My cousin and I took a trip to the Clarion River today.  I caught a 16.5 inch Brown and seventeen other Trout.  That would normally be a really good day in of itself.  However, the highlight for me today was catching my first ever Channel Catfish.  It was 28 inches long.  I don't have a scale so I don't know what it weighed but it was really heavy.  We took pictures and I let it go.  More details in my blog if you want to click the link below.

it's been a while since I caught a channel cat.  They're always fun.   congrats.  dd  

--Last edited by rich on 2009-06-29 08:52:18 --

Not many fish fight as good as a cat fish pound for pound.  I an guessing he is about 10 pounds maybe 12.  It almost makes me want to night fish that area with stink baits.

I was thinking the same thing - night fish for cats and BIG brown trout...

Try eating one and you will never let another one go. Better than walleye when cooked right IMO.

So let's have the recipe

Doc, if you do decide to go down there he was just below the leaning tree that we talked about before.  I was fishing from the bank side.  I wonder how many might be in there?

That's the first I have heard of !!!

Congrats.. that's a GREAT fish...

I hit the canoe launch in Portland Mills last night for  a bit and landed two trout.

You should give it a try...  not the launch by the big field the next one up off the main road before Toby ...

That's the neat thing about fishing a river.  You never know what might be on the end of your line.  

I've only fished the area below Toby once this year.  You're right.  I should try it again.

There are so many places I want to fish on the river.  I want to keep trying below Callen Run.  I want to try below Bear Creek again.  I want to go up and try below Mill Creek some time.  I still haven't done that yet.  I want to try below Toby again.  So many places so little time.  I might head out tonight for a couple of hours if it isn't storming.  I'm taking another vacation day Thursday so I'll definitely be heading out then.  

Doc-- You can ddep fry them just like walleye or perch and will have a hard time telling the difference. If your not into deep frying this is a great way to fix it.

Catfish Steamed in Foil



Prepare two filets per person.

Place your fish filets on a piece of foil that is large enough to close tightly after seasoning the fish.

Sprinkle a small amount of salt on the filet add a 1/4 teaspoon of soft margerine to each

piece of fish. Small dash of paprika and a few drops of lemon juice over the filets.

Tightly wrap the fish filets in foil and place it in oven for approximately 10 -15 minutes minutes. Fish will steam itself to perfection.  

This may also be done on a grill when cooking other items. Place the fish away from direct heat and allow to cook while you grill other items

I have always wanted to try catfish but been afraid to.  How do you filet one they are built so much different than other fish.

Really not much different than walleye. Best if you have an electric knife. Make your cut just behind the gills down to the backbone, run the knife along the length within 1/2" of tail leaving a bit of skin attached at the end so you can flip the fillet over, keep the knife close to the skin and run the knife back removing the skin from the meat, cut the bone from the meat where the front fin was and you have a clean fillet. Flip the fish over and repeat. Check for any bones you may have inadvertinaly cut through, rinse in cold water and your ready to go.

Thanks S-10.. now to catch a channel cat....  

Here's a video on filleting.. Golly never would have guessed it was this easy !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShIjCIT4m-M

So who is up for some beer drinking and night fishing?