Species Profile - Channel Catfish

Introduction

Channel catfish are exciting sport fish and tasty table fare that are becoming more and more popular with Minnesota anglers. They can be found in large and small rivers, lakes, and ponds. In Minnesota, channel catfish are common in the Minnesota River, Mississippi River, St. Croix River, and Red River of the North. Channel catfish can also be found in many of our inland lakes, especially in the southern half of the state.

Identification

General description: The channel catfish is a comet shaped fish with a forked tail, flat head, barbels (sometimes called whiskers), and smooth skin. Its mouth is wide and flat with bristle-like teeth. The scale-less body is silver-gray to black in color with scattered black spots on the back and sides (spots disappear from larger, older fish). In order to correctly identify the channel catfish take a look at Lesson 2:3 – Fish Families to learn about all the members of the Catfish Family.

Handling

How to hold a catfish

Catfish can’t “sting” you. But these fish have sharp spines, one in the top (dorsal) and one in each side (pectoral) fin. If you’re not careful, you can accidentally poke your hand on these spines.

When handling a catfish (or bullhead) grasp the fish firmly behind the dorsal fin and place your thumb on one side behind the pectoral fish and your index finger behind the pectoral fin on the opposite side. Lesson 6:1 – Safety and Fishing at the Water’s Edge gives a good overview on handling fish.

Food

Channel catfish eat crayfish, insects, snails, small clams, worms, fish, and the seeds of elm and silver maple trees. They primarily feed at night, which is the best time to catch them. Because catfish have an enhanced sense of taste and smell, they frequently find their food using these senses. Lesson 2:1 – Fish Sense has a great overview of the extraordinary sense of taste of the catfish.

Reproduction

Channel catfish spawn when water temperatures reach 75 degrees, usually in late June. The eggs are deposited in a jelly-like mass. After spawning, the male drives off the female and guards the eggs. The eggs hatch in six to ten days, depending on water temperature.

Predators

As with any fish species, the smaller you are the more vulnerable you are to being eaten. Young channel catfish often fall prey to large freshwater fish such as flathead catfish and muskies.

Tackle and Fishing Tips

Stink bait

Use 8-12 lb. line; fish riffles/shallows off bottom at night with stink baits, crayfish, worms, minnows, or cut bait. Fish pools or cover during the day or after a rain. The Minnesota record chan-nel catfish is 38 pounds, caught in the Mississippi River. Channel catfish can be caught from either a boat or from shore. Fishing with a group of friends for catfish on the shore of the river is a great way to spend an evening.

Preparation for Cooking

You’ve heard the expression ‘skinning cats’? They were referring to catfish. Catfish (and bullheads) are prepared differently from most other species of fish. In order to clean your catfish for cooking, follow these simple techniques. Your first fish might not be very easy, but as with all new skills, you’ll get better with practice.For instructions on how to clean a catfish go to: http://www.upfishing.com/cleaning_catfish.html See Lesson 6:5 – Eating Fish for more about cooking and eating your catch.

Fun Facts

• The channel catfish, like its relatives the flathead catfish, bull-heads, stonecats and madtoms, are like “swimming tongues”. Members of the catfish family not only have taste buds on their tongues and lips like other fish, but also have tasteuds on their barbels, along the sides of their bodies, and even near their tail!! Can you imagine how much easier it is for them to locate food in the murky waters of a river because of this great adaptation?
• The state record channel catfish was 38 pounds and 44 inches long, caught in 1975 on the Mississippi River in Hennepin County. See the MN DNR state record fish site for more fish records.