New to catfish...

[riverwalker]

Have caught some before, but happened across a few hot pools that seem to hold fish each night. Quite nice size too. Wondering on some tips for skinning/filleting and some meal suggestions. Is there a good site out there to look at, or does anyone have some good tips for a newbie to the kitties? Thanks....

[The Chemist]

I used to pull the skin off the cats when I first started catching them in the winter. But it was hard on the hands. Then I saw Dennis fileting out the cats,(at the Horseshoe gathering), like you would a walleye. It's the only way I clean my fish now. I don't keep the belly meat, in fact I leave it on the fish. Makes for great boneless filets!

[harvey lee]

I would check out the Catfish forum and do a search for those answers. If you cannot find what you are looking for, ask and they will answer. Cat guys are very willing to help.

Try this link. http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB29&Number=1094563&Forum=f29&Words=cleaning%20channels&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=1094563&Search=true&where=bodysub&Name=20935&daterange=1&newerval=1&newertype=y&olderval=1&oldertype=d&bodyprev=#Post1094563

[Stick in Mud]

Riverwalker,

You finding them in the Miss or in the Sauk? I don't need any specifics, but I'd be thankful for a little direction.

Carl

[Tippman]

You'll find a lot more in the Mississippi in the immediate St. Cloud area. If you go a little further towards the chain on the Saulk the numbers are much better for cats.

[frozencat56377]

riverwalker. there are alot of really good spots north of sartell. i will leave you with that. it is a little tougher since you can't wade most of it. i know of a few really good shore spots for many fish, some up to 13 pounds. this is the time they are transitioning into the winter holes, they are active and hungry and stacking up into these holes like cord wood. do to the warm temps they are a little delayed this year but hit the channels going into these holes and the head of the holes and also look for current breaks the bigger ones will stay towards these areas to feed. match your bait to what the forage is for cats also, avoid stink baits in the river, only works in july for short periods of time with low current. any other questions drop me a line. that is all i fish for around here and you can pound them...

[davecstone]

Hey, Riverwalker. Nice thing about cats is that they will fight a zillion times better than the 'eyes do.

Here's the secret to cleaning catfish. (I would really stick to Channelcats if you can find them) Drive a big nail in a tree or in a wall stud (about nose high) & and push the fish head right down over it. Then slice around each side of the head & down the back around the dorsal fin & the skin by the belly. Take a pair of pliers & grab the skin at the top & just pull each side down & off from there. Most of the time, it will come off in one big hunk. Put a bucket below and clean out the guts right there. With your knife, cut around the fins & pull them out with the pliers, and leave the tail alone. Take it down rinse in some water and cut off the head (if it's a bullhead, put it in some salt water for a while before cooking - then rinse it off) . To cook dip in some batter or just roll it in any kind of flour/corn meal etc & deep fry or in a half inch of oil thats hot enough to spit when you drop some meal in it. Take it out brown and the meat will drop off the backbone with a little flick of your fork. NO bones to worry about. Enjoy.