[recklessindian]

This year I was using 1/0 and 2/0 circle hooks for channel cats, all have been under 15 pounds. But now I am getting lots of little bullheads, so I moved to a 3/0 octopus circle hook. Same problem, and the little bullheads swallow the hook every time, because I can't tell if they are a large fish just smellin the bait or a bullhead fighting my sinker weight after it already ate my bait.
Any ideas on discouraging the bullheads: larger hooks? what size. Different bait (I seem to get more bullheads on worms, but I also get more channels on them too)? Or any other ideas. By the way I am fishing from shore and this problem happens at my two most productive spots, one in a lake the other a large creek.

 

[tightline_69]

I have found, that , unfortunately bullhead will bite on anything. Years ago, when Berkley first came out with their powerbait worms, a friend and I were bass fishing and the bullheads were taking them. They , in my experience, don't seem to like large chunks of cutbait. Try taking one of those bullhead, nip the points of the fins, and reuse it to catch some large channel of flathead. You hook them through the bottom lip or 1/4 inch below the dorsal fin. They work awesome.

 

[playin4funami]

yeah using larger chunks of cutbait that the bullheads can't get in their mouths will help some or at least cut out the little ones. I know a couple ponds with some huge channel cats in them, but millions of little yellow bullheads make it impossible to fish any smaller baits,I usually use a 5 inch long green sunfish and the bullheads leave that alone pretty well,live greenies seem to work the best. And nighttime fishing seems to work out well also as bullheads don't seem to be as prominate at night. I tossed a few flatties into the ponds a couple years back to help with the bullhead population, they ought to be fat and sassy by now!

 

[recklessindian]

The restrictions on what I can use as bait here in Ontario is huge. I need to reread the book, but I am pretty sure they list the different fish you can use and almost every bait that is a fish mentioned on this site is not on the list. Which means I can't use em. No bullhead, no sunfish or blue gill. I even e-mailed the ministry about using a dead goby or pieces of one. They said no gobies can be used as bait and it is illegal to have one live or dead in your possession you must dispose of fish immediately and not release in water. Anyway thanks for your suggestions, I am going to have to find a bigger bait. I know I can use a chicken liver, but I got the impression from many threads here that chicken livers will not catch you a huge channel cat.
Dean.

 

[plainsman]

A bullhead will eat anything a channel cat will. My suggestion is use larger pieces of bait, and larger hooks. 8/0 circle hooks should keep most of em from biting.

 

[tightline_69]

Chicken liver will catch big cats. Get an old cookie sheet, lay the liver out on the sheet. sprinkle it granulated garlic. I let mine set for 2 or 3 hours on one side, then flip and repeat. I think alot of baits used vary from region to region. Here in Nebraska, I have caught my biggest cats on huge chunks of skipjack (aka goldeye/shad). I also take chicken gizzards and put them in shade liver oil with garlic and let them set for 2 wks. They turn to rubber. But I do agree, ya can't go wrong with using larger hooks and bait for bigger fish.
If your state allows it, try chumming for cats. Catch a few bait fish from where you are fishing. Also take some water from the river and or lake you are fishing. When you get home put the bait fish and some of the water in a blender,grind it up. Take the mixture and freeze it in small ziplock bags or old cottage cheese containers. Take it with you next time you go fishing and toss it in the area you plan to fish. As the mixture melts, you have a natural scent trail to draw them in.

 

[Guppycatcher101]

Yea i tghink like a 5/0 hook with a bigger chunk of bait and ul be good to go..

 

[Matt77]

your going to have to get creative here if you can't use any bait fish. That just sounds crazy. Fl law says sunfish may be used for bait by the angler who caught them by hook and line. And the game wardens will check your bucket when they see you cast netting. I think a size 4/0 J hook would prob be good. what about mice?

 

[recklessindian]

I haven't come across anything in the regulations against using mice. Are they good bait to use? How many people have used mice, and what were the results?
Thanks, Dean.

 

[Matt77]

if you want to know about mice post a brand new message in general catfishing and I'm sure the bros will help you out. I haven't used them yet but am going to try pinkey mice. they are cheap snake food. You could also try out frogs, pork chops, steak etc...

 

[Guest]

yeah using larger chunks of cutbait

Pulled the words right outta my mouth. Using BIG pieces of cutbait:cowboy:

 

[m slayton]

stop using liver and worms unless you using worms to catch blue gills .... and a loaf of bread will catch more blue gills and is cheaper then worms ... bull heads eat anything that will fit in there pie holes LOL so if said bait is under 2-3 inches long its bull head friendly, also bull heads rarely bite fish used as bait there more non fish consuming scavenger with the exception of the rare 5-6 lb bull head biting on cut bait..

so the answer or cure for not catching bull heads is BIG cut bait or live bait also bull heads will bite live med. sized shinners use large shinners ,shad ,skippys or bream heads to big for the bull heads and a 7/0-8/0 circle hook gl and hold your rod tight

 

[Netmanjack]

Dean, I would use big live chubs or suckers, your aloud to use both up there and the and they are an excellent channel cat bait.

 

[jawbreaker]

I tend to use bigger chunks , but I also have noticed that if I'm getting bullhead bites that alot of time that means your in the wrong spot . I usually pull anchor and move when we catch one or you can just tell by the way they bite .

 

[m slayton]

that bullheads tend to lurk around dead vegatation lilly pads and grasses n what not they eat that stuff alot so try moving to deeper water or away from any vedatation or when you cast and reel in dead weeds thats a good sign to move also just an idea

 

[thecatman]

well if ya were closer to me i would take every single bullhead ya catch but canada is quite a ways from texas they make a great flathead bait

 

[catfisherman369]

The restrictions on what I can use as bait here in Ontario is huge. I need to reread the book, but I am pretty sure they list the different fish you can use and almost every bait that is a fish mentioned on this site is not on the list. Which means I can't use em. No bullhead, no sunfish or blue gill. I even e-mailed the ministry about using a dead goby or pieces of one. They said no gobies can be used as bait and it is illegal to have one live or dead in your possession you must dispose of fish immediately and not release in water. Anyway thanks for your suggestions, I am going to have to find a bigger bait. I know I can use a chicken liver, but I got the impression from many threads here that chicken livers will not catch you a huge channel cat.
Dean.

Chicken liver will catch nice size channels , but the bull heads will hammer that bait more then any . I used to use nothing but chicken liver years ago and caught nice channels and a few flatheads , but a boat load of bullheads . I use a whole side of a 5 to 7 inch bluegill on a 5/0 up to a 7/0 and still catch bullheads . When I catch 2 bullheads on big cutbait in the same area , I will move .

 

[Hemus Bocephus]

Catching bullheads, it's time to move spots!

 

[backwoodsman68geric]

Well what keeps me from catching bullheads is being hungry and wanting to catch them. We can actually "tailor" the bullhead size by using certain hook sizes. Fishing for livebait bullheads for our setlines we use no.6 up to no.1's. Eating size 1/0 or even 2/0. Of course big bullheads can take smaller hooks but smaller bullhead cant take bigger hooks. If you want to exclude all but the biggest bullhead then a 5/0 or so should be considered I think. Ive only caught a handful of bullheads on cutbait/whole shad etc. Chicken liver is a big draw and nightfishing here is the best time for a basket of bullheads. Worms and chicken liver are our most popular bullhead baits so maybe a switch to dip bait etc to might help?

 

[recklessindian]

From what I've read on different threads here, dip baits are likely to catch small fish including bullheads. Well today I bought some frozen whole mackerel at the grocery store. They are at least 12 inches long. I was thinking of cutting them into three pieces and I'd start with a large section including the head, and see what happens tonight.
I know the suggestions that say to move to a new location are good suggestions, but the place I fish is at the end of my street (two throws of a baseball away). It's a nice sandy beach on Lake Erie with a very long sand bar/island, depending on water level, that is 500 yards out (guess). I can walk down and fish for just a half hour or for the full day. If it wasn't so close I wouldn't go fishing half as much, so I'm going to keep going.
For the last two months I've been seeing carp jumping like crazy. I've tried to catch them with worms, corn and bread (tried bread with cheese too). No luck, well my buddy caught one over 13pounds on a worm a month or so back. I'm just hoping there will be fish here all year long.