For the most part, catfish are bottom feeders and usually hold in deep water, although they will move into shallows to feed, especially at night. They move to shallower depths to feed, especially at night, and the flats adjacent to channels offer especially good fishing. Catfish are found in lakes and rivers all over the U.S. Fish all baits on the bottom. Adults are opportunistic feeders and exclusively eat other fish. MN Mark Smith with a 39 pound catfish caught from the Monongahela River. There hasn’t been a creel census on the Minnesota River in probably more than 20 years, explained Sindt. When I pulled into the driveway a few minutes later, I saw one of the biggest fish of my life lying in front of the garage. As a computer technician, he said he appreciates the opportunity to “unplug” and enjoy the river environment. But … “Jug fishing” is also a popular method of catching flathead catfish, but pool noodles can also be rigged to be a form of jug fishing as well. There are a vast number of ways to fish for flatheads. It’s how he became a self-admitted “addict” to fishing for flatheads. Before sharing sensitive information online, make sure you’re on a .gov or .mil site by inspecting your browser’s address (or “location”) bar. Tel: (800) YOUR-BAY (968-7229) Shrimp, chicken liver, and other stink baits often work. Or, to display all related content view all resources for Flathead Catfish. But you need heavy-action rods, reels with a good drag and strong line to land really big catfish. For landing smaller fish, a 6- to 7-foot medium-action spinning rod, and a medium-duty reel that has a good drag, will cover most situations. You can be at your local lake, river, creek, or pond catching catfish in no time at all. Get the latest updates on our work delivered to your inbox. Brown, J.J., J. Perillo, T.J. Kwak, and R.J. Horwitz. Young fish may be very dark, almost black in … The eyes accentuate the flatness of the head with their distinctly flat-looking oval shape, and the lower jaw further accentuates it by … The world record brown and black bullheads, in fact, came from lakes. For example, the Kansas state record for largemouth bass is just 11 lbs 12.8 ounces. Above, a flathead catfish is caught by a team led by fisheries biologist Bob Greenlee of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries on the James River near Hopewell, Va., on June 6, 2011. Pylodictis olivaris. “My view of it was that we are fishing for long-living apex predators of the river, and a fish to be proud to catch and a resource we all should do our best to protect and preserve.”. Good conversation followed as the sun slipped below the trees at our location in southwestern Minnesota. Flatheads put up a solid fight and they taste great! However, young flathead catfish are sometimes eaten by turtles, larger fish and wading birds such as great blue herons. Ideally, when fishing for food, smaller fish are preferred. It was caught in the Elk City Reservoir near Independence, Kansas. However, large flathead catfish can provide you with several meals and not forfeit the quality of flavor. Many fishermen across the eastern half of the United States target flathead catfish. Fofonoff, P.W., G.M. Their rods and reels big enough for saltwater fishing already lined the river bank. Not long after nightfall, thunder rumbled, lightning flashed, and a storm that popped up unexpectedly threatened to hit, but missed our camp. Also known as the yellow or mud catfish, the flathead catfish is a large, smooth-skinned fish with a yellow to purple-brown body and whisker-like barbels around its mouth. The month can vary depending on location, as bodies of water that are further South would typically warm sooner than those further North. But the excitement in camp when Dzubay pulled his fish on shore was no different than when Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs crossed the goal line after catching a pass from Case Keenum in the final play of the 2018 divisional championship against New Orleans. The lone angler with the big mud motor chugged his way up river shortly after the sun rose, and this time he was a bit more sociable. He returned upstream after daybreak with a smile and more sociable attitude answering: "A 20-pounder" in response to our questions on how he did. Implications of Pylodictis olivaris (flathead catfish) introduction into the Delaware and Susquehanna drainages.

(Photo by Matt Rath/Chesapeake Bay Program), A flathead catfish is caught by a team led by fisheries biologist Bob Greenlee of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries on the James River near Hopewell, Va., on June 6, 2011. Flathead catfish are a popular recreational catch. Terms of Use | He is part of a DNR crew tagging and netting flathead catfish in the river to learn what we can about them. He feels that way about river fishing too. Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) are the second largest species of catfish in North America (second to the blue catfish). There is little information on their growth rates in this northern part of their natural range.

“It looked alien,” said Dzubay of the white belly that was revealed by his LED headlamp as he reeled in what turned out to be a shovelnose sturgeon. Due to their enormous growth potential, it’s easy to see why fishermen love trying to catch monster flatheads. It’s why river fishing has become his passion. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The male flathead catfish protects the eggs. Along with guiding fishing excursions for catfish and other species on the Minnesota, Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers, Troseth is a member of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' working committee on flathead catfish. Natural or prepared bait size depends on the size of the fish you want to catch. Compared to other popular game fish species such as bass, crappie or bream, flathead catfish are enormous. Catfish can be caught using a variety of tactics which means the potential to have more opportunities to consistently catch fish. Pylodictis olivaris. Tom Cherveny / West Central Tribune, Our afternoon fishing was slow, but not without success. The closest living relative of the flathead catfish is the much smaller widemouth blindcat, Satan eurystomus. It’s after dark when the big flathead catfish emerge from the deep holes and log jams where they spend the day out of the current and heat of the day.

When the weather settled down, and all was quiet, fishing party member Marv Boerboom’s pole came to life. Alex Horsman is a Southern boy and proud of it. All of these species are fun to catch and good to eat.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife also states that the average lifespan of flathead catfish is 12 to 24 years, although there has been a flathead that lived for 24 years. Since they prefer live food, try to stick with using live bait. The Minnesota River offers a nationally recognized fishery for flathead catfish, according to Tony Sindt of the Hutchinson fisheries office, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Depending on the body of water, a lake may contain some big specimens as well as plenty of smaller ones, and the subspecies can be varied. In winter and summer, catfish hold in the deepest water that has enough oxygen to support them, searching for temperatures in the mid-70s. Unlike many other styles of fishing, catfishing doesn’t require a ton of gear. The Chesapeake Bay Program is a unique regional partnership that has led and directed the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay since 1983. Otherwise, the night was quiet. They're on the hunt: They swim upstream when darkness descends so that their barbels (whiskers) can catch the scent of upstream prey, like sharks searching for a blood stream. For huge flatheads, a 6-inch or bigger bream or shad is best.

When choosing a bait to use to catch a flathead, try to use common baitfish or chunks of baitfish. Adult flathead catfish are solitary creatures and can usually be found near or under fallen trees, logs and brush piles, while young flathead catfish usually prefer shallower water.