel catfish with adipose fin removed (adipose fin clip)

We do not need any information from anglers who catch a fin clipped Channel Catfish. However, it is nice to see stocked fish contributing to someone’s stringer!! Send us a picture to jonthan.stein@agfc.ar.gov. Stay tuned for more channel catfish project updates!

 

[Terrierman]

Stocking channel catfish?  Ick.  Stock blues or flatheads if you have to stock catfish.

[MoCarp]

 

[MoCarp]

 

[Quillback]

I'm impressed they got a striper in that murky water.