Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2018 - 42
Channel
Catfish
Versus
Flathead
Catfish
Battle of the
CATFISH
by Darl Black
photos by the author
In Pennsylvania, the catfish does not get the respect
it deserves. Many anglers regard catfish as junk
fish. Some anglers are afraid to touch catfish.
And, probably even more anglers have never
tried eating catfish, believing it will taste
like mud.
However, both Channel Catfish
and Flathead Catfish prefer
hard bottom habitat and clean
water. These two catfish are not
associated with low oxygen
and soft mucky bottoms,
as is the case for bullheads.
A Channel Catfish, when
properly prepared, is every bit
as tasty as a fried Crappie or Walleye.
Furthermore, big Flathead Catfish are
incredible fighters.
The state record Flathead Catfish in Pennsylvania
weighed a hefty 48-pounds, 6-ounces, taken by James R.
Shabrach in 2006 from Blue Marsh Spillway, Berks County. The
state record Channel Catfish weighed 35-pounds, 3-ounces,
caught in 1991 by Austin E. Roth III from the Lehigh Canal,
Northampton County.
Channel Catfish and Flathead Catfish are easy to tell apart.
Channel Catfish have deeply forked tails with blue-gray or
slate-gray on its back and silver-gray on its sides. Irregular
spots appear on the sides of most Channel Catfish except old
42
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * July/August 2018
Flathead Catfish
fish, which typically feature an overall dark, almost solid
black appearance.
Flathead Catfish can be readily identified by a broad,
depressed flat head featuring an oversized mouth. The tail
is square or slightly round as opposed to the forked tail
on a Channel Catfish. The body of the Flathead Catfish is
yellowish brown to dark brown with black or dark brown
mottling on the sides.
Channel Catfish are adaptable, making its home in
rivers, large creeks, small lakes and large reservoirs. These
catfish eat a variety of live prey including insects, crayfish
and medium-size baitfish. But, Channel Catfish are also
scavengers feeding on dead prey.
On the other hand, mature Flathead Catfish are an apex
predator in several of our major rivers, searching out large
preyfish including Rock Bass, Bluegills, large chubs and
even smaller catfish species.
While not as popular among anglers as bass, Crappies,
trout or Walleyes, there are dedicated catfish anglers in
Pennsylvania. Rod Bates became a dedicated catfish angler
when the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission closed
www.gonefishingpa.com
http://www.gonefishingpa.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August 2018
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20180910
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