Bull head catfish

[basser223]

There are a lot of bull head cats in the lake live on but I cant seem to catch them does anyone have any sugdestions

[endless]

There are a lot of bull head cats in the lake live on but I cant seem to catch them does anyone have any sugdestions

What kind of bait you using? I can't see where they would be any different to any Cat and try what bait fish runs in the lake if is shad, perch, or not. I only caught one in my life and it was actually on the stink bait Chicken Blood. But other Cats I always caught with bait fish like Shad or Herring. Also how you rigging up your line? I use the fish finder with 4 to 8 ounce weight (depending on current and wind),glass bead, and strong enough bearing swivel with a 18" to 24" leader attached to hook.

[basser223]

I was just doing a carolina rig with pieces of perch of my dock at night time

[Crestliner2008]

First off, bullhead and catfish are two distinctly different species. Bullhead are usually the smaller of the two, weighing under a pound in most cases. They also have a squared off tail and are darker in color. Catfish are usually much larger, lighter in color and always sport a prominently forked tail.

Nightcrawler halves will take all the bullhead you could ever want. Chicken livers are best for catfish.

[BrianNJ]

Nightcrawlers always work.

[Stiller]

Nightcrawlers get stripped by the bluegills at my place. Haven't found anything else that'll work yet, either. So far I've caught just one, but it was 15" long.

[Hornytoad 10]

Small crawfish (1.5-2in.)

[airborne_angler]

We have yellow Bullheads where I live. Chicken Liver always does the trick.

[Bill U]

I agree with night crawlers.  To avoid the bluegills attacking it try to lay it on the bottom.  No bobber just a couple small weights about a foot from the hook.  This worked for me as a kid at night, we also caught them on hot dogs, but hot dogs don't stay on the hook as well! 

[LoudounFisher]

First off, bullhead and catfish are two distinctly different species.

"Catfish" isn't a species. It's a family. Ictaluridae in the case of North American catfish which includes white, blue, channel, madtom, flathead and bullhead. Channels and bullheads are both of the genus Ictalurus, i.e. pretty d*mn closely related.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Nightcrawlers get stripped by the bluegills at my place. Haven't found anything else that'll work yet, either. So far I've caught just one, but it was 15" long.

I haven't tried it but have heard of making bait sacks similar to salmon egg sack by packing a small piece of nylon stocking with your bait of choice. This is supposed to discourage non-target species and force the cats to take the bait harder.

[Stiller]

I will give that a try this weekend. Thanks for the advice.

[Senkoman12]

I will give that a try this weekend. Thanks for the advice.

i wouldnt eat them this time of year because they will taste like mud, the best time to eat them is ice out to the middle of May

[BassmanTX]

cut up crappie

[Quigz]

I gotta tell ya, I was raised and weaned on the belief that if you are chasing catfish, leave your artificials at home.

That being said, I have never caught as many Catfish in one trip as I did this year with Gulp! 3" Minnows on a Drop Shot rig.

JQ

[Vince D]

My son caught about a 15 inch black bull head on a nightcrawler in about a foot-18 inches of water yesterday up here in northern illinois. His first fish worth keeping. Good eating along with a smallmouth we also caught.

[MichiganFisherman]

Night crawlers work. Chicken liver or gizzards work. But, if you want to go the cheap route get yourself a package of hot dogs and tear them into bite size chunks, C-Rigged. Works for me every time! I've even caught a bass at night on a hot dog! Crazy, I know. Good luck! BTW.. bull heads are pretty tasty little fish!