Catfish are found in one form or another on every continent of the world except Antarctica. Their incredible adaptive powers have enabled them to thrive in ponds, streams and rivers, at any temperature from tropical areas to the coldest waters - under solid ice. These fish are bottom feeders, eating anything they can find and they also taste good themselves. Many sport fishermen also use them as catfishing baits to haul in the big ones.
How does this amazing creature survive in such diverse habitats? Some of them are enormous; a hundred pound beast is not uncommon and the huge Mekong catfish can weigh upwards of 400 pounds generally, those found in North America weigh from about three pounds up - yet they all belong to the catfish family. They all share the same catfish anatomy whether theyre big or small for instance, their sense of smell is almost unrivalled - they can smell and taste a potential meal from as far away as fifteen feet. So, in order to catch them, anglers use irresistible, smelly catfishing baits which compel the catfish to go after them. They also have excellent eyesight which is essential in the murky waters they prefer to inhabit and their sense of hearing is also very acute.
Scientists who study these things have called this combination of senses chemoreception and it ensures survival - the catfish recognizes its own species for reproductive purposes, is able to avoid predators and, as mentioned, can hear, smell and taste a potential meal from several feet away. Their smellers are openings (nares) on each side of their snouts which connect to structures inside the head called folds. So anglers create catfishing baits which will appeal to all the senses, particularly those of smell and taste - and the wonderful scents emanating from that delectable morsel will compel him to emerge from his den and seek it out.
A catfish has taste buds all over its smooth, scale-free skin as well as in its mouth, nose and on its whiskers (barbels) which protrude from the side of its wide mouth basically, its a floating tongue. A tiny six-inch catfish has over a quarter of a million taste buds imagine how many a giant blue or flathead catfish has! Keep in mind too that our catfishs hearing is equally acute with sensors running laterally down the entire body. So, if youre planning to land that record catfish, youll need those stinky catfishing baits and youll need to be as quiet as possible; no loud tackle noises in your boat or stomping around on shore.
Next are we using those delicious catfishing baits in the correct manner? And are we looking in the right places for him? Weve examined our catfishs physiology; lets take a look at his living arrangements. Look for piles of brush or tree branches in slow-moving water or around pier footings where its darker and murky and keep your hooks motionless; if you have the smelliest catfishing baits possible, and hes there, he will come out to investigate. And if after twenty minutes or so, theres no sign of him then hes not there. If hes not there, hes not there and youll have to try your luck in a more promising spot.
How does this amazing creature survive in such diverse habitats? Some of them are enormous; a hundred pound beast is not uncommon and the huge Mekong catfish can weigh upwards of 400 pounds generally, those found in North America weigh from about three pounds up - yet they all belong to the catfish family. They all share the same catfish anatomy whether theyre big or small for instance, their sense of smell is almost unrivalled - they can smell and taste a potential meal from as far away as fifteen feet. So, in order to catch them, anglers use irresistible, smelly catfishing baits which compel the catfish to go after them. They also have excellent eyesight which is essential in the murky waters they prefer to inhabit and their sense of hearing is also very acute.
Scientists who study these things have called this combination of senses chemoreception and it ensures survival - the catfish recognizes its own species for reproductive purposes, is able to avoid predators and, as mentioned, can hear, smell and taste a potential meal from several feet away. Their smellers are openings (nares) on each side of their snouts which connect to structures inside the head called folds. So anglers create catfishing baits which will appeal to all the senses, particularly those of smell and taste - and the wonderful scents emanating from that delectable morsel will compel him to emerge from his den and seek it out.
A catfish has taste buds all over its smooth, scale-free skin as well as in its mouth, nose and on its whiskers (barbels) which protrude from the side of its wide mouth basically, its a floating tongue. A tiny six-inch catfish has over a quarter of a million taste buds imagine how many a giant blue or flathead catfish has! Keep in mind too that our catfishs hearing is equally acute with sensors running laterally down the entire body. So, if youre planning to land that record catfish, youll need those stinky catfishing baits and youll need to be as quiet as possible; no loud tackle noises in your boat or stomping around on shore.
Next are we using those delicious catfishing baits in the correct manner? And are we looking in the right places for him? Weve examined our catfishs physiology; lets take a look at his living arrangements. Look for piles of brush or tree branches in slow-moving water or around pier footings where its darker and murky and keep your hooks motionless; if you have the smelliest catfishing baits possible, and hes there, he will come out to investigate. And if after twenty minutes or so, theres no sign of him then hes not there. If hes not there, hes not there and youll have to try your luck in a more promising spot.