Just finishing up getting ready to the trip up to the Red. As I was “packing stuff” I noticed I wasn’t bringing the fish cleaning knives along as I normally do when going to Winni.
Thought I would make a poll to see how many cat munchers we have out there. I think the questions are self explanitory…a total of four answers are allowed.
Brian, I can’t vote for anything. I haven’t catfished for 14 years. Why don’t you put a button on there that says, “Bass RULE”!!! Then…..I can click something 
Besides, why would you want to eat something that is big enough to eat small humans? 
Have a great trip! 
– d-nort
Hey B.
What’s a Bass???? Can you help me out with my bait fishing, err… I mean bass fishing.
Deep fried channel cat all the way baby!!! (Under 6lbs though)
Sorry I took so long…I had to look it up. 
bass1 Audio pronunciation of “Bass” ( P ) Pronunciation Key (bs)
n. pl. bass or bass·es
1. Any of several North American freshwater fishes of the family Centrarchidae, related to but larger than the sunfishes.
2. Any of various marine fishes of the family Serranidae, such as the sea bass and the striped bass.
Since I became a tuna eater this year…(I don’t keep cats and haven’t been doing much if any other fishing) Why is 6 lbs the cut off? Taste, contamiates or just a big fish and letting it go for someone else?
Ive eaten bass….ONCE!
I doubt even a cat could aquire a taste for that!
Channel cats however are yummy! Under 4lbs for me.
Couple reasons…
The big ones can accumulate toxins from our rivers and they just don’t cook up well.
Brian-
I don’t like to fillet my fillets in half. It seams like the cats under 6lbs or so fillet up nice w/ the mud vein cut out and deep fry really good. (Think your typ. Horseshoe Cat) I think you need to cook cats at a high oil temp for a short period of time to be Mmmmm, Mmmmm, Mmmmm… good. When they start getting bigger, they don’t fry as well and get chewy & greasy unless you fillet the fillets in half.
Hey, and can you argue with a guy who likes to C&R larger cats??
Haven’t you left for Canada yet???
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Hey, and can you argue with a guy who likes to C&R larger cats??
I wouldn’t think of it! Just wondering why 6 lbs was your cut off…makes sense. I’ve heard the little ones are better…but you guys ate all the cooked cats at “what’s his names” gathering on Horeshoe…
Greatgrampa never smoke a carp over 6 lbs…’spose he had to split the bigger ones in half too.
PS My mind has left..but my body is a day behind.
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PS My mind has left..but my body is a day behind.
So thats the excuse now?
Do I dare post if I eat cat fish or not? This might turn into a 
chewing.
Why not post CFG? There isn’t a law against it…. even in MN!
I have eaten channels from the red in Fargo, about 5 lbs max in weight and very tasty. never tried flats nor do i have any intensions, I just dont see the point, when i get smaller ones, I know they will grow to be biggens. If i want a fish dinner I can either go out to eat or target a different species…..did i say that out loud
CA
Believe it or not there are plenty of great tasting channel cats in the Rock River in WI. Don’t yet Jeff Patrick fool ya. There is more than Walleye in that river.
3-4 pound cats in the spring time are great tasting. Deep fried with cajun shore lunch or baked rolled in cheeze nip crackers. Now that is good eatin.
You can blame Jeff for me spending all my time chasing walleyes and leaving my cat gear at home.
Maybe I need to catch up with you catfishing folks to remember what it is like to try an turn a submarine 
Diesel
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Don’t let Jeff Patrick fool ya. There is more than Walleye in that river
Diesel…Don’t let Jeff fool you! Rumor has it that he’s a closet catfisherman…uses his abilities as a great eye guy to cover his addiction…just a rumor I heard! (J/K) 
CA? I’m framing that post for use at a later date!
Hanson or anyone, you ever eat any cats out of the Minnesota? I’ve never eaten cat, but wanted to keep a few channels 2-3 pounders to try. Just wondering because the walleyes out of there have a mushy texture to their meat. It tastes the same, but not as firm as a lake fish.
Sorry Briank, 
You Can’t beat deep fried flatheads (well maybe some gills can top them), but a walleye can only come close. Flatheads fry up very firm & delicious. 
Might have to get a package out of the freezer, now I’m hungry.
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Sorry Briank,
Don’t be sorry! Until the state that you reside in makes flats catch and release only..(like THAT’s going to happen!) there isn’t anything to be sorry for. You have every right to take home the fish you catch (within the limits of the law).
Did I mention that strive to promote catch, photo and release for flatheads?
Do you have a size limit for the flats that you take home…for your…hot grease release (as Turk would say)?
I’ll keep a channel cat out of a clean river every once in a while fer eatin’. 2-3 lb.ers are mighty good. YUP!
Briank,
I think my first post never got through. Anyway we keep channel cat between about 1-4 lbs. I filet tham starting below the rib bones and then skin the other side just like Walleye. Usually, I need to trim a bit of the yellow off. Cooking is mostly deep frying or the grill.
We do keep a few larger ones, usually 5-10 lbs. which my neighbor smokes for me. He does a great job and the taste is great.
Mudcat are iffy. Either they are OK or taste like mud so it is now strictly catch and release.
We eat channel cats whenever we can catch enough for a meal, We like the small size the ones with the spots still on them. Good eat’n!!!!
I keep smaller channels from the MN.
Haven’t noticed any different in the taste or texture from fish I have caught on other systems.
I know a lot of old timeres that have been fishing that river and they aren’t any crazier or glow any more than other old timers.
BrianK, pack the fillet knife for the cut-bait but forget about the cats. You won’t catch one small enough to eat up there! Have fun.
I’m sure your on the way but one way we know we had a great time up there, we have a black mark on our stomach. As far as eating cats, why kill something that gives you such a great battle. Let her go for another day, and for the next generation. Let me know how you do on your trip. Wish I could have made it but I have a couple of trips planned for this weekend.
Fresh catfish is really good, even the bigger ones if you cut the fillet in half thickness wise then soak in saltwater. My favorites are the ones under 5 pounds and from early spring water after winter, thier great deepfried with home made tarter sauce with fresh onions. Now im hungry just thinking about it.
I already voted in the poll–how do I view the results?
I like keeping small channel cat to eat–18″ or so is my cutoff. Once they get above that size, they get greasy and not very good.
I used to keep smaller flathead, and I still would say a small flatcat tastes better than a channel cat of the same size. I haven’t kept a flathead in several years, and don’t plan on doing it again. I value flathead more for the size potential than for the eating. If I want a meal of fish, I go look for channel cat, walleye, or crappie.
Here in Iowa, Flatheads are still harvested commercially, so I don’t see where pole and liners will have much of an effect on the population. As for size, that doesn’t seem to make much difference taste wise as long as they are trimmed well. Where as a large channel gets a strong flavor. Contaminets wise the biggest concern with larger cats in the ssippi is mercury more so than pcb. Mercury doesn’t have as great an effect on adults as pcb. Just don’t eat them a couple times a week, and don’t feed them to children very often. Hell, tuna isn’t very good for you either, especially the stuff that taste good like albacore.
Speaking of eating catfish…check out the poll!
Hey…I didn’t start ripping on bass!
Since I kinda stirred the pot.
As a kid, I ate alot of channels. Mostly in the 15 to 20 inch range, as according to dad, those were the best eating size. I liked them and still enjoy a “clean one” today!
That is about it though, until you head south to like Texas and eat the blues that they serve in resturants!!!! THOSE are almost better than walleye!!!!!!!!!!!
I keep channels up to 5 pounds for eating, the bigger ones go back for restocking.
Ed
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