WHITE CATFISH:  A LOT OF ACTION

The white catfish sports a forked tail and exhibits a bluish and silvery coloration. The white catfish has 19 to 23 rays in it’s anal fin. Lacking distinct spots, this catfish may give a bicolor appearance as there may be a demarcation line between the darker color of the lower sides and the whitish ventral area. Some fish appear mottled with colors ranging from milky grey to dark blue.

The natural distribution of the white catfish extends from Chesapeake Bay region in coastal streams southward to Texas. It has been successfully introduced into waters along the west coast and has established itself as a widely sought after fish. It has also been introduced to New England waters where it is a popular fish and often has replaced the brown bullhead as a sought after species.

The white catfish in it’s natural range inhabits fresh and slightly brackish water of streams, rivers, ponds and bayous. Although it is tolerant of rather swiftly flowing streams and rivers, it prefers a more sluggish current. The white catfish is somewhat migratory in it’s spawning habits, although it is less so than other catfish. As with other members of it’s family it is a nest builder and the male guards the young for some time after the hatch.

An omnivorous feeder, the white catfish survives on nearly all forms of aquatic life including smaller fish and aquatic insects. This species is smaller than the channel catfish with an average size running somewhat smaller than three pounds.

An excellent food fish, the white catfish is prized for it’s firm, white flesh. This catfish is popular among the "fish for pay" private lake operators because of it’s size and habit of biting freely. In some areas of the northeast where it has been introduced, it has replaced the brown bullhead in popularity. This is due to it’s larger size, it’s less nocturnal habits as well as it’s ability to withstand the predations of the largemouth bass. The white catfish is easily taken on live bait.

The Merrimack River is probably the best known local waters for searching out the white catfish. It is well suited for the river and good numbers of catfish are caught every year. In the Merrimack, the best areas to fish for the white catfish is the quiet back eddies along the edges of the faster currents. The fish that are found in the Merrimack are generally about two or three pounds but fish to eight plus pounds have ben caught. Anglers will use a variety of baits that include stink baits, bacon strips, chicken livers, commercially prepared catfish baits as well as night crawlers. Many fishermen will swear by night crawlers. White catfish will put up an incredible fight especially in the fast moving currents of the river. It will twist, turn, make good runs, head for the weedy cover, try to wrap you around any available structure and basically challenge your fishing skills.

The white catfish is rapidly becoming a very popular fish to catch in out area. White catfish can also be found in other local bodies of water.