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Went down to Bayou Meto near Reydell this weekend. we caught 20 total catfish. 2 flatheads and a bunch of white colored catfish. I've heard them called white river fultons and white catfish? I don't know what they are for sure, but we catch em down there every year when we are trotlinin for flathead. I've attached some photos....if anyone knows what the proper name for these fish are, please advise.
I see flatheads and channel cats...and that's a fine lookin' mess of cats...
I second that. Looks like channel cats to me as well.
Thanks, ceb. I thought I'd throw this pic out there for you. We caught these two flats down there on my first trip ever to Bayou Meto..needless to say, I've been hooked ever since. The big un weighed just under 40, and the "little one" weighed 21.Quote:
Originally Posted by ceb
I would have to agree with the channel cat analysis, we call them blue cats down here, maybe they just lightened up because of their habitat up there. Congrats on your catch, and them flatheads aint nothing to be ashamed of either.... Does anyone know how big they are capable of getting? There is a guy from town that caught one about an hour from my house (Bundick's lake) and they said it weighed right at 60 pounds. The biggest I have seen personally is 40............. Congrats again on the catch and thanks for the pics.
Guys you are correct on the darker fish, they look like Channel. But the white looking ones are actually Blues which get bigger than Channels. The Arkansas and anything connected are full of both kinds. The Flatheads are my favorite though . I thought the bayou was polluted with dixoin ? The thing runs through some of my relatives farm upstream around Lonoke.
That other picture has some nice flatheads too.
The bayou is polluted upstream from highway 13 according to the game and fish book. I don't think these are blues, we caught some blues, and these fish are alot different in color. Also, you can't hardly eat a blue, and these catfish had a good taste. Just my opinion, cause I sure don't know for sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by NIMROD
I think they are chanel cats too. Also nice flatheads. I caught some in bull shoals a couple of years ago, but nothing like those babies. Good fishing to ya.
first post is right. They are white cats. Often called fultons. Lots in Arkansas river. They have a hump on their backs too I believe.
I have to go along with NIMROD they are blues. Actually they are what is called a high fin blue. There color is lighter than the old bull head blue and also have the hump above there head. They will get over 90 pounds.Quote:
Originally Posted by NIMROD
Blue cats are also called fultons, humps, silvers by the riverrats
Flathead - blunt tail with no V, ugly mud color
Channel - distinct V tail, spots along the side
Blue - a rounded V tail, more like a U-shape, long flat anal fin
I see all three kinds in that 1st pic, take note of the diff in the tail between that big fish on its side (blue) and the one to its right (channel) and the diff in their anal fins
I argue with some locals ,they call the Blue Catfish by Humpback Blues, Fultons or Whites . The Arkansas River has a lot of Blues as well as Channel Cats and Flatheads. I have fished for catfish for years and lots of folks have different names for each type. Some even call Channels ''Blue Channels '':rolleyes: Sometimes male Channel cat after spawning will be all head ,skinny,and dark blue in color.Some locals call the ''****** Lip Blues.
I've even fished commercially some .:D There is a Catfish that is a White cat ,but I never saw any here. They live mostly up north and are generally not very large. We also have Bullheads and Madtoms which are small Catfish . Some folks call Yellow or Brown Bullheads ''Mudcats'' . They are lower in table quality.
whites are a seperate group than blues or channels
http://myfwc.com/fishing/Fishes/catfish.html
Nimrod is correct. I see three different species of catfish there. Channel,Blue,Flathead.Quote:
Originally Posted by NIMROD
Good lookin slew of fish...
The bayou runs through my family's land around lonoke as well. It was polluted with dioxin, but the game and fish says its clear downstream of the highway. Talked to a buddy of mine who has dealt with waste treatments and bayou meto in particular, he said that the state tests those waters something like once a month at different places for contaminants and so forth. But don't know if i'm quite ready to start fishin it yet, I'll just keep cleanin up ducks during season...