04-16-2011, 12:43 PM
[cool][#0000ff]The correct species name is "black bullhead". But they can be quite a few different colors. A lot of them have a yellowish cast and are mistakenly called yellow cats...or yellow bellies. Around here they are commonly called mud cats...or mudders.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Like all species in Utah Lake they have had their ups and downs. At times they seem to explode and are pests when you are trying to catch channel cats. But the past few years they have been less common. During our drought years of the early part of the 2000's the white bass population dropped off and the bullheads became a big menu item for the top predators...cats and walleyes...and largemouths.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That bullhead in the picture was not a healthy fish. It was skinny and ugly. Doesn't look like it wintered well.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]While these fish get a bad rap for being poor table fare, they are really very good. They do not produce big fillets but if you catch and keep a few the skinless fillets are really good eating and worth the effort.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Here are a few other pics from the past...also showing that these fish hit lures too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Like all species in Utah Lake they have had their ups and downs. At times they seem to explode and are pests when you are trying to catch channel cats. But the past few years they have been less common. During our drought years of the early part of the 2000's the white bass population dropped off and the bullheads became a big menu item for the top predators...cats and walleyes...and largemouths.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]That bullhead in the picture was not a healthy fish. It was skinny and ugly. Doesn't look like it wintered well.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]While these fish get a bad rap for being poor table fare, they are really very good. They do not produce big fillets but if you catch and keep a few the skinless fillets are really good eating and worth the effort.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Here are a few other pics from the past...also showing that these fish hit lures too.[/#0000ff]
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