Big ol Nasty Catfish

[RyDogg]

Hey guys,
Alright so yesterday I was fishing my buddy's pond for bass. I was use about a 6 inch lizard on 6 lbs test and I hooked up on about a 12lbs catfish. Big ol sucker. The thing fought pretty hard, And where I usually fish there arent any catfish so this was my first one. I was pretty amazed at the fight it gave me. After a few minuites I got it up next to the boat and I was like...nice.. now what, this nasty looking monster is gonna bite my hand off. I didnt have a net (left it at home...oops) and since Ive never caught a catfish, I remember hearing that the barbs can sting you. So I was like..now what?... I decided, what the heck, it aint gonna gurt me. So i went to grab it and the thing shook so hard it broke my line. Anyways, just to be sure, whats the best way to pick up a catfish. (I hope this isnt a dumb question. haha)

[Southern_Angler_#1]

Grab it right behind the side barbs and squeze that is how I have always done it. And I dunno if the barbs can actually sting you but if they get you they hurt and can leave a good scare trust me. Just when you go to grab them commit and do not hesitate good luck though man I caught 14 yesterday never got finned.

[RyDogg]

Alright, ive decided that whenever theres a chance i can catch catfish, im wearing a longsleeve shirt and bringin a glove. I dont care if thats not manly. Those are nasty fish. Thanks for the advice though.

[MississippiBoy]

I agree with Southern, here-don't be bashful, jut grab it.
I've never been finned by a catfish, even when chasing one round and round in a barrel for 5 mins or so when I used to hand-grab. If you grab right over the top of a fin with it sticking up, you'll get stuck. They do have a mild poison on the tips, but it's not as bad as an ant bite, if you just get scratched.
I usually grab it with one side fin between my index and middle fingers, the side of the top fin against the web between my thumb and index finger, and thumb kinda hooking the other side fin. Hold tight, and he ain't getting away or sticking you with anything.
Hoo-wee....fried catfish, hushpuppies, french fries, ice-cold sweet tea...make you slap your granndma!

[zooker]

bigger cats are best lipped with one hand leaving your free hand to grab the barb you can control the fish this way..the bigger the cat the duller the barb.. though i have had several blues and channels clamp down on my hand.-like slamming your hand in a car door- flat heads rarely clamp down on your hand..

zooker

[RyDogg]

well, ive concluded that i like catching bass. haha. But im definately bringin a net and a leather glove next time i fish that pond.
BTW Zook - the idea of slamming my hand in a car door doesnt really apeal to me. haha

[zooker]

leave the glove at home they have some pretty good jaw strenth once they clamp down you probly could not get the glove out...


zooker

[RyDogg]

haha, good point

[noboatyet]

yep grab that fish around the back of its head behind the whiskers and once you got it still you can stick your fingers in the mouth and hold it like a bass. For some reason a fish can not move once you've grabed them like this. I recall the first big catfish i caught...out of a pond in my friends farm. Was around 10 lbs. caught him on my cheap real and it wouldn't reel him in. I pulled the thing in with my hand, cut my hand, cut the fish's lip all up...Nice fight while it lasted though

[traphuntfish]

i fish for cat more that i do bass but if you hesitate when you try to grab them or jump when they kick your more that likley going to get finned and if you grabb them to far back were they can wobble there whole top half around youll get stabbed to

[RyDogg]

just one question guys. When you say get finned, you mean their dorsal fin or other fin will cut you, and you dont mean the barb?

[traphuntfish]

yea the the fin on each side of its body will get you good cause there sharp

[RyDogg]

I like bass fishing more, haha

[the pond guy]

can they actually sting you??

[RyDogg]

thats what people have been sayin. I guess its not that bad though.

[Rosemeyer]

ha you will know if it stings yuh dont get me wrong its not horrible but it is definently not comfortable....if they are really big the jaw pressure is pretty enormous I wouldnt recommend grabbing them by the jaw pick them up from the gills they are rather thick and easy to hold on to just be ready for them to swing that tail.....

[Southern_Angler_#1]

yeah Rose gave some good advice and no they don't really sting you but they do have a very mild poison on the barbs not to painfull but you prolly won't enjoy it.

[Lonewolf]

They don't sting.... per se, but If that barb gets you youll know it. Some ppl actually think that the whiskers can sting you, they cant all you gotta watch out for is the barbs in front of there pectoral fins and on the back.

[firstbass7lbs]

hey guys im new to the whole bass thing but i been catfishin for years so ill let you in on a secret if you get horned by a cat rub the wound on the slime on their skin itll take the sting away and keep it from gettin infected