Do Catfish Sting?

[scaleface]

I love catfishing . Summer time on the reservoir channel catfish  are easy for me to catch. Its the most reliable pattern I know of for any species fish . Big hard pulling channels . If I get "finned" I get finned . I'm not going to be a sissy about it .

[smr_hga]

I was fishing in a small muddy pond using a bucktail jig expecting bass but i ended up catching a lot of blue and channel catfish! Another guy there showed me how to hold them and turned out it was really easy! Lol still suprised they took the jig though.

[Catch 22]

 When conditions are right, catties will take most bass lures including spinner and crankbaits. 

[Nice_Bass]

Such soft hands around here....

The "sting is really not bad at all in my opinion and have never even thought of it as a "sting".  Just grab them firm with the palm of your hand on top of the dorsal fin, and your thumb and fingers wrapped around the sides just behind the side barbs (tail end).  this way you will never get poked.

 

Also, to eliminate this altogether, just catch big cats as they lose this ability to poke you.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

I was fishing in a small muddy pond using a bucktail jig expecting bass but i ended up catching a lot of blue and channel catfish! Another guy there showed me how to hold them and turned out it was really easy! Lol still suprised they took the jig though.

This is an everyday thing on the tidal Potomac. I have been averaging 5 or more big blue cats per outing the last few weeks while targeting smallies. They're really agressive fish, and will eat just about anything. They're also pretty hard on bass lures.

 

 

I was stung recently by a smaller blue cat (the smaller ones are the worst, as their fins are extremely sharp.) Best advice that I can give is to soak it in clean warm water for at least 30 minutes as soon as possible, and keep it clean afterwards. It will bleed quite a bit for the first few minutes, but then will feel less painful than a bee sting. The only thing that I was really worried about was the water the fish came out of, not the fish itself. I was fine.

 

If you start feeling sick, it's best to seek medical attention pronto.  

[kayakamania]

Fresh water cats like channels or bullheads don't actually sting but the coating on the barb can cause pain. Salt water cats are a different story. I was swimming in the gulf side of florida when I was about 15 and stepped on one. They were spawning and they were all over the place. I ended up in the E.R. My leg was totally numb up to the hip. The Dr's in the E.R. said they get a few tourists every year with this injury.

[thomas15]

I had a channel cat get me. I was using needle nose pliers to remove my hook and that sucker flipped/flopped and got my middle finger of the hand that was holding the pliers. Instant pain, bad pain, and bleeding like a stuck pig. The pain went on for 20 minutes and I had to wrap a towel around my finger to stop the bleeding. The next day I read on the net that a catfish fin will cause pain and induce bleeding. Later telling an old timer about it he told me next time to rub the belly of the cat on the wound. He said it once worked for him. About a month later I caught another cat and I cut the line. My mama didn't raise a fool 

 

After getting stung the first time I started clipping off my hook barb so that I can unhook easier and reduce the chance of getting stung again. I use long shank hooks and raw bacon when I fish for catfish.

[K_Mac]

delete

[K_Mac]

I have caught, cleaned and eaten many catfish over the years. I rarely target them anymore except when catching with/for the grandkids. With that said, they are not a dangerous fish (I have no experience with the saltwater varieties). Yes if punctured by their barbs it will sting. I dropped a smaller one and tried to catch it once! Drove the barb into my palm. Do not do that!! It is those little "stingers" that will require the most care: Use pliers. Anything bigger than a pound or so up to several pounds, just grab them with your thumb and index finger behind the extended barbs. Grab the bigger ones behind the head like you would a pike or muskie. Enjoy!

[boydn1]

I've been stuck and cut plenty of times and haven't died yet. Just get a firm grip on them and learn how to hold them right and you'll be fine. Fish grippers are a great investment too. 

Fish Grippers = my hands...

[Ratherbfishing]

Yes and you should have a buddy urinate on the wound immediately.