More channel catfish stocked in the CAP canal: what it means for caddisflies

Share this post

CAP Fish Stocking

Caddisflies, beware: More channel catfish are now in the Central Arizona Project canal. They arrived after a 14-hour drive from Arkansas.  Can you say, “Hungry”?

Channel catfish are known to eat caddisfly larvae, which otherwise would hatch into caddisflies and are a nuisance to canal-side neighbors. This month, CAP planted 8,600 channel catfish into the canal in areas where caddisflies have been especially annoying (see caddisflies storymap).

The catfish provide some control to caddisflies, which in the CAP canal, emerge primarily in May and September when the water temperature is changing. These whiskered fish traveled across the country in a “Mr. Fish” stocking truck and upon arrival, were released through a pipe into their new environment where they have a big job.

No doubt, the fish will be hungry – just in time to interrupt a spring hatch of caddisflies.

If you are experiencing caddisflies on your property adjacent to the CAP canal, please let us know by completing this form.

See video of the stocking.

Fish Stocking Cap
CAP Canal Fish Stocking