man holding giant flathead catfish

Water Whiskers! | Different Types Of Catfish

North America has several different species of catfish, with a few being well-known among anglers and others that are a bit more obscure, or less desired, as a prized catch.

So, let’s take a look at the different types of catfish in North America (and one bonus catfish!)

Flathead Catfish

flathead catfish2

The flathead catfish can grow very large and is one of the most popular catfish in North America. (photo credit: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – dnr.wisconsin.gov)

 The flathead catfish is one of the most popular species among anglers, only overshadowed by the channel catfish, and this is due to their wide distribution throughout the United States.

The flathead catfish is also popular with those who prefer to catch catfish by hand (called “noodling”).

General Description

Flatheads have an olive base coloration that features mottled brown and black splotches along their flanks for camouflage, this coloration giving way to a white or yellow colored belly.

man holding 2 noodled catfish

The flathead catfish typically has an olive-colored skin with brown and/or black splotches that can vary based on the color of the water they live in.

Depending on the bodies of water they inhabit, such as stained or murky water or clear water environments, the darkness and coloration of the flathead catfish can vary.

Flathead catfish can grow to very large sizes compared to other freshwater fish in North America, with a length of 60+ inches and a weight of 100+ pounds or more being possible, depending on their environment and available forage.

two men holding giant flathead catfish

Flatheads can grow very large and provide an epic fight, whether caught with a fishing pole or even by hand (noodling).


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Distribution

The flathead catfish has a range that extends from the very southern parts of Canada throughout the Great Lakes region and as far south as Northern Mexico.

Flatheads can be found throughout the Appalachian range, Ohio, Mississippi, and Missouri basins, the Gulf coast states, and as far west as Texas.


Giant flathead catfish caught by hand!

Diet of the Flathead Catfish

The diet of flathead catfish mostly consists of live prey, as that is what they prefer to feed on. They will eat most live prey, from insects, and crayfish, to various fish species like bluegills and even smaller catfish, including other flatheads.

bluegill fish

Flatheads feed on various forms of prey, including bluegill like this one.

They will also feed on other prey if the opportunity presents itself, including small birds, frogs, and small land animals that may fall or swim into the water.

The flathead, like most catfish, has small eyes in proportion to its’ body, which is a clear indicator that the fish does not rely on its’ eyesight as a predominant method for feeding or catching prey.


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Channel Catfish

channel catfish

The channel catfish is the most numerous true catfish species in North America, with a large distribution. They are very popular among anglers, and while they are numerous, they do not reach the sizes of the flathead and blue catfish species (photo credit Texas Parks and wildlife – pwd.texas.gov).

General Description

Like with flathead catfish, the coloration of the channel catfish can vary, and in the case of the channel catfish, they can have an olive, light brown, or grey coloration depending on the body of water.

Some channel catfish may feature speckles or mottled colorations, while others may not feature any additional markings at all.



The top end of the size and weight for that channel catfish, while still large compared to other freshwater fish, is much smaller than the blue and flathead catfish, with 40 to 50 pounds in weight being the typical maximum.

The average weight and length for a channel catfish caught in any given body of water is around 2-4 pounds and 12-26 inches in length.



Distribution

Channel catfish can be found in the Nearctic of Canada and are widespread throughout southern Canada. The channel catfish is found throughout the eastern two-thirds of the United States as well as the northeastern coast of Mexico.

holding channel catfish

The Channel Catfish has also been introduced to waters outside of their native ranges, such as states in the U.S. like California and in landlocked bodies of water in Europe, most notably in the Czech Republic and Romania (photo credit: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources – calfish.ucdavis.edu).

Europe isn’t the only place with bodies of water hosting stocked populations of channel catfish, they can also be found in parts of Malaysia and Indonesia in Southeast Asia.



Diet of the Channel Catfish

Like other species of catfish, the diet of the channel catfish is quite diverse, and they will feed on everything from small fish like perch and sunfish to snails, worms, insects, crayfish, frogs, small birds, and small mammals.

Channel catfish will also feed on other food sources like algae, nuts, seeds, grains, and aquatic plants.

Blue Catfish

blue catfish

The blue catfish is the largest species of catfish in North America, but compared to the channel catfish, they inhabit a much smaller range (photo credit: Tennessee Aquarium – tnaqua.org).



General Description

Smaller blue catfish are often misidentified as channel catfish due to their coloration, which at times is very close to the gray coloration of some channel catfish.

Blue catfish have a blue-blueish-gray coloration and have a very bulky and wide body shape. The fish features a prominent dorsal hump on its back when they get to adult size, which is a great identifier.

Whereas flathead and channel catfish and a lower protruding jaw, the blue catfish has an upper protruding jaw, along with the barbels that are the characteristic feature of all catfish.

The tail is deeply forked on the blue catfish, and a failsafe way to identify a blue catfish is to count the anal fin rays. The blue catfish has anywhere from 30-36 rays, while channel catfish have 25-29 fin rays.

two men with a blue catfish

The blue catfish is the largest species of catfish in North America, but compared to the channel catfish, they inhabit a much smaller range.



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Distribution

The main region of waterways hosting blue catfish is the Mississippi river and its’ tributaries, which include the Tennessee, Ohio, Arkansas, and Missouri rivers.

Some other rivers hold native populations, such as the Des Moines in Southern Iowa and the Rio Grande river.



The blue catfish range also extends far south, farther than any other catfish in the United States, and follows the eastern coast of Mexico to the countries of Belize and Guatemala.

Blue catfish have also been stocked in many different reservoirs and lakes throughout the southeastern United States.


Catch and release of a blue catfish.

Diet of the Blue Catfish

The diet of the blue catfish consists of mussels, small fish, crayfish, frogs, and other semi-aquatic and aquatic prey. Blue catfish are opportunistic feeders like all catfish, and will eat almost anything that is deemed edible.

Blue catfish prefer to eat food that is already dead or wounded and will congregate near the spillways of dams to feed upon fish and animals that are disoriented, killed, or wounded from going through the spillways

Bonus Catfish: The Wels Catfish

wels catfish

We decided to add a very interesting catfish to this discussion, and while they are not in North America, catfish anglers in the states can appreciate the Wels catfish simply for what it is (photo credit: Watershed Council – watershedcouncil.org).

General Description

The Wels catfish can grow to incredibly large sizes, with reports of massive fish weighing 440-550 pounds recorded in the last two centuries.

The fish, on average today, can reach lengths of 5-6 feet, and fish weighing well in excess of 100-150 pounds are still somewhat common.



The anatomy of the Wels catfish is quite different from the catfish in North America, and the body drastically tapers with a very large head narrowing down towards the tail.

The anal fin of the Wels catfish is much longer than those of other catfish as well, with the anal fin following half the length of the body.

The Wels catfish is the largest freshwater fish in Europe and Western Asia.

Distribution

man with giant wels catfish

The Wels catfish can be found throughout most of Europe and is a dominant fish species in all of Eastern Europe (photo credit: deviantart.com)

The range of the fish extends from Europe to the northern regions of the Middle East and continues eastward into western Asia, with large populations in Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.



Diet of the Wels Catfish

Catfish that can reach the size of the Wels catfish can eat larger prey like ducks, birds like pigeons, and small to mid-sized land animals, snakes, and fish of varying sizes.

There have been reports of the Wels catfish feeding on people’s pets.



Final Thoughts On Types Of Catfish

There you have it, the general information on the three main species of catfish in North America, plus the bonus Wels catfish, which holds a legendary status in the regions where they are found.

pile of fish hooks

Hooks Galore! | Types Of Fishing Hooks For Every Scenario

on . Posted in Blog, Fishing

It’s tough to catch fish… if you don’t have a hook!

The fishing world is full of different types of hooks, and they come in all shapes and sizes, and many hooks today are made for a specific purpose or presentation.

So, let’s take a look at the different kinds fishing hooks and how they are used.

Main Types of Fishing Hooks

We will break down fishing hook designs into 3 main types, the single hook, treble hook, and double hook. Let’s look at each type and how it best applies in the fishing world.

Single Hooks

single hook on fishing lure

Single hooks, as the name suggests are is one of the most universally used hooks and have many variations. (photo credit: Amazon)

Single hooks are the most commonly used fishing hook. It’s the type that everyone has surely used, even if they have only fished a few times in their lives, as this is the hook type used to catch everything from panfish to the biggest saltwater gamefish.

There are several single hook designs, such as the standard bait keeper hooks, Aberdeen hooks, circle hooks, Siwash hooks, octopus hooks, and wide gap single hooks. Some of these hook types are commonly used for various fishing presentations, and some fill a niche role.



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Bait Keeper Hooks

bait keeper hooks with barbs

Some bait keeper hooks will have barbs on them to help hold the bait securely to the hook. (photo credit: Amazon)

Bait keeper hooks are the most common single hook used. Bait keeper hooks are designed to be used with live bait or, in some instances, artificial bait presentations.

These hooks are used for everything from bluegill, tilapia, perch, walleye, and other small to mid-sized fish species where live bait use is a common method of fishing.

The designs can differ slightly from one brand to the next, and some will come with barbs on the shank to keep live bait such as nightcrawlers or grubs secure and prevent them from wriggling off.





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circle hooks for fishing

Circle hooks are are designed to hook a fish in the corner of its mouth (photo credit: Amazon)

Circle Hooks

Circle hooks are another form of hook that is frequently used with live bait and cut bait. They have a very circular profile and lack the straight shank commonly found on other types of single hooks.

Circle hooks are designed to hook a fish in the corner of its mouth, and the shape of the hook, combined with the 90-degree flat section at the tip, acts like a cam, and the hook follows the line when tension is put on it,

The circle hook follows the line to the corner of the mouth, where the cam action engages when the tip catches flesh, thus hooking the fish perfectly in the corner of the mouth, which is the optimal position for hooking and is great for catch and release as well as the fish typically won’t swallow the hook.

Circle hooks are popular for various big game fish like catfish, grouper, striped bass, and others.

circle hook in bait fish

Circle hooks are great for many live bait presentations (photo credit Amazon).



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Wide Gap Hooks

wide gap worm hook

Wide gap hooks are a great choice for soft plastic baits like rubber worms (photo credit: Amazon).

Wide gap hooks feature a large curve creating a gap between a very short shank section and a flat section that features the hook and barb.

Wide gap hooks are one of those types that have a pretty specific purpose, which is their’ usage with soft plastics.

These hooks are predominantly used in the bass fishing world for soft plastic worms and craw-style baits. The wide gap allows them to be rigged weedless, as well as allowing for high percentage hook-up rates.




Single Hook Versatility

The above single hook types can also be found on fishing lures and are common on lures used for fish species like salmon, trout, and saltwater species.

On spinners such as rooster tails or naked spinners commonly used for species like salmon and trout, the hooking percentages can be higher with a single Siwash-style hook, and the same applies for large saltwater lures, which can feature different single hook variants like octopus hooks.

The reason single hooks are the most common hook used boils down to versatility, as they can be very effective in a wide range of fishing applications.

We could go all day talking about different types of single hooks and their uses, so we covered the main ones used today.



Treble Hooks

treble hook for fishing

A treble hooks are found on many hard-body baits such as crankbaits and jerkbaits (photo credit: Amazon).

The next hook in line in terms of commonality and use is the treble hook.

Treble hooks feature three shanks soldered together to form a triangle hook point pattern on a single shank.

This hook style is found on most hard body lures like jerkbaits, crankbaits, and topwater baits, they can also be found on inline spinners like rooster tails and bucktails.

Treble hooks are similar to single hooks in that some anglers use them to fish live bait for certain species, and they are used to hook live minnows when fishing for species like walleye, crappie, and on sucker rigs for musky. They can even be used on ice fishing rigs for pike.




Treble hooks are great for increasing the hooking percentages of large predatory fish, particularly those with bony mouths like musky and pike that feed in the middle of the water column or on the surface.

While they are great for certain species and fishing applications, they have one major issue: their tendency to snag on cover and obstructions like timber and vegetation.



There are treble hooks on the market that feature weed guards, but most anglers who have used them will often confess that the hooking percentage on striking fish suffers greatly compared to treble hooks without them.

Treble hooks are often ill-suited in bottom fishing roles for the same issues mentioned above, such as snagging on roots or anything on the bottom, and they lack in the stealth department compared to a single hook.


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Double Hooks

double hook for fishing

Double hooks look similar to treble hooks, but with only two shanks/points (photo credit: Amazon).

Double hooks are like treble hooks, but as you could probably guess, there are only two points.

Double hooks have two barbed points that bend at 45 degrees from the left and right of the shanks, and most double hooks are formed from a single bent piece of steel, with a small gap separating the shanks.

Double hooks are very niche in the angling world. They are typically used today in topwater frogs used for bassfishing, which are typically hollow, and the hook pointing up and forward allows these lures to work in even the heaviest of cover.

Some modern swimbaits also feature a single, double hook on the belly, with a magnet molded into the body to keep the hook in place when fishing.

Double hooks are very rarely, if ever, used on lures or for live bait applications by anglers other than with the lures mentioned about, as single hooks and treble hooks are far better at performing in other fishing scenarios.



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Types Of Fishing Hooks | Final Thoughts

There you have it, a basic overview of the different types of hooks commonly used in fishing, while there are a few other types that may or may not be used today, these three hook types cover 99% of modern fishing applications.

We hope you put a hook N1!

>> Check out more awesome fishing shirts and tees HERE!

fishing line types

Fish on! | The 3 Main Types Of Fishing Line

The fish took it “hook, line and sinker” as the saying goes.

But, what kind of line was it?

There are several fishing lines on the market today made from a wide array of materials, and each fishing line type has advantages and disadvantages.

Let’s take a look at the common types of fishing lines on the market today and what fishing lines are best suited to specific fishing situations.

Fishing Line Type #1: Monofilament

monofilament fishing line

Monofilament is what the name would suggest; a single (“mono”) strand of line. The line diameter is often relevant to the line strength. (photo credit: alibaba.com)

To start off, we will take a look at the most commonly used fishing line out there, the monofilament fishing line.

Monofilament is the line most fishermen know quite well, even those who only fish periodically.

A monofilament line is a single strand line and is not constructed of multiple filaments like braided line.

Monofilament, like fluorocarbon, is made by extrusion. First, batches of polymers are melted, thoroughly mixed, and then extruded by pressure through small holes, forming the fishing line, and then the fishing line cools.

Extruded monofilament line is then spun into spools of various diameters. The diameter of the extrusion holes keeps the monofilament diameter consistent, and the diameter directly correlates to the line test or strength.



Monofilament Advantages

Monofilament is easy to handle and work with and is much more flexible than other lines like fluorocarbon. Monofilament is an excellent all-around line that can work in most fishing situations.

Another advantage of the monofilament line type is the cost.

Monofilament line is the cheapest type out there. An angler can spool up several fishing reels with monofilament for a low price.

This makes it very popular for anglers who run several rods while trolling, as braid would cost hundreds of dollars to spool several trolling reels.

Monofilament fishing line can stretch up to 25% by length. So, this makes it an excellent fishing line choice for situations where shock absorption is crucial, like when big game fishing for certain species like catfish, or when used in trolling applications.





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Monofilament Disadvantages

The stretch of monofilament can also be a disadvantage in other fishing applications, and having knowledge of each type of fishing line is crucial for fishing success.

One other disadvantage of monofilament is the damage it can receive from UV light.

Now, this isn’t as big of a disadvantage as it may seem, as it takes a significant amount of time for it to occur, but leaving the fishing line in direct sunlight for long periods will damage the line on a molecular level. After a couple of seasons, the line will become brittle and need to be replaced.


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Fishing Line Type #2: Fluorocarbon

fluorocarbon fishing line

Flourocarbon fishing line is more dense than monofilament and stronger as well, without an increased diameter. (Photo credit: alibaba.com)

If the word fluorocarbon seems familiar to you, it’s because it’s used to make a wide variety of things like Teflon, Freon, and many other products and materials. Fluorocarbon also uses a wide range of compounds like carbon, fluorine, and chlorine.

Fluorocarbon is similar to monofilament in that it is extruded into a single strand.



Fluorocarbon Advantages

Unlike monofilament lines, the molecules of fluorocarbon lines are more densely packed. This makes the line much stronger than monofilament without an increase in diameter, and it also makes it heavier and stiffer compared to monofilament.

Fluorocarbon features an increased level of abrasion resistance compared to monofilament lines. Unlike monofilament lines, fluorocarbon line is not sensitive to UV light and will last longer before needing to be discarded.



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One of the main advantages of the fluorocarbon line is its’ stealth factor. Fluorocarbon lines have nearly the exact same refractive index as water, which means that they becomes nearly invisible when the fluorocarbon line is submerged.

The stiffness of the fluorocarbon line gives the line increased sensitivity over monofilament with significantly less stretch, so an angler can feel even the lightest of strikes.



Fluorocarbon Disadvantages

The only real major downside of fluorocarbon is that it retains memory, and will coil after being spooled for long periods of time, but overall this disadvantage is minor.

Fluorocarbon fishing line is moderately expensive and is in the middle of the road in terms of price between monofilament and braided lines.



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Fishing Line Type #3: Braided

braided fishing line on reel

Braided line is thinner in diameter and has a much higher tensile strength that flurorocarbon or mono.

Braided fishing lines can be made from several different materials like Dacron, Dyneema, or spectra fibers.

The construction of braided fishing lines consists of using multiple strands of this material and interweaving and braiding them together to create a fishing line with extreme strength compared to the other two lines previously mentioned.



Braided Line Advantages

Braided lines have virtually no stretch, making them extremely sensitive to the lightest bite or when bumping your lures off cover or on the bottom, allowing anglers to “feel fish.”

Braided lines are much thinner than monofilament and fluorocarbon lines, meaning you can hold vastly more line on the same spool.

The thin diameter of braided line allows you to go much higher in tensile strength than is typically needed without having any adverse effects.


uni knot illustration
Do you know the Uni-Knot?


Braided Line Disadvantages

For some fishing applications, the lack of stretch can actually be detrimental, and one area where braided lines suffer greatly is in the stealth department.

Braided lines are highly visible in the water, which can be a serious disadvantage on bodies of water with high clarity and heavy fishing pressure.

While Braided lines have high tensile strength and general abrasion resistance, they are still susceptible to getting cut by predatory fish with sharp teeth like muskies, pike, and various saltwater species. This means you will want to run a leader when fishing for these species.



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So, Which Fishing Line Type Should I Use?

fishing reel on boat at sunrise

But, what type of fishing line should you use? Let’s weigh the features…

Let’s look at what type of line you should use for different fishing situations, as well as what species each line works well with.

Monofilament

  • Fishing applications where shock absorption is beneficial
  • Fishing situations where moderate stealth is needed
  • General purpose fishing situations using standard lures and tactics.
  • Commonly Used for panfish, trout, walleye, and various saltwater species.

Fluorocarbon

  • Fishing situations where stealth is crucial
  • When fishing in heavy cover due to good abrasion resistance
  • When you need a high level of line sensitivity
  • Commonly used for walleye, bass, and trout

Authors note on fluorocarbon: Most anglers have switched from monofilament to fluorocarbon lines entirely, as there is not much in terms of downsides in fluorocarbon over monofilament line, except for cost.

Braided Line

  • When maximum strength is needed
  • When stealth isn’t a concern
  • Fishing applications around heavy cover
  • Exclusively used by musky anglers, common in pike fishing, saltwater fishing, big-game fishing, and specific bass and catfish fishing situations.



Final Thoughts On Types Of Fishing Line

Not choosing the correct fishing line can cost you fish due to reasons such as lack of stealth, weakened line due to abrasion, or other factors.

Choosing the right fishing line is crucial, and we hope this article helped to inform you on which line to use. We hope you put a hook N1!