There are only one species of blue catfish and that is as described above. Channel Catfish can easily be identified in comparison to blue catfish and flathead catfish by paying a little attention to the distinguishing features of the species.
Channel catfish have a deeply forked tail similar to blue catfish but the coloring is much different than that of a blue. Because of the coloring of the channel catfish, they are often confused by inexperienced anglers with the flathead catfish. Channels however have a deeply forked tail instead of slightly notched and have a protruding upper jaw instead of the lower jaw. The coloring of channel catfish is most often olive-brown to slate in color and even with shades of blue and grey at times on the sides.
The underside or bellies of the fish are white or silvery-white. Typically there are numerous small black spots present but these may be absent in larger fish.
The anal fin has 24—29 rays in comparison to a blue catfish which has 30 or more. Channel catfish typically spawn in late spring and early summer when water temperatures reach 75 degrees. The male fish select nest sites like other species which are typically selected in very dark secluded areas like cavities in rock piles or rip rap, logs, trees, undercut banks, etc.
Eggs are laid in the bottom of the bests and the male fish guard the nest. Biologists have also noted that male channel catfish may actually eat some of the eggs if disturbed. Young channel catfish less than four inches in length feed primarily on smaller insects. Adult channels are omnivorous feeding on mussels, crustaceans, fish, plants, and insects.
Most channel catfish will reach sexual maturity in three to six years or when they reach about twelve inches in length. Channel catfish are most abundant in large streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs with low or moderate current. Channel catfish are one of the most popular species of fish in the United States ranking second only to bass in many areas. Part of the reason for the popularity is that they obviously make excellent table fare but also because they are abundant and readily available in most lakes, rivers, and reservoirs.
Channel catfish can be caught with a variety of baits including natural baits like worms, baitfish, crawfish, or other natural baits but most popular is prepared catfish baits like punch baits, dip baits, and soap baits. One popular technique used with prepared baits is chumming with soured grains like wheat or milo or using range cubes as chum.
The flathead catfish is a popular species because there are populations in much of the United States and they are well known to grow to trophy class sizes, all in addition to being excellent table fare. The existing world record flathead catfish weighed in at lbs. The flathead catfish like other species of catfish has smooth skin no scales , whiskers around the mouth, and long sharp spines on the back dorsal fin and sides pectoral fins.
Flathead catfish can easily reach lengths of three to four feet and can easily exceed one hundred pounds in weight. They are typically pale yellow to light brown on their backs and sides and this coloring is also very mottled with additional coloring for black and brown. The underside is usually a much lighter cream color or pale yellow color. The young are often very dark brown. The lower jaw projects out. Tail fins have a slight notch in them and are not deeply forked like the typical tails of blue and channel catfish.
Unlike the channel and blue catfish that are scavengers or opportunistic predators flathead catfish prey only on live fish as a general rule. The young feed primarily on crayfish, worms, invertebrates, and crayfish.
Once they grow larger the diet consists entirely of fish of any species including other catfish. The spawning season runs typically from May through August when water temperatures are between seventy-five and eighty degrees. Unlike the other forms of catfish, the Flathead Catfish has its name due to its flattened head. The tail is exceptional with a small notch rather than being forked.
The final of these fish we would like to mention the kinds of catfish is that the Yellow Bullhead. This catfish is light yellowish to a olive green colour and several are mottled. Normally, this fish is found all around the eastern and central portion of the USA.
Of all sorts of catfish, this is among the smaller kinds but nevertheless a fun fish to catch and eat or just grab and release.
Catfish are resident in several bodies of water out of swift moving rivers into shallow ponds. For daylight angling, hunt for catfish kinds in muddy areas such as tributaries and their outflow. Drop-off basins, river bends, humps, and heavy pockets will also be excellent catfish fishing areas. Catfish use their strong ability to taste and smell to locate food at night, therefore weed-ridden locations, bars, apartments, shorelines, and things are great areas to locate catfish.
Some of the most popular catfishing techniques would be to utilize a level rig by placing a float across the weight in your own slip-sinker rig to drag the lure throughout the crab habitat. You might also use a jig head with lure on the trick to lure the catfish by lifting and dropping the jig across the ground. As a newcomer catfish angler, understand that catfish may occasionally bite quickly and difficult, while other times they will play with your lure initially.
If you are ever unsure, simply put your hook. You might also feed on the line when the catfish are nibbling around so that they wont feel the tug. When the catfish strikes the line completely, you may place your own hook. These pools are also home to monster Flathead Catfish. The Apalachicola was at one time the reigning home to the Florida State record for Flathead Catfish until recently broken by a fish caught in the Yellow River.
The Apalachicola is still a monster Flathead Catfish destination for anglers, as well as, an assortment of fresh and saltwater species. Edward Medard Reservoir Hillsborough County Edward Medard Reservoir acres is a series of former phosphate mining created lakes which have been flooded.
A water control structure was placed on the lakes by the Southwest Florida Water Management District in to provide flood protection along the Alafia River, which resulted in the creation of a reservoir. The reservoir has very irregular bottom contours with plenty of underwater humps and drop offs up to 30 feet deep.
The reservoir was dewatered in to repair an aging dam and refilled in Since then, the reservoir has been stocked frequently with largemouth bass, sunshine bass and channel catfish.
Anglers fishing for largemouth bass should try two basic strategies depending on water temperatures and time of year. Anglers should target bass in these areas along the shoreline with spinnerbaits, crank baits, jigs and soft plastic baits such as worms. While bass can still be caught in these areas early and late in the day during summer months, anglers should also try fishing drop offs and humps in deep water using crank baits, jigs and plastic worms.
These same deep areas should also be productive for bass during winter months but anglers should definitely try fishing the rocks along the dam with crank baits and jigs. The sunshine bass fishery on Medard Reservoir is also great for anglers who want to try something different. Sunshine bass are regularly stocked and their growth rates are extremely fast in Medard due to the abundance of their preferred food supply, shad. Most fish caught by anglers are around pounds but there are several fish anywhere from pounds lurking around the reservoir.
Schooling sunshine bass are typically found in open water; however, anglers have had success catching them off the footbridge on the east side of the reservoir. The most productive time to fish for sunshines is fall through early spring when water temperatures are cooler. Best natural baits are live shiners or shad but fish will sometimes take cut bait and worms fished on float with a foot leader.
If fishing with artificial baits, try using jerkbaits, Rat-L-Traps or shad-imitation crankbaits retrieved quickly. Use a depth finder to find large schools of bait in deeper areas and then drop some baits below the boat or slow troll them in the vicinity. Anglers should also fish the rip rap dam area in deeper waters for a good chance of encountering a large school of these scrappy predators. Anglers who wish to catch this tasty freshwater fish can target them from the shoreline or by boat.
Shoreline fishing can be productive for catfish anywhere anglers can find a spot to set up and cast their poles around the reservoir. There are a few docks and a bridge to fish from as well. Boat anglers can either anchor up over deep holes or channels or slow drift over flat areas such as shallow coves. Whichever technique is used, the most productive baits to try are chicken livers, frozen shrimp, live worms or commercial stink baits that are fished on or near the bottom.
Tenoroc is located on Highway Combee Road and can be accessed from Highway 33, just south of Interstate 4. Call the Tenoroc Headquarters at for more information or to make fishing reservations. The area is open to public fishing four days a week, Fridays through Mondays. With thirty lakes to choose from on the property, these seven to acre waterbodies were created years ago by draglines during phosphate surface mining operations. As a result, lake bottoms have irregular contours with depths up to 35 feet.
Most Tenoroc lakes have ADA accessible boat ramps and facilities. Bass anglers who want to catch good numbers of fish should cover lots of area, probing deeper waters with chrome-colored lipless crankbaits and chartreuse "Firetiger" color diving crankbaits.
Plastic worms are often the best all-around lure for fishing slowly. Red shad and junebug are great worm colors. Anglers who fish submersed islands or sandbars off points will often find good concentrations of bass. In addition, many of the lakes are connected with water control structures.
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