perhaps a wierd question....

[Grant]

it's well known bullheads get mushy when the water gets warm- however at what point do they firm up again after it cools down?

[katchaser]

Certain parts get firm anytime Kevin licks them

I imagine you just have to catch one and feel it because conditions change from year to year and even month to month.

Some of the flathead boyz should be able to tell you cause they use bullhead for baits.

[Grant]

Quote:

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Certain parts get firm anytime Kevin licks them

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bad bad bad.....

[Papa Grump]

Kind of difficult to respond after the Kevin comment

Anytime from when the temps get down into the 40's till late spring the bullies seem to get a firmer texture to their meat. I love catching them through the ice as they taste really good during this time of year.

[DARK30]

Robby, I prefer an older well experienced Mudeye to a younger and more energetic bully

[Grant]

I think we'll let Robby and Kevin go off on their own train of thought....

Papa- what's your technique through the ice for them?

[ec30_06]

I often catch them fishing for walleyes late at nite on a fathead. These are usually the brown bullhead. I have caught some yellow bellies toward evening fishing sunnies with wax worms. Basically any lake full of bullheads will have a few biting in the winter. Look for dead ones that people have thrown onto the ice. You can also buy a few pails of them from commercial fisherman in the winter.

[icehousebob]

You could try the same trick with Bullheads that I do with panfish in warmer weather. I smash up a 10 pound block of ice into an old cooler and put in a gallon or two of water. Catch the fish, drop them in the cooler, and let them swim until they're all cooled down. It makes the meat on just about any fish much firmer and stops any bacteria growth that happens in dead fish in hot weather.

[Papa Grump]

Grant- Ed pretty much nailed it as to presentation as I don't generally target them, but if I stumble onto them I won't move. I get a good laugh when I hear people cursing that they got one and the reaction too, when I ask them if I can keep it if they don't want them.

[Shack]

I caught a Brown in the bay right in front of Breezy Point on Pelican about 20 years ago, that would have rivaled the state record. Wish I would have know to check it out.

I caught it around 9:00 pm at night right off of the bottom with a fathead and vertical 1/2 once yellow jig (with red eyes on it).

Out of all the bull heads I have caught, this by far the biggest.

I stopped by a small stream (confluence) a couple weeks ago and still found its stock full of 2-3 inch school’s of yellow bullheads.

I wonder how they would work threw the ice on Mille Laces?