Bullheads as bait??

[Guest]

Can you use bullheads as bait? And if so, for what types of fishes??

[Dirk W]

As long as they are under 7 inches you can use them for bait for whatever you think might nibble on em. Most guys use them for flatheads.

[Guest]

do you have to cut up the bull heads? Or can you just use it as is? I'm kinda confused about this?

[Ralph Wiggum]

Whole. I've seen people snip off the pectoral and dorsal spines, but some don't. I can't imagine it'd make much difference to a flattie.

[Mr Special]

Most people use them whole for Flatties. The smaller ones work great for walleye's also. You can also cut them up, for cut bait too. Channels love cut bullheads.

[Aquaman01]

Pike bait, too - under a bobber.

[fiskyknut]

Quote:

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You can also cut them up, for cut bait too. Channels love cut bullheads.

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Them BIG Red River Channel Cats love a lively little bullhead for a snack too.

Fisky

[Guest]

WOW!! I never knew that you could use them for bait! I'm gonna go cat fishing now and try that.. haha.. Seriously though, what size hook should I use and what size sinker for that since I will be using either LIVE or DEAD bullheads?

[FOOT]

These aren't bullheads (and bullheads don't work) but a very good popular bait for Walleye on Lake Pepin (Mississippi River) by Lake City is what's called a Willow Cat. They are small catfish (typically 2 - 3 inches) and the Walleye absolutely love them.

I started using Willow Cats back in 1962 and anytime I can find them in the bait shops I buy them. They are VERY VERY hardy (as you would imagine) and the more they get chewed on the better the Walleye like them. In fact more then once I've caught my limit using just one Willow Cat. Sometimes the Walleye will peel the skin of the WC back but it doesn't matter. Unles the WC is dead and stiff I don't change the bait.

Watch out though. If you get stuck by the fin it can numb you entire hand for 30 minutes or more.

When we were younger we use to trap our own by sinking a coffee can in shallow water.

The WC's are tough to find now. The old river rats have passed on and the supply goes quickly. I think they are going for 25 - 50 cents per WC today. In the 60's we could get them for 5 - 10 cents per.

[PierBridge]

So how do we hook these 7" bullheads?

Mouth? dorsel? tail? gut?

what size hook?

[korn_fish]

Just hook them like you would hook a live chub.... I hook them behind the dorsal...half way between the dorsal and the tail.

Depending on size of bullie, I usually use a 5/0 - 7/0 Kahle style hook. Weight depends on current and size of bait as well. 3-5 oz sinker should be suficient.

[MNRiverRat]

we had the hooking discusion last night while tipping a few.... Someone told me I couldn't hook on in the tail and then toss it in the current.... 10 minutes later, 15lb flatty... I'll usually hook them as kornfish states, or through the top lip using a 5/0-8/0 gamagatsu thin wire circle hook. As dennis states... hook them lightly so the bully can get pulled off when you hook set a fish, then there is no way that the bully can interfere and cause a pull out on you.

MNRiverRat

[lunker651]

I use really small minnow size bullheads for walleye fishing on the Mississippi and St. croix river. They work great at night. caught one of my biggest walleyes on bullheads as bait. The bigger bullheads (6inches) are great for flatheads. I usally put a couple of cuts on the bullheads so it bleeds and attracts the big flats. Caught a nice size flatheads on the St. croix river.