Ouch! Some Advice

[wildcatcreek]

I'm relatively new to the catfishing arena, and I'd like to know how you guys handle catfish. Whenever I hold a catfish for a snapshot, I usually hold it with my thumb in it's mouth, and my other hand holding it's belly. On my last occasion, I had ahold of one that was about 2-3 lbs. While I was posing for a pic, it bit down on my thumb with very surprising force. For a split second, I thought it was going to smash my thumb in. Then to make matters worse, it didn't let go for about 10 seconds. I had no idea catfish jaws were that powerful. I do not want that to happen again. Could you guys give me some pointers on better ways to hold catfish without getting bitten? Thanks for your time.

[wildcatcreek]

by the way, I'm talking about channels specifically.

[Tyler Holm]

Click Here for a thread that talks about lippin channel cats.

[andrew chadwick]

hod with the spine between your fingers.

[riverrat56]

Channels are not the fish to "lip" they bite down hard as you found out.

Do as chadwick says and you'll be fine.

[ec30_06]

one bigger fish I grab around the tail and under the belly. On smaller fish just grag em' behind the spines.

[Ice em]

I always put my hand under the gill plate. Be careful you don't want to hurt them but it works well for pictures but if i do not want a pic then i grab them behing the head if they are only 2-3lbs. Just gotta remember to not hurt the fish, mayne in 10 years that fish could be your trophy

[mplspug]

I tried being a tough guy the last Moore's contest. They all yelled at me not to do it and for my stupidity I have a nice scar on my thumb now.

Do as they say and I would also add maybe keeping it on the bottom of the boat until you are ready for the picture. Channels aren't very patient and that tail has a lot of strength in it to. Combine that with channel lube and you have the potential to drop and injure the fish or get Manny slapped!

[Grant]

lipped the first channel I ever caught... length in the high 20's to 30ish for size perspective.

that was also the LAST channel I ever lipped!

I'll manhandle them about the pectoral fins, and the tail too if the're large enough.

[Ed Carlson]

Big channels can munch clams like sunflower seeds. They have amazing crushing jaws. Even young channels can put a nice love bite on a guy.

I know better, yet I have had my little finger broken twice by big channels.

So I try to keep my fingers out of Miss Piggys kisser, as much as I possibly can.

I guarantee..if you have a sore finger..she will munch on it...and smile. Tee-Hee...Got-ch-ya!