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Catfish in America are very common and sometimes it’s hard to tell one species from another. Unlike largemouth bass, which are easily identifiable to anyone who fishes for them even just once in awhile, catfish can often be hard to differentiate from one another. Let’s face it, they aren’t exactly a fish you’d want to snuggle up with, and to most people they are just a dark colored fish with whiskers and sharp fins.

However, to the trained eye there are some big differences. First of all, not all catfish are dark colored. Some are more blue, some more green or brown, and some are even albino colored. Additionally, they have different shaped fins in different places, different body shapes like the flathead, and peculiar markings that set them apart.  The most common species of catfish dwelling in America’s freshwaters are:

The Channel Cat

The Channel Catfish, sometimes referred to as the spotted cat or river cat, is a lot like the blues, with a thin head, elongated body and a sharply-angled tail. The difference is, the Channel Cat has a shorter anal fin and has spotted markings on the back and sides. Their color is a bit different, too. Their backs are a bluish-gray tint, and the sides range from pale blue to silver-blue. The bigger the kittie, the less black spots they will have, and their backs will turn a beautiful dark blue.

The Blue Catfish

As a Blue, or humpback blue, ages it gets a hump on its back betwixt the head and dorsal fin. Unlike channel cats, it has a longer anal fin and no spots. Their backs are blue and gray, and the sides are lightered colored; a bluish gray and white. These kitties get up to 55 inches, commonly attaining weights of 20 to 40 pounds, and even exceeding 100 pounds, making it the biggest catfish in America. Fifty-pounders are not unusual.

The Bullhead

There are multiple species of bullhead catfish. They are similar looking, with round or square tails, and their bodies are stouter than blues and channel cats. The Yellow Bullhead Catfish, which is also called butter cat and polliwog, has a longer anal fin, and the colors on their sides range from yellow to black. Their whiskers are yellow or light pink.

The Brown Bullhead is only different from the yellow by its speckled brown color and shorter anal fin. They have brown whiskers and are colored throughout the whole body. These are commonly called mud cats.

The lesser popular Black Bullhead is fished in parts of northern Texas. They only get up to around 5 pounds or so, and are not very commonly fished in most places. Black bullheads are usually black to greenish-black on their backs, and have gray or white on the belly. However, in muddy water their backs may be yellowish-brown.

The Flathead

This is one of the more unique kitties because of the flat head and a protruding under-jaw. It has a yellowish brown body, with speckled markings. It is leaner than the bullheads, and its tail is squarer in shape. The Flathead Catfish is also known as the shovelhead cat. Fifty-pounders are not unusual. The largest of these species are usually caught by trotliners, who have landed specimens well over 110.

The White Catfish

Also called the forked-tailed cat, the White Cat is somewhat different regarding shape and colors, having a rounder head and tail and shorter anal fin. The chin barbs (whiskers) are white or yellow, and the sides between bluish gray and dark blue.

Now that you know the difference, the next time you go catfishing, you will have a few more things to entertain you by applying this to figuring out what kind of kittie you have caught.

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The Real Facts About Catfishing

Interestingly enough, while most anglers are very aware of catfish and many fish for them, they seem to be notorious for having a lot of misconceptions about them (the fish, not the fishermen). Since every fisherman has their own stories and methods, the truth about [tag]catfish[/tag] is far from being known or even consistent.

Catfishing is one of the most misunderstood freshwater types of fishing in America. This article will remove some of the slime off the fiction and uncover some of the truths about these whiskered kitties.

Many people consider catfish to be slow and clumsy. They are not particularly fast swimmers all the time, but when they on the prowl for a meal, they move with great agility and speed, attacking their prey with incredible precision. Their sleek bodies are shaped like a torpedo to facilitate aqua-dynamism and speed. The predatory catfish is one fearsome hunter in any environment.

Catfish are often mistaken to be primitive, but contrary to the myth, catfish are a very evolved and developed fish group. Of the 20,000 over species of fish known to men, more than 2000 of them belong to the catfish category. The sheer number of its population is a testimony of their ability to survive. Their instincts are so sharp they often can detect the proximity of other fish without getting noticed.

It is also largely believed that the worst smelling stink baits are best for [tag]catfishing[/tag]. It is true that catfish are very sensitive to smell, but when it comes to stink baits, the rankest baits are not always the most effective baits. Fishermen usually convince themselves that the smelliest baits to them are those that are most attractive to a catfish. However, catfish do not share the same sense of smell as human beings, especially when the bait is in the water.

Many anglers also have the impression that a catfish can let out a venomous sting when they come into contact with anglers. This is true for a very minority of the catfish types, such as madtom, a small catfish with a poisonous sting that can cause some amount of pain. But all catfish, with exception of the few, have no poison on them. However, most catfish have a very sharp spine and they can inflict tremendous pain on by sticking humans with it, even though there is no venom. The cut is razor-like.

Most catfish do not feed on the carcasses of dead animals, as it is often perceived. Fishermen usually associate bottom-feeders with waste and decay, possibly because they are scavengers. With the exception of bullheads, most catfish prefer live bait, or at least fresh food. There is such a great variety of live food at the bottom of the lake or river to eat, catfish do not really have to settle for dead stale food.

Another myth about catfish is that they are primarily nocturnal. For years, I believed this myself and would only catfish at night. But it is not true. In fact, some of my best times catfishing were in the middle of the afternoon. So, when the morning bass bite drops off, that is a great time to try your hand at some catfish.

Also, it is largely believed the best time of the year to catfish is in summer. No doubt, catfish are more active when the water is warm, and they bite well too. But as real experience would suggest, the best seasons to catfish are the colder seasons when catfish need more food to warm their bodies. It is natural to get hungry when it gets cold.

Now that you are more informed, you should have no trouble filling that live well with these delicious dinner delights. A little cornmeal and flour with some Cajun seasoning is definitely one true way to enjoy these kitties - no myth there.

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