Stockton Cats Starting To Move In.

[redtickstreed]

Had a good trip we caught lots of cats on leaches and crawlersand the big blue on live bluegill in the river channel north of Aldrich. They were on the timber in 10 foot of water.

[mic]

See any eggs yet?

[murphdog]

Nice mess! Hope this wind lays down so we can get the boat in the water!

[redtickstreed]

all full of eggs

[Cabezon]

Blue catfish have never been documented in Stockton Lake. I have received a few reports from conservation agents saying anglers thought they have caught blue catfish and upon inspection, they were just channel catfish on the larger size that were washed out in color (6+ pounds). I have also received a few pictures the last few years from anglers which they thought were blues and they were actually channels. If you have a picture or a specimen that you believe to be a blue catfish, feel free to contact me to take a look at it.

Sincerely,

Adam

Adam Boman

Fisheries Management Biologist

Missouri Department of Conservation

Springfield Public Contact Office

2630 N. Mayfair

Springfield, MO 65803

Office: (417) 895-6880 ext. 1624

Fax: (417) 895-6910

email: adam.boman@mdc.mo.gov

website: http://www.mdc.mo.gov/

[redtickstreed]

odd to read the above post but I sent it to the email anyway we shall see.

[navery]

If the blue you are referring to is the one in the above pic, then he its right. You are holding a nice channel catfish. You can tell by the rounded anal fin. Nice fish though either way.

[redtickstreed]

Hello Thomas,

Very nice catfish. I always enjoy seeing pics of quality Stockton cats. In my opinion, Stockton cats have a different taste and are some of the best tasting I’ve ever had. Maybe I’m just partial to Stockton! The fish in the picture is definitely a channel catfish. The key distinguishing factor is the rounded anal fin. Blue cats have a straight anal fin. A google search will pull up some good photos for you. Also, you can count the rays in the anal fin and channels have 24 to 29 while blue cats have 30 to 35 rays. Obviously I can’t count them accurately from a photo, but it is a good thing to remember in the field. When channel cats get this large, they often lose the scattered spots on the backs and sides that are typical of channel cats; giving them more of a blue catfish look. Let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks.

Good fishing,

Adam

Adam Boman

Fisheries Management Biologist

Missouri Department of Conservation

[lil sac mitch]

Adam,

I fish Stockton and the little sac river constantly, as matter of fact I just got back and managed to catch my limit of channels in the river. I have caught many catfish that were not flatheads that were in the 15 to 20 pound range, and a few that have been easily over 30. I have always considered them to be blue catfish, and if they were channels then I would of caught a handful that would of beat the current state record that stands at 34 pounds. Is it possible that their were blue cats in the sac river system before the dam was built? I was just wondering how MDC determines that there are not any in the lake. Thank you for all the information that you have already provided. I have attached a picture of a catfish that I thought was a blue and was caught in Aldrich.

Thanks,

Mitchell

[redtickstreed]

Mitchell email that to Adam his addy is adam.bowman@mdc.mo.gov