Catfish In Colder Waters

[Al Agnew]

Anywhere that isn't trout water. Middle Current River, even as springfed and clear as it is, has plenty of catfish, both channels and flatheads. Size of the stream makes more difference than water clarity or temperature. The bigger the stream the more catfish there are in it. Big River starts getting really good for catfish at about St. Francois State Park, and is excellent from there on down. Meramec is good from the end of the trout water on down. Bourbeuse is excellent over nearly the whole river because it has so many big, long pools. But it probably isn't worth fishing for them on smaller streams like the Huzzah except in late spring/early summer when some channel catfish make their way up them to spawn. Some of the longer rocky pools on lower Huzzah will have resident channel catfish and possibly a few flatheads, but Huzzah isn't the optimum place to fish for them.

On smaller streams, if you fish with live or especially with dead bait like stink bait or minnows at night, you will probably catch a pile of bullheads...good eating if you know how to clean them. On the larger streams, there's always the chance of a big 30 pound plus flathead.

[aftersh0ck]

We didnt go to the huzzah for catsfish that weekend. One of those weekend floats where you dont

get drunk and you actually fish. Saw these guys with a fat stringer of channels and asked where and what

they were catching them on. proceeded to fish all evening and into the night.

[mic]

On smaller streams, if you fish with live or especially with dead bait like stink bait or minnows at night, you will probably catch a pile of bullheads...good eating if you know how to clean them. On the larger streams, there's always the chance of a big 30 pound plus flathead.

So what's the trick to cleaning them?

[Al Agnew]

So what's the trick to cleaning them?

Don't know...haven't tried to clean them since I was a kid. But I've seen people clean them efficiently--I just didn't pay close attention.

[emjay]

[Kayser]

"A lot of flavor in the skin, so leave it on if you want." Ummmm..... What?

Fillet the fish, strip it off the skin, and leave the red meat (dark muscle meat, in the video) on the skin. Cut out the red "mud line" that follows the lateral line- that is fatty tissue that can taste muddy and concentrates contaminants. The belly meat if fine to eat (best part of a flathead), just strip it off the skin, and do the same with the inner septum (silver skin). Doing this removes most of the nasty, fishy, and muddy flavor that catfish can sometimes get.

Soak the fillet in some water with a little salt and lemon juice, and that will kill any other unpleasant flavors. This is how I clean catfish, and people who hate catfish cannot wait for me to have another fish fry.

Rob

[gotmuddy]

we use milk to soak fish in.

I am going to do some catfishing this weekend in a hole on the southfork river at moko. It is incredibly deep, 20ft in one spot!! I cannot explain why it is so deep but it sure is.

[MOsmallies]

I spend a week every summer on the Black River down in Lesterville where the water is crystal clear. When I'm not fishing for smallies, I usually try to spend some time snorkeling. You'd be amazed at the catfish populations on the Black. There are plenty of them and good size as well. As you probably already know, the MDC is conducting a tagging study on 4 Ozark streams with the Black being one of them. Don't quote me, but I believe they tagged 1800 fish in the Black with 40% being smallies and the other 60% catfish. If you're looking for clear water, river cats the Black might be a good option.Plenty of them, good size, and the chance to make some money and help out the MDC. The majority are channels, so I would try cutbait (larger minnow sides) on circle hooks or chicken livers. You could also try live sunfish in the deeper laydown filled holes for flatheads.

Paul

MOsmallies