06-12-2003, 02:29 PM
[cool]Hey, Shrimpboy. When channel cats spawn, the males locate, fight over and claim the best holes in rocks, hollow logs, barrels or whatever. They coax the females in to spawn and then the males guard the eggs. Even after the eggs hatch out, the males protect the small clouds of fry for several days.
During this time, they do not eat, but will sometimes attack a lure or big piece of bait that settles into their nesting area. Usually there will be a period of time when you catch mostly females, followed by increasing catches of skinny dark males...sometimes mistakenly called blue cats or blue channels.
In rocky areas, where there is a lot of spawning activity, it is not uncommon to find a few dead cats floating during and after the spawn. The stress and physical trauma of dueling males, together with the lack of food intake, is sometimes more than they can survive. Many of the males you take during this period will have the marks of battle on them. Even females get spined and chomped on by aggressive males trying to "persuade" them to spawn.
It's a rough time in catfish country. But, that's what it takes to make lots of little baby catfish.
That was a great pic. If you get serious, come down to Arizona and play with some of our sixty pound flatheads. They really play rough. Think using three pound carp for bait. (live bait is legal in Arizona) Here's a pic of a "puny" thirty pounder.
![[Image: SCOU1712CustomImage0032077.jpg]](http://web.ecomplanet.com/SCOU1712/ServerContent/MyCustomImages/SCOU1712CustomImage0032077.jpg)
TubeDude
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During this time, they do not eat, but will sometimes attack a lure or big piece of bait that settles into their nesting area. Usually there will be a period of time when you catch mostly females, followed by increasing catches of skinny dark males...sometimes mistakenly called blue cats or blue channels.
In rocky areas, where there is a lot of spawning activity, it is not uncommon to find a few dead cats floating during and after the spawn. The stress and physical trauma of dueling males, together with the lack of food intake, is sometimes more than they can survive. Many of the males you take during this period will have the marks of battle on them. Even females get spined and chomped on by aggressive males trying to "persuade" them to spawn.
It's a rough time in catfish country. But, that's what it takes to make lots of little baby catfish.
That was a great pic. If you get serious, come down to Arizona and play with some of our sixty pound flatheads. They really play rough. Think using three pound carp for bait. (live bait is legal in Arizona) Here's a pic of a "puny" thirty pounder.
TubeDude
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