this might sound stupid but what is a willow cat?
is it the same as a salamander.
March 7, 2007 at 6:44 am
#1240497
willow cat
-
March 7, 2007 at 8:42 am #545763
Nope not the same, try searching lots of good info on here
March 7, 2007 at 8:56 am #545764Madtom or Willow Cat
March 7, 2007 at 12:59 pm #545772The willow cat, also known as Tadpole Mad tom (Noturus gyrinus) in our area, is a small bullhead-looking fish that is related to the catfish family. They usually are about 2 or 3 inches long. There are actually quite a few different species of willow cats. A few species can actually grow up to 10 inches. Willow cats are primarily found in the Midwest, but have been found as far east as Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia. I am not sure if they are found in Ohio or not. The best bet is to ask the Department of Natural Resources in your area to see what sub-species you have.
An inexperienced angler may have a hard time telling the difference between the bullhead and the willow cat. The best way to tell the difference between the two is by looking at the tail. A willow cat will have a much larger tail fin, kind of similar to an eel. A bullhead will have a short, squared-tail fin. A bullhead will also have more of a white bottom. If you see a bullhead and a willow cat in the same bucket the difference will be obvious. The color of a willow cat really depends on what kind of river bottom they come from. Willow cats can be brown, blonde, and black. Bullheads are almost always black, especially when they are real young.
There are a lot of beliefs as to why willow cats are loved by walleyes. Some simply feel that willow cats have a slime to them that gives off a scent that walleyes just crave. Others think that willow cats are predators to the walleyes during the spawn so they act on aggression.
If you are allergic to bees, I would try to stay a way from willow cats. Their sting can cause a lot of symptoms for people that are allergic to bee stings. Those stingers on the willow cat can really pack a punch.
May 30, 2007 at 7:19 pm #576304does anyone know of any bait shops that will ship willow cats to me, i live in iowa, any info on where find some would be great. thanks, me email is [email protected]
May 30, 2007 at 7:21 pm #576305I think shipping them would be a non-possibility but most all bait shops up and down the Mississippi River in WI and MN have them at times. I’d call you favorite shop in the LaCrosse area and see what they have on-hand or expect to have in the near future.
May 30, 2007 at 7:58 pm #576311–James, no bait shops can carry willowcats here in LaCrosse. Something about the fish virus, not letting anything to be transported from the river to a bait shop. If you want to use willow cats, you have to catch them yourself and put them in your baot and use them that day. When done fishing that day, you cannot transport them back with you, have to let them go or kill them. Sounds crazy I know, but that is what i have been told—John
May 30, 2007 at 7:59 pm #576312Quote:
I’d call you favorite shop in the LaCrosse area and see what they have on-hand or expect to have in the near future.
The local shops in La Crosse were told they couldn’t sell them due to the problems with the VHS virus. Finding them for sale is going to be difficult.
May 30, 2007 at 8:01 pm #576314Sorry John. You beat me to it.
May 30, 2007 at 8:20 pm #576320Many of the willcats sold in Minnesota do not come from waters infected with VHS. How is WI dealing with that? If a dipper with a commercial license harvests cats from inland waters free from VHS and can prove origin how can the DNR stop them from being sold? At that point they would be no different than a fathead minnow.
As for the willowcats that were dipped from the river in the past and sold in baitshops, technically that was NEVER legal as the river is home to exotic species and the bait, live fish or water can not be transported away from the river for fear of spreading exotic species.
May 30, 2007 at 10:26 pm #576360Quote:
As for the willowcats that were dipped from the river in the past and sold in baitshops, technically that was NEVER legal as the river is home to exotic species and the bait, live fish or water can not be transported away from the river for fear of spreading exotic species.
Albeit I believe your correct most bait dealers in Western Wisconsin were receiving their Cats from infested waters including but not limited too Everts regardless of what the bait dealers were told. As of 5/27 all commercial fisherman have been given a listing of non-infested waters in which to harvest bait. It is unclear at this time if the Willow Cats inhabit these waters. Without a doubt getting Cats early in the spring will be impossible without harvesting from infested waters due to water temps.
May 30, 2007 at 10:38 pm #576363I’m not sure where specific bait shops got / get their cats but I do know that there’s guys getting them in central mn in areas that are not infected with invasive species. I also know that some dippers get them from areas in north central WI from streams that I don’t think have been listed as infected.
So that just begs the question, can the WI DNR prohit the sale across the board? Have they prohibited sale across the board? Will they do the same with other minnow species netted, trapped or dipped from those same areas or is this change limited to or addressing willowcats specifically?
May 30, 2007 at 10:48 pm #576373Correct if me if I’m wrong, but I don’t see the Miss. listed as an infected(VHS) water.(I didn’t see it listed on the WI DNR website) I understand the Miss. is infected with Zebra Mussels and other exotic species, but they weren’t listed as a primary threat. At least they weren’t on the radar for bait sales in previous years. Or we would have seen some DNR involvment long before this year.
I know where Dean and other area(La Crosse/points North & South) got much of their Willowcats. It wasn’t from an infect interior water. Unless the Miss. is an infected water.
May 30, 2007 at 10:55 pm #576378
Quote:
So that just begs the question, can the WI DNR prohit the sale across the board? Have they prohibited sale across the board?
It is my understanding from talking to the local Gander Fishing Manager that they have halted all sales of Willowcats. That info is from a month ago or so. Bob’s Bait & Tackle was sent a letter stating they couldn’t sell them either. I’m(guessing) it’s a statewide issue.
The way it was explained to me, is the only way a bait dealer could sell bait like Willowcats, is if they stay in the water they were drawn from. They couldn’t be transported legally out of the water. The only ones who could then sell them would be places like the floats you see below the dams.
One thing’s for sure, this whole thing is a mess and will probably get worse.
May 30, 2007 at 10:59 pm #576380I have been told by a couple bait shops that the willow cats could be taken from the river, but would have to be put in tested water. I believe it was said $1000.00 to test the first time and then $150.00 a month there after. Talked with a guy from Mn-tri-state bait and tackle, he told me their cats come from lakes up north, so they would be alright. But he has been unable to get any, the sellers make stops along the river, north to south and they never have any left for this far south. He did tell me he had some baby bullheads for sale. I used to get one once in awhile in my cat bucket and always tried them out, but never had any eyes take them. Wondering if anyone has tried them or had luck with them?–John
May 30, 2007 at 11:02 pm #576382
Quote:
He did tell me he had some baby bullheads for sale. I used to get one once in awhile in my cat bucket and always tried them out, but never had any eyes take them. Wondering if anyone has tried them or had luck with them?
See Briank….
May 30, 2007 at 11:05 pm #576383Brian K!
As long as you consider a 6″ bullhead a baby…May 30, 2007 at 11:14 pm #576397Quote:
Brian K!
As long as you consider a 6″ bullhead a baby…
Their bigger than the Flatheads he’s been catching….
May 30, 2007 at 11:16 pm #576398Quote:
Quote:
Brian K!
As long as you consider a 6″ bullhead a baby…
Their bigger than the Flatheads he’s been catching….
Hey! That’s not nice. Funny. But not nice.
May 31, 2007 at 12:09 am #576416Where or where to place an
Actually, the only bait catcher I know of in the state of MN that can harvest bullheads from infested waters…is Mr. Bob Moore at Moore’s Bait and Tackle.
If I could just keep those pesky wallabies away from my bullheads…I just might be able to catch a cat.
May 31, 2007 at 12:10 am #576418Ps I’ve recommended to the MN DNR to poison the ‘sippie to get rid of this invasive species.
May 31, 2007 at 12:14 am #576422Quote:
I know where Dean and other area(La Crosse/points North & South) got much of their Willowcats. It wasn’t from an infect interior water. Unless the Miss. is an infected water.
Blue, I think the WI DNR turned the naked eye but now that VHS is well known disease it is sure to get worse. They are considering the Miss and other tribs that feed it “infested”. Cats can be gotten up north in both MN and WI but with such a high demand for the little critters the bait shops south stuggle to get them and keep them in stock.
May 31, 2007 at 1:05 am #576443well maybe i should give them a try. I will let ya know how they work for me.–John
Viewing 23 posts - 1 through 23 (of 23 total)
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.