08-08-2005, 11:27 AM
[cool][#0000ff]Hey Parasite, welcome to the playroom. You cain't really count yerself an ofishal Utah Lake tangler lessin' ya run into at least one GOB (Good Ol' Boy) that knows ever thang 'bout ever thang when it comes to catfishin'. But, as CP suggested, if you have any doubt as to the species present in Utah, or any specific water, check the DWR publications.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I kin pretty much gay ron tee ya that there ain't no REAL "blue catfish" (Ictalurus furcatus). They could probably live here, but the bucket biologists ain't yet been able to carry their buckets across the desert from California (closest populations) or across the plains from some of the midwest states that have them. Same for flatheads (also known as yellow cats).[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Maybe when your bankside biologist said "yellows", he was referring to the bullheads. I have also heard them referred to as yellow cats, for the yellowish tinge they sometimes exhibit. Truth is, they are "black bullheads". There is a species known as yellow bullheads, but they have not OFFICIALLY been introduced into Utah waters.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Here is a pic I have posted before, showing a male channel cat (bluish color, with wider head) amongst several female (tan color, with narrower heads) channels. [/#0000ff]
![[Image: gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=10088;]](http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=10088;)
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Here is a pic of a single large male cat, with a very distinct wider head.[/#0000ff]
![[Image: gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=10087;]](http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=10087;)
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Here are two female channels, with the characteristic fatter bodies and narrower heads.[/#0000ff]
![[Image: gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=10085;]](http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?do=post_attachment;postatt_id=10085;)
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You will sometimes take females that are darker in color, but the above visual identifiers usually hold true. In Salem pond, all of the cats are a dark grey color, with very white bellies. These fish are planted from a hatchery and I suspect that the environment and food of that hatchery affects the coloration.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Don't worry about keeping a few females during the spawn. Utah Lake does not have a population problem when it comes to catfish. The loss of a few spawning females is probably more of a blessing than a curse. There is limited spawning habitat for them anyway. I suspect that many of them are forced to spawn in open areas where carp and other species destroy the eggs or fry before they have a chance. My personal opinion is that a female is better eating than the often leaner males. But, the biggest fish are typically males.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]By the way, I too have fished Utah Lake for almost 50 years. My rantings are the result of a lot of personal observations (and CSI autopsies), together with real science. I have done volunteer work with DWR biologists and I have spent much time in both credited scientific fisheries writings and in online resources. I know how to read and I am more than computer literate. I doubt that many of the GOBS can make either of those claims.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Again, welcome to the board and feel free to start any ol' dang thread you want. We don't believe in personal attacks or flaming here. All are welcome.[/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I kin pretty much gay ron tee ya that there ain't no REAL "blue catfish" (Ictalurus furcatus). They could probably live here, but the bucket biologists ain't yet been able to carry their buckets across the desert from California (closest populations) or across the plains from some of the midwest states that have them. Same for flatheads (also known as yellow cats).[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Maybe when your bankside biologist said "yellows", he was referring to the bullheads. I have also heard them referred to as yellow cats, for the yellowish tinge they sometimes exhibit. Truth is, they are "black bullheads". There is a species known as yellow bullheads, but they have not OFFICIALLY been introduced into Utah waters.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Here is a pic I have posted before, showing a male channel cat (bluish color, with wider head) amongst several female (tan color, with narrower heads) channels. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Here is a pic of a single large male cat, with a very distinct wider head.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Here are two female channels, with the characteristic fatter bodies and narrower heads.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You will sometimes take females that are darker in color, but the above visual identifiers usually hold true. In Salem pond, all of the cats are a dark grey color, with very white bellies. These fish are planted from a hatchery and I suspect that the environment and food of that hatchery affects the coloration.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Don't worry about keeping a few females during the spawn. Utah Lake does not have a population problem when it comes to catfish. The loss of a few spawning females is probably more of a blessing than a curse. There is limited spawning habitat for them anyway. I suspect that many of them are forced to spawn in open areas where carp and other species destroy the eggs or fry before they have a chance. My personal opinion is that a female is better eating than the often leaner males. But, the biggest fish are typically males.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]By the way, I too have fished Utah Lake for almost 50 years. My rantings are the result of a lot of personal observations (and CSI autopsies), together with real science. I have done volunteer work with DWR biologists and I have spent much time in both credited scientific fisheries writings and in online resources. I know how to read and I am more than computer literate. I doubt that many of the GOBS can make either of those claims.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Again, welcome to the board and feel free to start any ol' dang thread you want. We don't believe in personal attacks or flaming here. All are welcome.[/#0000ff]
[signature]