How to recognise it
- A broad, flat head with the lower jaw sticking out past the upper jaw. Channel and blue catfish have the upper jaw longer.
- Tail only slightly notched, almost square, not deeply forked like a channel or blue catfish's.
- Pale yellow to light brown, heavily mottled with black or brown; cream or pale yellow belly. Young fish can be nearly black.
- Other names: yellow cat, Opelousas cat, mud cat, shovelhead.
Habitat: where it lives
- Deep pools of streams, rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs with murky water and slow current.
- Stays near heavy cover: log jams, brush piles, hollow logs, undercut banks, bluffs and large rocks.
Habits: behavior, spawning and growth
- Usually alone. Adults move into shallow water at night to feed.
- Spawns from late May through August at 75–80°F. The male picks a hollow log, a cave or a hole under a bank, and guards the eggs aggressively.
- Typically lives 12–14 years. Can exceed 100 lb; 50 lb fish aren't unusual in Texas where mature populations exist.
Where and when
- Woody cover in coves and backwaters, deep holes near cover, and below reservoir dams.
- Most active at low light and overnight; larger fish feed more at night. Work cover near sunrise and sunset.
- It feeds little while spawning but heavily before and after.
Bait and lures
Live and natural bait
- Live sunfish, such as bluegill (the go-to bait)
- Live shad
- Large live minnows, goldfish or bullheads
Why these baits work
- Unlike most catfish, it eats only live fish, so it consistently takes only live bait.
- Bigger bait tends to catch bigger fish, because small fish can't take it.
Rod and reel setups
Grouped by lure fishing (artificial baits) and bait fishing (live or natural bait).
Bait fishing
- Rod
- Medium to extra-heavy rod
- Reel
- Spinning, spincasting or baitcasting reel
- Line
- 10–80 lb test, with a 30–80 lb leader
- Hook & rig
- A sturdy 6/0–10/0 circle hook through the lips, or between the dorsal fin and the tail, of a live bluegill. A ½–1 oz weight on the main line above a barrel swivel. Don't sweep-set a circle hook: reel down on the fish.
Source: Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife Conservation: Catfish angler guide
- Rod
- 7–10 ft medium-heavy or heavy rod
- Reel
- Heavy-duty baitcasting or spinning reel
- Line
- 30–50 lb monofilament, with about 18 in of 50 lb leader below the swivel
- Hook & rig
- A 6/0–8/0 circle hook with a live sunfish or large minnow hooked through the back below the dorsal fin, or through both lips. A 3–8 oz slip sinker above a two-way swivel, just heavy enough to hold the bottom.
Source: Missouri Dept. of Conservation: Big-river catfishing
Tips
- Keep live bait cool: an insulated cooler with a frozen jug of ice.
- No bite in 30 minutes? Move. Approach cover quietly.
- Below dams, the current can be dangerous.
On the table: cleaning and cooking
- The belly meat is especially good eating (Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife Conservation).
Step-by-step cleaning, keeping fish fresh and eating safely are in the handbook.
Size and bag limits vary by state, species and lake. Current limits: Texas (TPWD); elsewhere, your state's fish and wildlife agency. Check before you keep a fish.
