unhooking catfish?

[shootermcbob]

I have little to no experience with catfish. I watched an episode of in-fisherman and am thinking about maybe doing some catfishing this summer. My question is this, How do you hold them to get the hook out? I have heard about them stinging a person? What is it that I have to be aware of and where is it located on the fish?

Once again, thanks for the advice.

[bowfish12]

Grab them right behind the head and avoid the tip of the fins. You don't have to worry as much about the ones 3 lb. or bigger, it's the little ones that will get you.

[Patrick Ferguson]

i just use a dehooker after watching the topfin of a channel cat go through my dads hand its just not worth messing with

[burleytog]

Avoid the pectoral and dorsal fins.

That is the best photo I could find showing the proper way to hold them.  You want the off pectoral fin between your fingers and the dorsal fin being forced down by your palm.

You can lip them, but you won't have any skin on your thumb after 4-5 fish.

[swilly78]

Just carry a thick glove with ya and lip em'!

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Then keep a towel or rag around to wipe with. They don't have scales but they have a slime coat that is quite difficult to remove from your hands.Once it dries it is like a second skin. One trick that I do if fishing from the bank is grab a small handful of dirt or sand from the shore and rub it in your hands and just wash off in the water.It removes it the best.

[shootermcbob]

Thanks for the replies.  Is it the fins, or the whiskers that sting you?

[burleytog]

Thanks for the replies. Is it the fins, or the whiskers that sting you?

Dorsal and pectoral fins (as stated three times above).

[LHC - Bank Robber]

I dont think you'll cath any that can sting unless you leave the country to do it, but the ones that can use there pectoral fins.  The only thing you need to worry about is poking yourself on there fins, they can cut you if your not careful but thats about it.

[bwell]

Like others said its the little ones that will get ya...  And it doesnt feel good either when they get ya!  When I go to put them back in the water is when they usually get me...

[etommy28]

fresh water cats just have a painful poke, saltwater cats can cause very serious infections if not treated quickly with alochol, it is similar to the feeling or a sting ray sting

[IwillChooseFreeWill]

Everyone above has it right... the fins sticking out the sides right behind the gills have a broad needle-like bone with a sharp point. Get your hand behind those and squeeze inward... I also found the catfish I catch locally tend to swallow the hook deep so bring plenty of extra hooks.

I caught a small 16" channel cat a few months back that got me right on the outside of my thumb joint. Took almost a month before the joint felt normal again, even after the skin itself healed.

Personally I hate catfish, anything that sucks up that much mud can't be worth keeping or eating.

[jeosbo01]

I always grab them by the underside. Put your thumb just under one pectoral fin and put the other between your middle and index fingers. Don't hesitate on it and make sure your grip is tight enough that it can't squirm around. I have never had one close the pectoral fins on my fingers but I have had them wiggle enough for the back side of the spine to cut into my finger. Catfishing is a good way to get rid of extra blood no matter how many times you do it but like etommy28 said, freshwater cats are not much to worry about...

[Eternal Angler]

I would just put them on a ground and use a long set of needle nose pliers to unhook the lure.

[Kowen117]

Just carry a thick glove with ya and lip em'!

I did that but without the glove wont make that mistake again

[TommyBass]

I always hold them by the underside / side. Just like burleytog's pic only from the bottom. Theres no reason to mess with that top fin if you don't have to.  The small ones are a pain in the arse and about 2 in 5 will definately sting you no matter what  ;D

[little_stephen]

i neve fish without a heavy work glove with me. lots of cats where i fish, if I can just twist the hook free with the fish over the water, ill lip it (with the glove in) and use pliers to get the hook out.

I still dont understand why so many people are anti-glove wearing fishermen!?

I wear gloves to 1. protect the fish, 2. protect my hands, and 3. keep from getting stuck/stung (Cant tell you how many times that jig flies free at the last second when im unhooking and ends up in my finger!)

[kikstand454]

I always hold them by the underside / side. Just like burleytog's pic only from the bottom. Theres no reason to mess with that top fin if you don't have to. The small ones are a pain in the arse and about 2 in 5 will definately sting you no matter what ;D

x3

i catch alot of salt water cats and the easiest way i have found is upside down like described above.  once the fish get ove 6lbs or so though.... its hard to get your hand around those suckers.

but since youre talkin about freshwater cats... a 6lber is going in the cooler anyway right?

[shootermcbob]

no, i catch and release everything. But, I do appreciate all you guys giving me pointers on how to handle the catfish. I was confused because I thought it was the whiskers that stung you. Now I know you have to beware of the fins. Thanks everyone.

[BassThumb]

I lip them with a glove on, just like in the pic. It's a welding glove too, very similar. I do this sometimes with larger Northerns as well.

[IwillChooseFreeWill]

someone say catfish?? <~~ link