List of Different Catfish

Channel Catfish

• Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, feature unique spots, which make them easy to distinguish between them and other catfish. They are generally olive brown or slate blue on the back and sides. Their bellies are silvery white. The tail fin of this catfish is forked, which also helps to distinguish it from all of the other catfish species, except for the blue catfish. These catfish are most abundant in large streams with slow-moving water in temperatures of about 75 degrees. They can reach up to 12 inches long. One of the most preferred fish to catch, channel catfish are popular with trotliners and rod-and-reel anglers. Channel catfish ranks behind only bass and crappie as the most preferred fish to catch in Texas, according to Texas Park and Wildlife Online.

Blue Catfish

• Blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, are similar to channel catfish and also have a forked tail. The spawning behavior of the blue catfish is also similar to the channel catfish. However, blue catfish enjoy large rivers and can be found in the main channels and tributaries of major river systems. They move upstream in the summer to search for cooler water and downstream in the winter to search for warmer temperatures. Native to the major rivers of the Ohio, Missouri and the Mississippi River basins, blue catfish are the largest freshwater sportfish in Texas. Where mature populations of blue catfish exist, it is not uncommon to capture a 50-pound blue catfish.

Flathead Catfish

• The flathead catfish earned its name because of its distinct head. The tail of the flathead catfish has a notch instead of a fork and it is mostly a light yellow fish with brown on the back and sides. Flathead catfish hide in caves, under log jams or within crevices and prefer solitary situations when they are not spawning. It is not unusual to capture flathead catfish between 50 and 100 pounds.

Yellow Bullhead Catfish

• The tail on the yellow bullhead catfish, Ameirus natalis, is distinctly rounded. This catfish type prefers deeper waters and it is found within the eastern and central part of the United States. An olive green or light yellow color, this catfish is one of the smallest varieties of catfish. Yellow bullhead catfish enjoy clear waters of shallow bays and low, gradient streams.