Using bullheads for bait…

I’m not much of a cat fisherman, but I am curious… I’m sure you guys have covered this before… But how exactly do you guys rig up a bullhead when using it for bait?

Photos?

And do flats seem to prefer the bullheads, or do channels like them equally as well?

Thanks!

Basically it’s just a lindy rig —

Sliding sinker, then a swivel (some do without the swivel, but I prefer one), then a 12 inch leader with your hook, which you attach to the bullhead either behind the dorsal fin like a normal minnow or through the lip.

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Basically it’s just a lindy rig —

Sliding sinker, then a swivel (some do without the swivel, but I prefer one), then a 12 inch leader with your hook, which you attach to the bullhead either behind the dorsal fin like a normal minnow or through the lip.

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Exactly.

In very light current I have seen guys hook them in the tail (be sure you dont hit the spine). When hooked in the tail the bullhead will swim real hard to try and get away, instead of just laying on the bottom or under a rock like when you hook them in the mouth.

Thanks…

Will channels hit them as readily as flats??

Just curious…

The other weekend I was dock (lake) fishing with my kids. We had a blast catching about 100 small bullheads on crawlers and bobbers. It was a riot going “back to simple”.

Then that afternoon we hit another lake (again off of a dock) and caught a bunch of sheepies with 10+ lb channels mixed in.. Got me thinking in hindsight if I should have tried rigging up a bullhead for the channels… (Maybe on a large float instead of a anchored to the bottom??) — it was pretty shallow where we were fishing, maybe 4-5 feet at the deepest.

Also,

What are the legality issues with catching/using/transporting bullheads to be used as bait in MN? What about in WI?

I know this has all been covered before, so I thank you in advance for your replies…

Channels are good at ripping them to pieces, but there have been a few caught on bullheads.

if you want to catch channels use something else or just step on the bullie and squeeze his guts out

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When hooked in the tail the bullhead will swim real hard to try and get away, instead of just laying on the bottom or under a rock like when you hook them in the mouth.

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Have you ever hooked bullheads in the mouth?

I usually hook my bullies in the lower jaw hook point down with great success. They stay lively and I have pretty good hookup percentage and the hook does not go back into the bullie as it sometimes does tail hooking them. I also will make a vertical presentation with the bait directly under the boat a few reel turns above river bottom where the bait will go nuts and you get to see some violent strikes. Try it sometime and see!

Hey BK, weren’t we just talking about this guy ^^^ the last time we went out fishing? I don’t know if it is him, it has been so long.

He probably remembers me with the

which came before the

What’s next, Tony posts?

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Hey BK, weren’t we just talking about this guy ^^^ the last time we went out fishing? I don’t know if it is him, it has been so long.

He probably remembers me with the
which came before the

I know I’m bad. Been meaning to get out fishing with you mike for a while. Did you ever get into the 30lb club? I remember that was a tough hurdle. It sucks not having a boat.

What’s next, Tony posts?

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See what I mean? I don’t even know how to post anymore hahahah