FishUSA.com Fishing Tackle

Author Topic: Bullhead Newbie here needs some help from the pros  (Read 11816 times)

Busby

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 75
Bullhead Newbie here needs some help from the pros
« on: Jul 19, 2004, 03:08 PM »
I have never fished for them or any kind of catfish. I need to know a few things.
How deep should I fish?
What time is good?
And where is the stinger on them?

Any info would be a great help. Thanks.

reubenpa

  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 936
Re: Bullhead Newbie here needs some help from the pros
« Reply #1 on: Jul 19, 2004, 05:06 PM »
I am not a pro, and I hope others answer you but Spring is best, and the only time I will keep them as they get sick tasting in the summer.  They get them from shore a lot in the Finger lakes NY in the spring.  Also catfish don't have a stinger, they have horn like fins on the sides right below the gills and the dorsal fin.   the "sting" is actually a puncture type of a wound that burns. Poke yourself with a crabapple thorn to demonstrate. Same idea.  If you don't alow it to poke you the are safe. 
Just wanna be fishing, not just wishin

UPSTATE

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 211
Re: Bullhead Newbie here needs some help from the pros
« Reply #2 on: Apr 27, 2005, 04:46 PM »
You should fish off the bottom with nightcrawlers and the best time to fish for them is in the dark hours the rest is up to you  ;)
just tryin to get her done

Original FISHER Jodoin

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 207
Re: Bullhead Newbie here needs some help from the pros
« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2005, 12:33 PM »
The best thing that works for me is Catfish Bait flavored BLOOD. I fish for them at night with a nice big light.. ;D
GIT _ R _ DONE

bigdave1018

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 482
Re: Bullhead Newbie here needs some help from the pros
« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2005, 04:03 PM »
bulls bite for the most part after dark but can be caught during the day. as for bait , anything smelly or stinky like chicken livers,cut fish like shiners and even prepared baits that come processed. the bulls are usually caught on bottom. some people use a sliprig for them but the over all favorite is 1 or 2 hooks with a heavy sinker under the hooks. alot of people ive seen use a bobber for a strike indicator. bullhead fishing is fun and the rewards are delicious meals if cooked right and sometime fast action.

camocrazy82

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 392
  • Watch EM'! Watch EM'! GET EM'!
Re: Bullhead Newbie here needs some help from the pros
« Reply #5 on: Mar 03, 2009, 08:11 PM »
A lite pole with a small hook is key. Nite crawlers for bull heads.

pyle

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 224
Re: Bullhead Newbie here needs some help from the pros
« Reply #6 on: Mar 14, 2009, 09:49 AM »
A lite pole with a small hook is key. Nite crawlers for bull heads.

I will put leetches up against your worms anyday of the week.

As for the pole go with a medium to heavy.

jolie

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 84
Re: Bullhead Newbie here needs some help from the pros
« Reply #7 on: Mar 16, 2009, 07:23 AM »
Bullheads are a fun fish!

are you fishing rivers or lakes?  The best bite seems to be spring; from now to late may.

In rivers; you want to find slack water with cover and structure... Not particular shallow, but they don't go for those deep rocky holes. 

In lakes/ponds; look for some cover and shallow water with access to deeper water, but now steep banks or anything. I used to fish near stream mouths, but the size of my bullhead has increased as I focused on other spots.   in a big lake, look up into the coves for shallow points and structure.

as for myself, I love bullheading in a mid-sized river.  grab a latern, worms and liver.  my bait 'recipe'.  little bit of liver and a worm on a treble hook.

PS.  just tried for em last night.  Haven't caught them yet, but the time is SOON I just know it.
A week without fishing is like a day without sleeping

gunner

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 148
Re: Bullhead Newbie here needs some help from the pros
« Reply #8 on: Mar 25, 2009, 10:12 AM »
Guys you're killing me!!! I want the "games" to begin !!   We are to receive a couple of days of rain this week---I'm thinking this might be turning them on. Good fishing and sent reports.  Gunner

Skipper

  • MFF Mod Team
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,244
  • Fish for uglies!
Re: Bullhead Newbie here needs some help from the pros
« Reply #9 on: Mar 25, 2009, 06:40 PM »
Night time on a sand or gravel bar, not too deep, not too shallow. Use a lighted or glow slip bobber rigged with a size 1/0 hook hung about 6 or 8 inches off of the bottom. find slack water if you are not fishing a lake. Use bait like you would use for crappie, worms leeches, small minnows, bugs, or anything else.

Stay away from rotten stuff, they don't like it.

The best bullhead lakes seem to have clear water and sandy or gravely structure in them.
     

camocrazy82

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 392
  • Watch EM'! Watch EM'! GET EM'!
Re: Bullhead Newbie here needs some help from the pros
« Reply #10 on: Mar 25, 2009, 09:35 PM »
Stay away from rotten stuff, they don't like it.

I disagree but, If you want to catch a Bull head, nothing beats a Nite Crawler on the bottom. Your right about 6 Ft' is a good place to start. I got one tonite on a crawler on the bottom.

Skipper

  • MFF Mod Team
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,244
  • Fish for uglies!
Re: Bullhead Newbie here needs some help from the pros
« Reply #11 on: Mar 25, 2009, 09:46 PM »
You guys don't believe me, no one believes me! Bloody, greasy, gooey, is good! Rotten is bad!

This holds true for channel cats too. Next time you go fishing with a friend, you fish fresh stuff and have your partner fish rot. You will out catch him 2 to 1. You wont smell nearly as bad at the end of the night either. ;)

The one exception is dip bait, it smells awful, but it isn't rotten. Cut up sucker will outfish dip bait most of the time though. The only time I have done well with dip bait is in heavy current in warm water.
     

icechunk

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 64
  • The eyes have it
Re: Bullhead Newbie here needs some help from the pros
« Reply #12 on: Mar 25, 2009, 10:24 PM »
I met an old timer coming off the slang one day at 9:00 in the morning. He was puttting his jon boat in the truck and he had two 7 gal pails of bullhead. I asked if he had been out all night and he said no. he had only been out a few hours. So I asked howed you catch so many fish. He then told me too take my canoe and pull into the fingers of the swamp and get this hit the side of the boat with my paddle.I asked if he was kidding and he said you'll see. I pulled into the first finger hit the side of the boat.... nothing . next finger same thing. Figured he was messing with me. Next finger hit the boat and the exploded with bull head, hundreds. hit the boat again and same thing. threw the anchor and killed them.could not believe it, been doing every since.
And God said "Let there be Fish"

camocrazy82

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 392
  • Watch EM'! Watch EM'! GET EM'!
Re: Bullhead Newbie here needs some help from the pros
« Reply #13 on: Mar 25, 2009, 10:47 PM »
Ill try anything. You may be right, I dont care if its bait its in the water.

Skipper

  • MFF Mod Team
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,244
  • Fish for uglies!
Re: Bullhead Newbie here needs some help from the pros
« Reply #14 on: Mar 26, 2009, 05:44 PM »
They use a tool called a clonk in Europe to call wells catfish in. It kinda looks like a dipsey with a long handle, they plunge it into the water to create a loud "glurp". This sound carries through the water and the fish come to investigate. As bullheads are also members of the catfish family, Id bet you are on to something! I will give it a try next time I am after channels on the upper Mississippi. :thumbup_smilie:
     

 



Iceshanty | MyFishFinder | MyHuntingForum
Contact | Disclaimer | Sponsor
© 2004- MyFishFinder.com
All Rights Reserved.