by Thom W. Conroy

Created on: July 18, 2009

To anyone that fishes frequently, the value of night fishing for Bullhead Catfish is well known as a great fishing experience. Bullheads are relatively easy to catch in good numbers, put up an excellent fight for their size, and taste pretty darn good if you have a little knowledge of how to cook them. They are usually not as well-liked by fishermen as their cousin the Channel Catfish, but I think it a safe assumption that this is because Bullheads are just plain ugly comparative to just about any other fish in their habitat. Night fishing for Bullhead Catfish does not really require any great fishing skills, just the proper bait and rigging, a good fishing location and a decent light to see the rod tip bend.

You can ensure you success in fishing for Bullhead Catfish at night by utilizing proper rigging and bait. A simple rig with a number 6 or 4 hook and a one-quarter ounce sinker tied about a foot above the hook is perfect for catching Bullheads, with 10 pound test fishing line on your rod. Too small a hook and the Bullhead will spit it out of it's wide mouth, and too large a hook with let the fish know that something is amiss in it's meal. The fishing line should be fairly strong, mainly because large Channel Catfish tend to hunt the same areas for food at night as Bullheads do, and it would be a shame to hook into a 15 pound Channel Cat and have the line break.

The proper bait for night fishing for Bullheads is just about anything that stinks or has a raw smell. Good baits in general are beef or chicken liver (Catfish love the smell of blood), worms, cheese, dough balls, corn, and even hot dogs cut into small pieces and placed on a hook. These baits can all be enhanced with commercially produced Catfish scents that are sprayed onto the bait prior to casting. It's always a good idea to take several different baits when you go night fishing, and to not be afraid to experiment and change baits frequently. Odds are that one of the aforementioned baits will result in a great night of catching Bullheads.

The location you choose for fishing for Bullhead Catfish at night should be a level shoreline or bank, without trip hazards for safety. Make certain that your fishing area is well-lit, with a sturdy holder for your fishing rod (Catfish are known for taking rods along with the bait). If you place your bait in water that is a depth of 2 to 5 feet you will most assuredly catch some good Bullheads, as this is the location where they come to feed after dark.

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