Body Type & Identification: Very dark — almost black on the back fading to yellow-white on the belly. Chin barbels are dark. Rounded tail with a pale bar at the base. The darkest of the bullhead catfishes. Tolerates extremely poor water quality — found in conditions that would kill other fish.
Preferred Water Temperature: 65°F–82°F. Extremely hardy — survives conditions that kill most other fish including very low oxygen, high turbidity, and temperature extremes. A nocturnal feeder most active after dark.
Habitat: Ponds, ditches, sloughs, oxbows, and slow rivers throughout the central and eastern US. The most pollution-tolerant of the catfishes — found in some of the most degraded aquatic environments. Common in agricultural drainage ditches and farm ponds of the Midwest.
Best Lures: Rarely taken on artificial lures.
Best Baits: Nightcrawlers work best. Chicken liver is very effective. Stink baits and dip baits produce well. Small pieces of cut fish work. Any strong-smelling natural bait fished on the bottom at night in slow or still water produces consistent catches.
Top 5 Destinations: Mississippi River backwaters, Illinois River IL, Farm ponds throughout the Midwest, Oklahoma reservoirs, Kansas rivers.
Very dark — almost black on the back fading to yellow-white on the belly. Chin barbels are dark. Rounded tail with a pale bar at the base. The darkest of the bullhead catfishes. Tolerates extremely poor water quality — found in conditions that would kill other fish.
Habitat
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Ponds, ditches, sloughs, oxbows, and slow rivers throughout the central and eastern US. The most pollution-tolerant of the catfishes — found in some of the most degraded aquatic environments. Common in agricultural drainage ditches and farm ponds of the Midwest.
Water Conditions
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65°F–82°F. Extremely hardy — survives conditions that kill most other fish including very low oxygen, high turbidity, and temperature extremes. A nocturnal feeder most active after dark.
Tackle & Bait
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Best Lures:
Rarely taken on artificial lures.
Best Baits:
Nightcrawlers work best. Chicken liver is very effective. Stink baits and dip baits produce well. Small pieces of cut fish work. Any strong-smelling natural bait fished on the bottom at night in slow or still water produces consistent catches.
Top Fishing Locations
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Filter by State:
60 fishing locations where you can catch Black Bullhead
British Columbia Outlook
🏞️ Freshwater
Capilano
🏞️ Freshwater
Chilliwack River:
🏞️ Freshwater
Quail Lake (Utah)
🏞️ Freshwater
Ray Roberts Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Arizona Fish Report
🏞️ Freshwater
AZ
C. C. Cragin Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
AZ
Cluff Ranch Ponds
🏞️ Freshwater
Pima, AZ
Green Valley Lake AZ
🏞️ Freshwater
AZ
Rainbow Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
AZ, AZ
Dean River
🏞️ Freshwater
BC
Fraser River
🏞️ Freshwater
BC
Kokish
🏞️ Freshwater
BC
Pit River (BC, Canada)
🏞️ Freshwater
BC
Squamish
🏞️ Freshwater
BC
Arrowhead Lake (Mammoth Lakes)
🏞️ Freshwater
CA
Backcountry
🏞️ Freshwater
CA
Bishop Trails Report
🏞️ Freshwater
CA
Butte Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
CA
Eagle Canyon Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
CA
Eastern Sierra Fishing Report
🏞️ Freshwater
CA
Eastern Sierra Trail Report
🏞️ Freshwater
CA
Edison Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
CA
Folsom Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Folsom Lake, CA
Gualala River
🏞️ Freshwater
CA
Mammoth Lakes Basin
🏞️ Freshwater
CA
Santa Barbara Surf
🏞️ Freshwater
CA
Skelton Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
CA
Sweetwater Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
San Diego, CA
Trail Report
🏞️ Freshwater
CA
Upper Otay Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Rancho Del Rey, CA
St. Vrain State Park
🏞️ Freshwater
Longmont, CO
Arkansas River
🏞️ Freshwater
Lamar, Colorado
Culebra Creek
🏞️ Freshwater
San Luis, Colorado
Miramonte Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
San Miguel County, Colorado
Pine River
🏞️ Freshwater
Colorado
South Platte River
🏞️ Freshwater
Colorado
Trinchera Creek
🏞️ Freshwater
Costilla County, Colorado
Boise River Tributaries
🏞️ Freshwater
ID
Little Salmon
🏞️ Freshwater
ID
Hollecker Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Glendive, Montana
Home Run Pond
🏞️ Freshwater
Glasgow, Montana
Killenbeck Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Butte Creek, Montana
Lake Baker
🏞️ Freshwater
Baker, Montana
Largent Bend Pond #1
🏞️ Freshwater
Vaughn, Montana
Largent Bend Pond #2
🏞️ Freshwater
Vaughn, Montana
Largent Bend Pond #3
🏞️ Freshwater
Vaughn, Montana
MacNab Pond
🏞️ Freshwater
Ekalaka, Montana
Paulo Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Valley County, Montana
Payola Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Teigen, Montana
Pinnow Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Baker, Montana
Pinnow Reservoir 2
🏞️ Freshwater
Baker, Montana
Rath Pond
🏞️ Freshwater
Willard, Montana
South Sandstone Reservoir
🏞️ Freshwater
Plevna, Montana
Spotted Eagle Lake
🏞️ Freshwater
Miles City, Montana
Armstrong Creek
🏞️ Freshwater
MT
Beaverhead River
🏞️ Freshwater
MT
Big Horn River
🏞️ Freshwater
MT
Boulder River
🏞️ Freshwater
MT
DePuy's Spring Creek
🏞️ Freshwater
MT
From the Angler's Guide
Mississippi River backwaters, Illinois River IL, Farm ponds throughout the Midwest, Oklahoma reservoirs, Kansas rivers.