Are catfish popular in Alberta???

[archer66]

Or are they "trash"??

Here are some from this year in Missouri....

[npauls]

I don't think there is any catfish in alberta. I could be wrong but I have never heard of anyone getting any.

Nate

[walking buffalo]

Hi Archer,

The only native catfish in Alberta is the Black Stonecat. They only exist on one river with an unknown population. Not many Albertans would have caught one here.

Here is a report on them.

http://srd.alberta.ca/biodiversitystewardship/speciesatrisk/DetailedStatus/documents/stonecat.pdf

[DaveFish]

Mmmmmm fried catfish

[archer66]

You guys are missing out but I'd gladly trade ya some of ours for some of your Northern Pike.

[pickrel pat]

i think the milk river may have catfish. that would be about it though.

[marlin1]

Hi Archer,

The only native catfish in Alberta is the Black Stonecat. They only exist on one river with an unknown population. Not many Albertans would have caught one here.

Here is a report on them.

http://srd.alberta.ca/biodiversitystewardship/speciesatrisk/DetailedStatus/documents/stonecat.pdf

very interesting buffalo , never knew that . Haven't caught a cat fish since i moved here from the coast where we would catch them in the serpentine river as kids. They were considered garbage fish but I tried one once and it was tasty. Only manitoba has them as far as I know of any size . The ones in BC were pretty small

[archer66]

The three main species of catfish in Missouri are Flathead, Blue, and channel. Flathead and blue cat are both fantastic to eat and can grow to be 100 pounds and up. In fact Missouri recently had two new fish records set. A 130 pound blue cat was caught on rod and reel in the Missouri River near St. Louis and a 99 pound flathead caught on a bank pole also in the Missouri River. Channel cat don't get quite as big...not sure what the record is, my largest channel is in the 10 pound range. The flathead in the first pic above wieghed 20 pounds....my daughter didn't want to hold it very long.

[joe05ca]

Or are they "trash"??

Here are some from this year in Missouri....

those r awesome fish man way to go

[Cal]

According to "fishes of alberta" catfish only occur in the lower reaches of the Milk river and are a small species called Stonecats. They reach a maximum size of 31 cm and the biggest one found in Alberta was 25cm.

[archer66]

Here is a picture of the new world record Blue Catfish...caught in the Missouri River near St. Louis. It was caught on rod and reel.

This is not photoshopped...it's the real thing.
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb27/critifer/130_pound_bluecat1jpg-thumb.jpg

[Fishingnutter]

You guys are missing out but I'd gladly trade ya some of ours for some of your Northern Pike.

I'll trade you a Northern Pike, several Walleye, a couple of Burbot that kinda look like catfish, and one Brown Trout for a stretch of weather that doesn't contain an ounce of water. Mind you, I can't remember Calgary to be so dust free, it's like the city has been power washed. In 2 weeks it will be Fall (Autumn only happens out east), then it will be ice fishing season from November till the next Alberta Summer which starts around mid July thru mid July of the same year. Now I remember why I moved away.

[Sundancefisher]

Or are they "trash"??

Here are some from this year in Missouri....

Nice. They are great eating.

We don't have any catfish sportfish in Alberta. Closest thing that fills that niche is the Burbot.

[Geezle]

Here is a picture of the new world record Blue Catfish...caught in the Missouri River near St. Louis. It was caught on rod and reel.

This is not photoshopped...it's the real thing.
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb27/critifer/130_pound_bluecat1jpg-thumb.jpg

Man that thing looks like a freakin' mutant! :scared0015:

[Pudelpointer]

Man that thing looks like a freakin' mutant! :scared0015:

Obviously a triploid.



















Couldn't resist. :sHa_sarcasticlol:

[Calgaryguy1977]

I thought this is how you fished for catfish? ...it's called noodling (using your arm as bait like a big noodle) and I think it's hilarious!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTEixsmRoBs&feature=related

[Jayball]

i think the milk river may have catfish. that would be about it though.

i had heard this too.

[Sundancefisher]

I thought this is how you fished for catfish? ...it's called noodling (using your arm as bait like a big noodle) and I think it's hilarious!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTEixsmRoBs&feature=related

for Albertan catfish...you noodle with your little pinky finger.

[alodar]

lol i dont think ill be doin that for catfish thats for sure

[wildman]

very interesting milk river info.
anyone ever catch a stonecat? any pics?
are we talking big chunky fish here or just wee minnow guys?
cheers, gw

[alodar]

very interesting milk river info.
anyone ever catch a stonecat? any pics?
are we talking big chunky fish here or just wee minnow guys?
cheers, gw
the info said a foot or smaller.... so i guess they are little ones

[Winch101]

Stonecats would be the equivalent to Bullheads...in pretty well all rivers in Man. and parts of Sask .

I cant see that there wouldnt be cats in the south and north ... sask. river .

If you want to eat cats buy Basa fillet at Safeway , these are a shark fin Catfish ,product of Vietnam ... grown in the Mekong delta .

I have a 36 lb. er out of the red in Man. as my biggest .

caught on chicken liver , med light rod and 10lb. test ,, good way to while
away a couple of hours ...per fish...

[Easywean]

CATFISH GRABBLIN!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8lryibcs2Y

[archer66]

I thought this is how you fished for catfish? ...it's called noodling (using your arm as bait like a big noodle) and I think it's hilarious!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTEixsmRoBs&feature=related

Noodling also known as hand fishing is illegal in Missouri. The state has for years believed that it is too effective on big flathead catfish which are the best breeders and are needed to keep populations up. The reason it is so effective is a hand fisherman can sink a box or piece of culvert in a river and the fish will adopt it for nesting. All you have to do is put out 10 or 20 boxes then when it's time for the big females to spawn you go check em. Makes it too easy to find them and target the big fish. A couple of years ago Missouri decided to have a hand fishing season on a trial basis. Hand fishemen were expected to buy a special permit to fish legally. There are a lot of folks who think the state did this just to get a list of who handfishes so they'd know who to watch in future years.