Spawning Facts?

[Guest]

I was writing up a fact sheet for a little conservation project I have going and realized I don't know that much about catfish and their spawning habits.I know the basics the temps,(72 to 75 for flatheads,75 to 80 for channels). where they like to spawn(wood tangles,old logs) and that the males guard the nest and look after the young.But how long does this process take,what is the survival rate,how many eggs are laid?Does fluctuating levels and temps have adverse affects?What factors make a good year class?Do big females produce more eggs.At what age do females become productive?
It turns out I don't know squat!Can any one suggest some good reading to help me out?

If its a link please send it to
[email protected]
Thanks

[This message has been edited by fishhead (edited 02-12-2002).]

[Guest]

Actually preferred spawning water temps vary in relation to geographical location.

The northern strains of catfish spawn at a slightly lower range (64-72) then their southern buddies do (72 to 78).

Spawning habitat will vary in location in direct relation to the recourses they have to work with in the system they call home.

Some cave up, while others do more of a den routine, as in bulrushes on major marshes.

While others may have little choice except to dig in a hole in a mud flat between rocks, whatever they find and see as defendable to predators.

Catfish are survivors, they adapt and preserver!

This makes their wide dispersal and geographical range easy to understand. They find their niche in the ecosystem and work it to their advantage rather quickly.

One of the greatest misconceptions on catfish is they are primarily scavengers, far from it. But certain systems may present that as their best overall feeding option.

They are true omnivores, they will eat what they can kill, or find, or steel from other predators.

The bigger they are the more likely they chose to fallow the predatory life style, if the environment will allow them to do so.

Very large blues and Flatheads in clearer water environments may be more apt to hunt and kill then scavenge. But if a free-be shows up, it's all good to a cat.

Each system has different patterns that the catfish adapt to, that in it self would make for a serious research paper.

You get me going and I will never shut up!

------------------
"Ed on the Red"
Backwater Guiding Service
[email protected]
fishingminnesota.com/ed-on-the-red/

[DARK30]

THE CHANNELS MUST BE SPAWNING REAL WELL IN THE MINNESOTA AS I'VE SEEN AND CAUGHT LOTS OF LITTLE GUYS. I HAVE NOT, HOWEVER SEEN REALLY SMALL FLATHEADS, THEY MUST BE IN THERE SOMEWHERE.
COME ON SPRING!
WET NETS!

[The Chemist]

This months In-fisherman has an article on Cats.