For years I have caught blue cat on stockton, nothing big but sometimes 8 lb or more.

or so I thought, now a conservation agent told me there are no known Blue Cat in stockton lake, I was catching channell cat he says. well got me thinking and reading, and so far I beleieve I have not been catching Blue Cat on stockton, any thoughts on this from anyone.

I find it hard to believe that there are no blue's in Stockton. They are native throughout the state. I know that the Beagleman can tell the difference between a blue and a channel.

thought I could, I know there are difference in the big ones the small one I catch are not that distingushable I guess, guess I never paid that much attention, but I will from now on.

I would think an ol' fisher like you could see the difference between a blue and a channel. small channels should have spots and small blues are usually almost white in color. I think it is harder to tell once both fish reach around10-15 lbs. maybe your game warden was mistaken, it could happen.

I do not have a problem with the cahannel cat fish, caught lots of them. easy to tell what they are. catch bunch in the 5lb range, I just couldn't believe there were no blue cat in stockton lake. gonna check one more spot, somehow I think the mofishmgr on here said there were no blues in stockton lake, gonna research and see if I can find his post.

I can tell the difference between them when I look at their pictures on the web (and the names are under them!!) Seriously, I know the marks and everything, but I swear when I see one in real life, I can't tell the difference.


But I'm not a big catfish fan anyway, so...don't really take the time to learn I guess.:o

I believe that the anal fin on a channel is straight while the anal fin on a blue is more rounded. there is also a difference in the number of rays on the anal fin, but I can,t say for sure of that number.

Heads (mouths) & Tails are different.

Very easy to tell the difference,like speck said i find it hard to believe they're not in stockton.

I agree, I did not mean to say I could not tell the difference, I just ment to say I was told I did not know the difference, and well maby there are none, I guess I did not pay to close attention.