1. Ictalurus punctatus (Channel Catfish) Other Names: By Nathan Wilhelm
spotted cat fiddler blue channel river cat white cat willow cat speckled cat forked tail cat silver cat
Other Names:

2. Bullhead Catfish Family Characteristics
4 pairs of barbels
Scaleless
Adipose fin
Dorsally compressed
Subterminal mouth
Broad, flat head

3. Distinguishing Ictalurus punctatus From Other Bullhead Catfish Species
Black spots easiest way of identification
Pale blue to olive colored back and sides
Possible size of 127cm (50 in.)
Forked caudal fin absent in:
Bullheads - Flathead Catfish - Madtoms
Similar species: Blue, White, Headwater, and Yaqui Catfishes

4. Headwater and Yaqui Catfishes
Similar Species
Headwater and Yaqui Catfishes
Genetically different species
Not reliably differentiated
externally
White Catfish
Blue Catfish
No black spots
Only grows to 62 cm (24.25 in)
No spots
Straight anal fin edge
-Larger Channels and Blues Very Similar

5. -Rounded Anal Fin Characteristic of Channel Cat-
Blue or Channel?
Large channel cats
-no black spots
-may have bluish tint
-Rounded Anal Fin Characteristic of Channel Cat-

6. Iowa Distribution of Ictalurus punctatus
One of the most widely distributed fish
Inhabits rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, reservoirs
Prefers deep pools and runs over sand/rock
Stocking responsible for much of the distribution

7. National Distribution of Ictalurus punctatus

8. Omnivorous-Opportunistic Diet
Insects
Crayfish
Snails
Small clams
Worms
Elm seeds
Fish
Wild grapes
Plant seeds
Wild fruits
Large channel catfish feed almost exclusively on fish

9. Reproduction of Ictalurus punctatus
Spawning May through July
Females sexual mature at 13 to 16 inches, males slightly
earlier
Involved courtship behavior before mating
Nests locations: under rock ledges, under undercut banks, tins cans,
hollow logs
Female lays up to 20,000 eggs (typically 8,800 eggs/kg or 4,000
eggs/lbs)
Male drives female away from nest after spawning
Male protects eggs

10. History and Conservation
Native and stocked in Iowa
One of the most widely distributed fish in Iowa
All year round fishing season
Inland lakes: daily bag limit 8, possession limit 30
Inland streams/federal flood reservoirs: daily bag limit 15,
possession limit is 30.
Recreation
One of the most popular fish in Iowa
-easy to catch
-great tasting
-large size
Stocking needed to keep up with angler demand

11. Ictalurus punctatus Economic Importance Channel Catfish Farming
70% of all freshwater aquaculture earnings in U.S.
In 2001 generated $470 million in revenue in U.S.
226,796 kg (500,000 lbs) harvested per year in Iowa

12. References
Agriculture Research Service. Keeping Catfish on Consumers’ Menus. Available at
Burr, B. M. and L. M. Page A guide to freshwater fishes. Houghton Mifflin
Company. Pp. 61,62.
Garling, D.L Fish Culture Specialist Michigan Cooperative Extension Service.
University of Missouri. Making Plans for Commercial Aquaculture in the
North Central Region. Available at
Mayhew, J Iowa Fish and Fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des
Moines, Iowa. 323 pp.

13. Black Bullhead Family Ictaluridae Ameriurus melas common names: bullhead, common bullhead, yellow-belly bullhead, small bullhead, horned pout, brown catfish, catfish, stinger, river snapper

14. Identification
Typical Ictaluridae body-vertically depressed body with four pairs of chin barbels, an adipose fin, and no scales
Characteristics –olive colored on dorsal, changing to a gold color on the sides and a white or yellow on ventral. Caudal tail is notched but not forked, anal fin rays

15. Distinguishing black from yellow bullhead
Barbel color-Black bullhead has gray or black barbels, while the yellow bullhead has white barbels

16. Black bullhead distribution
Distribution-state-wide, very common in many Iowa lakes and streams

17. Habitat
Very wide variety of habitat. Lives in habitats with silted bottoms, turbid and slow moving waters (e.g. creeks, rivers, ponds, reservoirs, and oxbow lakes)
Does not require high oxygen concentration

18. Diet Omnivorous generalist diet
Snails, insects, fish, clams, plants, fish eggs, crayfish
Considered a scavenger, bottom feeder
Eats anything it can

19. Reproduction Spawning maturity at 1-3 years
eggs per spawning event in May or June
Nest is fanned out with caudal tail under logs or other objects
One of the parents remains to fan water over the eggs and keep predators away
Eggs hatch in 10 days and parent remains with hatchlings until they are about 1 inch long

20. Conservation Status and economic and ecological importance
Undesirable species, little to no ecological value
Abundant in Iowa
Good angling fish
Puts up a good fight
Is not difficult to catch

21. References
Enature Black Bullhead. Available at October
Iowa Department of Natural Resources Iowa DNR Black Bullhead. Available at October 2004.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Black Bullhead. Available at October 2004.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Black Bullhead. Available at October 2004.
University of Oklahoma, Selman Laboratory Black Bullhead image. Available at ders%20images%20for%20page/black%20bullhead.jpg

22. Flathead Catfish (Pylodictis Olivaris) By: Brad Froeschle

23. Identification
Common Names: Flathead Catfish, Shovelhead, Mudcat, Johnnie cats, and Yellowcat.
Weight: 20 to 30 pounds (World Record: 123lbs in Kansas)
Flathead catfish have subterminal mouths.
The chin barbels are white to yellow, and the anal fin, which has fewer than 16 rays, is short and rounded. Young flathead catfish are nearly black on the back.

24. Distribution
Flathead Catfish are found in mainly in the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.
Located throughout all of Iowa’s streams, rivers, and lakes except in the north/northwest.
Fairly common species of catfish found in Iowa.
The range extends as far north as North Dakota, as far west as New Mexico, and south to the Gulf including eastern Mexico.

25. Habitat
Flathead catfish prefer the muddy bottoms of rivers, lakes, and streams.
Log jams, foliage cover, and rocks are preferred in shallow streams.
At night the flathead catfish heads toward the surface or close to shore to feed.
www. Pa exec./fishline.

26. Diet
Fingerlings feed on insect larvae, juveniles feed on small fish and crayfish, while adults like to eat mainly fish.
Their style of hunting is usually ambushing their prey.
There have been reports of people seeing flatheads lay with their mouths open while fish swim right in.

27. Reproduction/Conservation Status
The flathead is a loner and a traveler, leading a solitary existence except at spawning time. Flatheads spawn in early summer, later than channel catfish.
The female lays between 4,000 and 10,000 eggs.
The male guards the egg mass and chasing anything else away including the female.
Flatheads are abundant in Iowa and the population of the species is steady.

28. Economic and Ecological Importance
Fishing for flatheads is pretty big in Iowa.
Flathead catfish are exploited by commercial fishermen along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
Approximately 65,000 pounds of flathead catfish valued at over $32,500 are annually harvested from the Mississippi, and the harvest from the Missouri River averages about 3,300 pounds and is worth about $1,700.

29. Etc. (Pylodictis Olivaris)
Iowa State record: 81lbs in Ellis Lake, Lucas County. By Joe Baze from Chariton, Iowa.
Fishing: Use small sunfish after dark.
People “grab fish” flatheads in mudholes.
The world record was caught on 12lb test line.

30. References
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa’s threatened and endangered species. Oct
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. IowaDNR Fish and Fishing.
Oct
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. MinnesotaDNR Fish and Fishing. Oct
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. WisconsinDNR Fish and Fishing. Oct

31. Stonecat (Noturus flavus) Chris Gelner
Identification: slender compressed body, broad flat head, yellow spot behind dorsal fin
Similar species: freckled madtom, slender madtom
Distribution: statewide
Virtual Aquarium

32. Stonecat (Noturus flavus)
NatureServe

33. Stonecat (Noturus flavus)

34. Stonecat (Noturus flavus)
Habitat: warm streams with rocks and riffles, rocky sandy lake shores
Diet: benthic aquatic invertebrates
Reproduction: mature at 3-4 years, spawns in June-August, fecundity eggs
Conservation: common, native
NY DNR
Ohio DNR

35. Stonecat (Noturus flavus)
Economic value: probably none
Ecological importance: questionable
Other: lifespan ~9 years, poison glands
Ohio DNR
MI DNR

36. References: Noturus flavus
Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Iowa DNR Fish and Fishing. Available at September 2004.
Mayhew, J Iowa Fish and Fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, Iowa.
NatureServe Distribution of Noturus flavus. Available at
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr Freshwater Fishes of North America North of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.