Pros & Cons of Flathead Catfish
Flathead catfish are most commonly found in rivers, though some lakes have populations of the species as well. Anglers target flathead catfish because they reach large sizes--100 pounds or more--and fight hard once hooked. On the other hand, they are not easy fish to catch, and catching them often requires anglers to be out on the water while the rest of the world is asleep.
Other People Are Reading
-
The Fish
-
Flathead catfish look much like other catfish: They have barbels that hang from around their mouths and have smooth skin instead of scales, but their flat head distinguishes them from other cats. They generally prefer deep, turbid water that does not flow fast, and are often found around holes and brushy cover. During low-light conditions, flatheads move into shallow shoals and areas, where they look for food. Unlike most catfish, flatheads are caught mostly on live bait.
Size
-
On the one hand, anglers may enjoy catching flathead catfish because of their large size. For many fishermen, a 50-pound flathead is the fish of a lifetime. But flatheads are not a good choice for people looking for a meal of fish. Part of the reason is because flathead catfish are large and live long, which means they eat other smaller fish, so pollutants such as mercury bio-accumulate in their meat. As with most fish species, the younger, smaller fish are the best for eating.
-
Night Bite
-
Flathead catfish bite primarily at night, so the fishermen who target them often do so sometime after midnight. While anglers do not have to put up with boat traffic when fishing for flathead catfish, fishing at night has its own set of challenges. For one, most people like to sleep at night. But fishing at night is also more dangerous, especially if you are fishing for catfish on an unfamiliar body of water.
Ecosystem Effects
-
In many places where they are found, flathead catfish are popular among anglers. That popularity has led some state agencies to stock flathead catfish in waters outside of their natural range. But flatheads in most systems are the top predator fish and they have done damage to some ecosystems by harming populations of native species.
-
