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Show Catfish Provide Good Action for Night Fisherman i i ' - , rr?': T"" !",""") m97mL..,.jf By Jim Smedlcy The catfish family, Ictaluridac, is known only from North America ranging from southern Canada East of the Rockies and southward to Guatemala. They include 35 species. Catfish in general are a widespread group represented by numerous families and species especially in SouthAmcrica and Asia. They occur on all comments. There is a wide range between the different species. Some are known to reach only six inches while others, the flathcad cats of the Mississippi, grow up to five feet long and exceed 100 pounds. being firm and white. Catfish are most identifiable by the "Charlie-Chan' "Charlie-Chan' type barbels extending from the chin and upper jaw and smooth skin replacing scales. The body is pale bluish-olive above and bluish-white below. Black spots range from a few to many over much of the fish's body. It has a deeply forked tail and an adipose fin. The caudal fin is deeply to slightly forked. Both the dorsal and the pectoral fins have .strong, sharp spines that are capable of inflicting rather deep wounds to the careless angler. The largest catfish taken inUtah is 32 pounds-five ounces, caught at Utah Lake in 1978. Ictalurus pituctatus (Rafinesque) them for two-three weeks after they have hatched. Pitman said theJDWR will make periodical plants of catfish in Utah. Whenever-TVA Whenever-TVA lakes and federal project lakes get their allotment of fish and some are left over. "We stocked catfish for two successive years in 1975-76 and have been advised that we'll get some during tihs summer," Pitman siad. "We'd like to establish the catfish in the Bear River and Cutler Reservoir." "The catfish stocked in the Weber River just below Ogden in 1975 have not taken there. "Reproduction is the main factor limiting their success in the rivers," Pitman said. "A five pound fish needs at least a cubic yard of area to spawn and they like the close shelter areas. By the time the temperature reaches 70 degrees many of the rivers are low and don't provide the conditions necessary for successful spawning." Catfish are not fussy about what they eat. They'll go after fish or frogs, dead or alive, and will eat plants, seeds and other 'delacacies' found at the bottom. If their own eggs are disturbed too often they have been known to devour them also. Bait fisherman are known to use stink baits in their pursuit of the cat. Susan Snow, spokeswoman for . Anglers Inn, Sugarhouse, said the Inn now has a variety of blood baits that, "all really stink," and recommends these and frozen minnows as bait. She said dough balls have also been known to be effective. Catfish fishing at Willard Bay has been consistent now, according to Pitman, with nice catches of 2 Vi to 3'2 pounds being reported. "The people around the lanterns at night will be mostly going for catfish and walleye as a supplement," Pitman said. Daytime fishermen have been using big Rapalas. bomber plugs and brass spoons with reasonable success. The bigger cats are usually taken during July, August and early September. No member of the Ictaluridae family is native to Utah where only two species have been established. The channel Catfish, Ictalurus, punctatus and the Black Bullhead, Ictalurus melas. The channel cat is one of the more important warm water fish in Utah and is most commonly found in Willard Bay, Utah Lake and. lake Powell. It is sought as a sport fish and many fishermen consider it excellent eating, the flesh The catfish spawns in water about 70 degres F. from early spring to late June. The eggs are deposited in areas that provide cover such as a hollow log. holes and caves. The female lays as many as 20,000 eggs which may hatch in six to 10 days. Dexter Pitman, fisheries manager for the northern section of Utah, said the male fish will sit on the nest, brood the eggs and protect |