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Catfish

Introduction

The catfish family in North America includes the black bullhead (icatalurus melas), flathead catfish (pylodictis olivaris), blue catfish (ictalurus furcatus), and the channel catfish (ictalurus punctatus).

Catfish have tiny eyes and a highly developed sense of smell. Over one hundred thousand food sensors cover the fish's body and chin barbels (the whiskers). The barbels are sensitive to vibrations and scents as the fish swims in warm, muddy water. Having said that, we just wanted to make note that the most effective way to hook catfish, that we at Fishresource.com have found is with pork rinds. We consistently hook more catfish with pork rinds fished along the bottom, than any other method.

As the water temperature warms, the more active the catfish becomes. Stomach enzymes increase their digestive action as the water warms, but feeding begins to decline when the water temperature exceeds 100ºF. While able to feed in hot weather, the catfish prefers a dark habitat and night feeding.

Black Bullhead

Black bullheads (icatalurus melas) are small bottom-feeders able to withstand the most extreme muddy, polluted, and dry lake conditions. In very oxygen-deprived bodies of water, bullheads will surface and breathe the direct air. Bullheads usually weigh less than three pounds, but the largest known bullhead weighed over eight pounds.

In the spring, bullheads lay their eggs beneath bottom debris or in small depressions along the floor. When the fry hatch, bullhead parents protect the young and return the exploring fry back to the nest until the young reach about an inch in length.

Bullheads scavenge along the bottom, eating plants, crawfish, minnows, insects, worms, and most edible pieces of garbage. A night bullheads actively feed in shallow water and near the surface, but during the day these catfish cluster together and feed in deeper holes and water channels.

Flathead Catfish

Flatheads (pylodictis olivaris), identified by their wide flat heads and rounded tails, roam the deep pools in large rivers from the Mississippi to Mexico. Also known as shovelheads and yellow cats, they average over twenty pounds and in some rivers many approach one hundred pounds.

During the day, flatheads often lay on the river bottom near large boulders or beneath other obstructions in deep pools. Large flatheads remain motionless with their mouths open, resembling underwater caves attracting small fish. Smaller catfish feed on crawfish and grasshoppers. At night the fish roam and actively feed on the river bottom.

Blue Catfish

Blue catfish (ictalurus furcatus) prefer faster-moving water than flatheads and their range extends from Mexico to as far north as southern Canada. Blues are bigger catfish than flatheads but anglers use the same baits for both catfish. Some anglers use stronger sixty or seventy-pound-test line for the bigger blues.

Channel Cats

Channel cats (ictalurus punctatus) share the same natural range as the blue catfish, but the hardy channel cats have been stocked throughout North America. Rivers, streams and lakes with sand-and-rock bottoms or dense vegetation growth are prime channel cat territories. The best channel cat fishing is in fast rivers with rocky bottoms.

In rivers, channel cats average about three pounds. River channel cats lose their black dots and tend to resemble small blue catfish. In streams, channel cats are called "fiddlers" and usually weigh two or three pounds. Fiddlers are very tasty catfish.

Channel cats feed on small fish and organic materials, but they are not primarily bottom feeders.

Bullhead Techniques

Fish for bullheads at night using night crawlers on a No. 4 hook tied directly to the line. Add some weight to the line about twelve or sixteen inches above the hook, and cast the worm into the water. Prop the rod on a forked stick, wait until the rod tip bends, and then point the rod towards the fish until the line tightens again. Quickly set the hook and reel in the fish. Bullheads tend to roll, but they are not hard-fighting fish.

If the bullhead takes the bait but then drops it, replace the weight on the line with a small sinker to lessen resistance. When the fish are foraging close to shore, the weight of the night crawler is all the weight needed for shallow casting.

Bullheads taste best when caught in the spring.

Flathead Techniques

For the heavy flatheads, use saltwater equipment including heavy seven or nine-feet-long surf rods with 1/0 or 2/0 reels and at least 40 pound-test line. Tie a strong, dependable No. 4/0 or 5/0 hook to a heavy two-feet-long leader, and then thread a four to six-ounce slip sinker (pyramid or flat-shaped) on the line. Add a heavy brass swivel to the end of the line; the swivel holds the sinker above the hook and attaches the leader to the line.

For bait, try cut shad, crawfish, grasshoppers, shrimp, or for the biggest catfish, a live eight-inch sucker or one-pound carp. In areas with a current, hook the bait through both lips; in deep and slow pools, hook the bait under its back fin.

During the day, flatheads can be caught if an angler presents the bait directly to the sluggish fish resting in deep pools. At night, flatheads are easier to hook when they actively hunt for food. The giant flatheads first maul the lure and gently tug the line but they are powerful swimmers and a struggle to land.

Flatheads have dangerous six-inch mucous-covered pectoral spines that can seriously injure anglers.

Blue Techniques

Look for blues in fast-moving water below dams or in the rapids and swift-flowing chutes where the fish feed. Use the same equipment as described for flathead fishing, but use stronger fishing line. Sometimes even 120-pound-test line is not strong enough to hold a large blue cat. Fish a live eight-inch sucker or other bait at the bottom entrance to the rapids or chute.

With the number of dams and channels rerouting the large rivers, monster blues are largely a fish of the past. Still, small blue cat fishing is excellent, and the odd monster blue cat finds its way to an angler's hook.

Channel Cat Techniques

Try worms, grasshoppers, cheese, marshmallows, minnows, or experiment with other foods. Use lightweight spinning tackle and a No.4 hook with enough slip shot on the line to reach bottom.

Channel cats remain in deep holes during the day. In small streams, cast a night crawler, minnow, or grasshopper past the water riffles in front of a catfish pool. Let the bait drift into the hole.

Fish rivers the same way, and remember that channel cats follow the currents and feed on food caught in the drift. At night between sunset and midnight is the best time to fish the currents. In big rivers further north, bounce shad, warmed shrimp, or chub pieces along the river bottom. Cast into the current and let the bait drift downstream. At night, an angler's lights do not spook catfish. Bring a lantern and fish a live four-inch minnow on a No. 2 hook. Add a bobber four feet above the bait, cast upstream, and let the bait drift downstream. Once the bait drifts out of sight, gently retrieve it and cast again. Set the hook as soon as the bobber goes beneath the surface.

In shallow lakes on hot summer days, channel cats are easy to find. At night, catfish swim all over the lake, but during the day they congregate in deep water. Fish the deepest holes in the lake with live minnows.

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