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Kill Catfish
Important Tips For Catfishing
Catfish is the name given to a group or species of freshwater fish and it's found almost everywhere in the world – except Antarctica. There are a few saltwater varieties, but generally catfish is considered a freshwater fish, found in shallow rivers, lakes and streams. In the United States, the more common type is called a flathead catfish and is found in riverbank holes or under heaps of brush in ponds or streams.
The size of a catfish varies depending on the available food sources, the competition for that food - and of course, the age of the fish. Generally they weigh upwards of ten to fifteen pounds, but can grow significantly larger; catfish weighing fifty to sixty pounds have been recorded and certain types have been caught in other climates which have weighed in at over 200 pounds!
The generic name of "catfish" has been given because of their appearance. They have whiskers on each side of the mouth, rather like a cat. These fish are bottom feeders and use these sensitive "whiskers" or barbels to determine its surroundings and to find food. The barbels are loaded with taste buds which help the fish identify and capture food in cloudy or dark water. For self-defense, they are also armed with a main ray on their dorsal and pectoral fins which the fish uses to eject a strong, stinging protein, usually enough to discourage intruders or protect its environment. The venom in some varieties of catfish can kill a human being, but a sting from a flathead catfish is rarely life-threatening, although medical attention might be required.
There's another type - the Electric Catfish which is found in northern and central Africa. This variety does not have the stinging ability but goes one better by delivering electric shocks with upward of 350 volts of electricity; more than enough to incapacitate their prey.
So, are you ready to go fishing? Catfish are not difficult to catch using the traditional methods of line and bait, but in the southern United States, capturing catfish with one's hands has become a sport! So leave your fishing tackle at home and consider "noodling" a catfish.
Also known as "catfisting, grabbling, graveling, hogging, dogging, gurgling, tickling and stumping," noodling is the most common name given to this activity and it is legal in eleven of the southern United States. Noodling for catfish originated with Native Americans but became more widespread as a method of catching fish during the lean years of the Great Depression of the nineteen twenties and thirties. It later became a sport for outdoorsmen and there are noodling competitions held every year in some states.
So let's get started with noodling. First, you need to find a place where there are catfish and as noted, this will be in fairly shallow water, under brush, large rocks or holes in the riverbed or bank so that we can wade in to find them. And by the way, we should not go noodling alone – we need some other people with us to act as "spotters" and to assist if needed – some of these fish can be large and difficult to land.
Having found a likely place, you need to establish whether a catfish is in residence. You do not want to encounter a snake or a turtle. You verify this by putting a stick into the hole which will cause the occupant to show himself – and once you've confirmed that it's a catfish, you are noodling. You put your hand in the gap or hole to act as bait – yes, that's right. Your hand!
The catfish will lunge forward and grab your hand or wrist – this is a defensive move in an attempt to escape. If it's a large catfish, you can hold it by its gills and pull it out of the water, where one of your spotters will detach it from your hand and put it into the nearby fishing boat. This is why you have spotters – catfish can grow to such a size that you may find it difficult or even impossible to land it and will need some quick assistance. Noodlers have been known to engage with extremely large catfish which grip the hand/arm tightly and the noodler, being unable to detach it, has drowned. And you will not know how big it is, until you try to pull it out of its hole. Very few noodlers are strong enough to attempt noodling by themselves as trying to land a large catfish and remove it from one's hand or arm at the same time can sometimes be an extremely dangerous challenge – and one which the fish may win.
You have noodled your first catfish. And you may even be considering joining the ranks of other noodlers, most of whom are men. Many say that they learned this catfish-catching sport from their fathers, adding that they plan to introduce their sons to noodling later on, making it a family tradition.
It seems that the danger and risks of sport noodling is the attraction and it probably ranks up there with some of the more extreme sports. This might explain why it is that men engage in it, rather than women.
About the Author
Wade McBride is an expert on catfishing. For more great catfishing information, visit http://www.catfishingpointers.com.
Are White Cloud mountain Minnows known to kill each other?
I have a tank with 5 (or had 5) white cloud mountain minnows and a cory catfish. I noticed one of them was missing yesterday and after looking round the tank found one of them with its head missing. I am pretty sure the cory wouldnt have done this so was this the work of one minnow,each of them ,or just some freak accident (how a fish accidentally beheads itself I dont know)
What do you thing happened here?
White Cloud minnows have the reputation of being extremely peaceful.
Furthermore, they don't have teeth in their mouths.
Most likely, the one minnow died from some other cause and then the cory or the other white clouds or both scavenged its dead body.
How to kill a catfish properly by using salt