Hobbies And Interests
Channel
Channel catfish are slender with a protruding upper jaw. The tail fin is forked, and the skin is light with scattered dark spots. These spots are found on the back and sides, but are less visible on large adults and small young channel catfish. Adult channel catfish weigh 1 to 15 lbs and measure 12 to 32 inches long. As of 2011, the record weight for a channel catfish in Missouri was a 34.6 lb fish caught in 1976.
Flathead
Flathead catfish are also slender, but with a protruding lower jaw. The light yellow or pale brown skin is mottled with dark brown or black spots. The mottling is less evident in adult flathead catfish located in muddy waters. The tail fin is square with a lighter color at the top. Adult flathead catfish measure 15 to 45 inches and weigh 1 to 45 lbs. As of 2011, the largest flathead catfish in Missouri was caught in 2003 at a record weight of 77.5 lbs.
Blue
Blue catfish have a protruding upper jaw and forked tail fin. The blue silver color on the upper side and back diminishes to a white silver color down the lower sides to the belly. As of 2011, the Missouri record for a blue catfish was 57 inches long and 130 lbs. That fish was caught in 2010. Adult blues generally weigh 3 to 40 lbs and measure 20 to 44 inches. Blue catfish prefer large waters with swift currents.
Bullhead
Black bullhead and yellow bullhead catfish are found across the state and are said to have a good flavor. As of 2011, the Missouri Department of Conservation had located only one population of brown bullhead catfish in the state. It was isolated to streams and ponds at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge and the adjoining Duck Creek Conservation Area in southeast Missouri. Bullhead catfish have dark skin with no mottling and a square tail fin. Adult bullhead catfish weigh 2 to 3 lbs and measure 16 inches long.
Madtom
Madtoms are small in size, measuring 6 inches or less in length. These secretive fish reside under rocks in small streams and are rarely seen. They feast on water insects and young crawdads. Madtoms are prey to larger fish, including trout and walleye. Anglers who want to catch madtoms for fishing bait collect them in fine-mesh dip nets by flashlight at night.