I set my bullhead traps this afternoon about 1400. Baited them with some cut up fatheads and suckers. Went back down and checked them at 1830 and got 18 beautiful 7 to 8 inch bullies. I rebaited the traps a few minutes ago and I’ll let them soak overnight and check them again in the morning. I’m ready to start chasing some flatheads – those bullies look sweet!
So are you eating those bullheads?
uses them for flathead fishing 
I see, was thinking that, but you never know the taste buds of some people…
You never, ever, eat a beautiful 8″ bullhead that has flathead written all over it. I’m thinking the flats are waking up early along with everything else and I’m going flathead fishing. Bait tanks is set up and I’m stocking it with some perky bullheads.
I’m not a cat man, but I’m interested in how and where you trap them. Care to share?
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I’m not a cat man, but I’m interested in how and where you trap them. Care to share?
Really?? That is like asking someone if you could date his wife! 
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You never, ever, eat a beautiful 8′ bullhead
That’s a huge bullhead…. a 8′ bullhead would weigh about what 7-800 lbs?
Oops. I guess an 8′ bullhead wouldn’t fit in my bait tank. I meant an 8″ bullhead. Thanks for the heads up, Jesse. I don’t think an 8′ bullhead could make it through the opening on my bullhead trap.
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I see, was thinking that, but you never know the taste buds of some people…
Bullheads are just little catfish.. tastes the same as long as you’re catching them out of clean water. Cleaning them… well that’s a different story.. filleting them sucks cause of the amount of time per meat you get… however.. If you just skinem then gutem (leave head and tail on) then grillem in some tinfoil with butter and whatever else you like with fish (garlic, ect in the chest cavity)… you can just eatem like corn on the cob… Nom nom nom..
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I’m not a cat man, but I’m interested in how and where you trap them. Care to share?
Really?? That is like asking someone if you could date his wife!
You can date mine if you put me on a BIG catfish! Never fishied them on purpose but would like to try it.
An 8′ bullhead would probably eat the other bullheads, trap and all.
Just think how big of a flathead you could catch with a 8′ bullhead.
8’2″ and up! 
How do you keep those alive while using them as bait? wouldnt the hook kill them right away?
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How do you keep those alive while using them as bait? wouldnt the hook kill them right away?
Nope, they are probably the hardiest bait you can use. If you hook then in the tail behing the back fin, they will wriggle all night. Sometimes you can even throw them back in the bait bucket and use them on your next trip!
What type of trap are you using? Just a regular minnow trap. Do you get bigger bull heads in a trap. Found a pond up herre in Blaine that is full of bull heads but most are 4 to 5″s.
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but most are 4 to 5″s
Crap fish size bullheads. 
Saw a sign stapled to a light pole at the St. Peter launch for a ‘pail of bullheads for $30’ where he said most were in the 4-5″ range, but that they were FRESH.
Anyone know who this person is? I wonder if this is even legal unless he has a commercial bait license..
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You never, ever, eat a beautiful 8′ bullhead
That’s a huge bullhead…. a 8′ bullhead would weigh about what 7-800 lbs?
Hmmm
Feeds on raw fish
whiskers
A little on the heavy side for her size
only comes out in the dark
Sounds a lot like my mother in law,
We’ve caught some baby carp in traps baited with corn. Awesome baits! Just a thought.
Have to remember Moose, some of us live in MN. Land of 10,000 fishing laws. 
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What type of trap are you using? Just a regular minnow trap. Do you get bigger bull heads in a trap. Found a pond up herre in Blaine that is full of bull heads but most are 4 to 5″s.
Mike – I use your standard cylindrical minnow trap that you can buy at Walmart or Fleet Farm. I just bought a new Frabill minnow trap at Walmart the other day and it cost $8. The holes are only 1 inch in diameter when you buy them but it is legal to have a 1 1/2 inch hole so I take a snips to them and upsize the holes to 1 1/2 inches. I am catching big 7 to 10 inch bullheads on the 1 1/2 inch holes no problem.
Another tip if you buy a trap. The traps are designed to come apart but I zip tie the two halves together just on one side opposite the closure opening. I lost a trap a few years ago when it came open as I was pulling it in and one half of the trap fell off and I couldn’t find it. When they are zip tied together the trap just hinges instead of coming completely open but that is no problem when baiting or emptying.
Another tip: I tie my deploying rope to the bottom of the trap and not to the closure clip. Those clips have a habit of falling off sometimes and you can lose a trap that way too. I tie my rope to the bottom of the trap and that way you will never lose it. I also tie the closure clip on a short piece of string to the trap. If the clip comes loose I won’t lose it that way.
Another tip: I walk out into the bullhead pond to about waist deep. I carry about a 6 foot pointed stick with a wire loop on one end. I pound that stick into the bottom and clip my ropes to that stick when I throw them out. If somebody wants my traps they will have to go in the water to get them. I don’t tie off to the shore – it would be too easy for someone to get at them. I have never lost a trap to somebody taking them. This time of year I have to wear waders but that is no problem. It only takes about 10 minutes to check 4 traps, empty them and rebait them and redeploy. I will sometimes fish the traps just doing a round robin checking them every 10 to 15 minutes for a couple of hours. If you have a good pond with a high bullhead population you can sometimes pick up 3 to 4 per trap after about only 15 minutes of soaking. I think it is sometimes faster than hook and line fishing for bullheads especially early in the spring like now.
So you can’t use carp? Wow they are strict up there!
Steve – Good tips with the traps!
In my search for good ponds for I came across a few that are loaded with bullheads.
I use a couple hands full of dry dog food in each trap that does the trick for me.
One pond was also loaded with emerald and silver shiners an extra benny 
Cant use a dip net now so hopefully I can find them shiners come may 1st.
Be interested to see what type of systems you all have for bait tanks. That be a different thread.
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Be interested to see what type of systems you all have for bait tanks. That be a different thread.
riverweed – If you are interested in Bait Tanks I posted an article in the In-Depth Outdoors Article forum on a “Bullhead Bait Tank”. Here is the link: Bullhead Bait Tank
Thanks Steve for the link. I have an elaborate system as I am in conjunction with a small commercial independent fishery.I sure will check it out.
OH!MY! That was not meant to sound so arrogant! I am fairly new at this and I happen to find a friend that has a shw67 load of experience at fisheries.
I was thinking of sharing what I have learned and bouncing some ideas around.
Your thread is a launching point for us catters and those that may want to learn how to keep bait for an extended period of time.
I’ll be adding to the thread soon.
I am still learning so I look for any input.
We can only learn!
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