Bullhead Catfish

Black Bullhead

Common Name: Bullhead, yellow-belly cat, catfish, horned pout.
Description: Body completely devoid of scales, has eight barbels or chin whiskers about the mouth. The anal fin has 17-20 rays and the chin barbels are black.

Yellow Bullhead

Common Name: Yellow-bellied cat, greaser, catfish, white whiskered bullhead.
Description: Devoid of scales, eight barbels, anal fin has 24-27 rays and the chin barbels are yellow or white.

Due to the bullheads's persistance to take the bait, it is probably one of the easiest fish to catch. Anglers generally have ample time to set the hook when they are hitting. All one need do is rig to bottom fishing with preferably a slip sinker and bait with worms. Most anglers prefer to use bait or spin-casting gear. Bullheads usually begin hitting in late February or early March - after the first good warm spell. At this time, shallow bays are the best areas to fish; creeks on the rise are also good bets to fish. During the summer months, most bullheads are caught from the river and creek channels or bottomland lakes. Trotline fishermen also catch a considerable number of bullheads on single hook drop lines baited with dead minnows, shad, crayfish, worms or cut bait.