Question of blue cats

Willie Boy · 04-08-2007, 12:45 PM

X, since you seem to be able to regularly channel the pointy headed one...or may well have the answer yourself (Aquaman, where are you?)...

Has any work been done on blue cats vs channel cats as to their predatory efficiencies? if so, did anyone ever look at those efficiencies at various water temps?

Reason I ask:
1. Blues can grow larger
2. Blues seem to be more active in colder water than channels (See Storm stories)

Might be a great predator species for some local white-perch infested waters? Able to keep feeding a bit more during winter?

Thoughts?

as for you, OBG, cats are easily one of the most beautiful fish out there...just cause you can't toss liver on a fly rod is no reason to disdain this wonderful piscatorial family.

Done · 04-08-2007, 01:29 PM

Also blues seem to be more of an open water fish. They also feed more on live fish.

AnglerX · 04-08-2007, 01:50 PM

I can tell you that a certain lake in Kansas is now using blues for predator control against white perch. Branched Oak does have a limited amount of blues in it. I think because most anglers can't tell the difference between a blue and channel that any means of trying to protect them as predator fish would be futile.

Done · 04-08-2007, 01:54 PM

Does it cost any more to raise and stock blues as opposed to channels? It doesn't seem like there would be much difference.

Egghead · 04-08-2007, 04:20 PM

My fishing partner caught a 37" blue on a dead white perch at BO last year. We regularly catch them up to 6 pounds on live white perch. During may and june we catch more blues then channels at certain spots. We almost always catch wipers around the blues so maybe the blues are around to get injured perch left over from the wipers, but they definitely take live white perch. Haven't seen a blue under 3 pounds so don't know if they are naturally reproducing. We have only caught a couple so far this year. Hopefully the next warm spell will get the wipers really going so we can get more blues.

Musky Dreamin · 04-08-2007, 06:03 PM

I have never fished BO, but for those of you who #1 Do and #2 keep your blues, do you ever look at stomach contents. I dont usually fish for cat, cant even remember ever keeping one, just thought it might be something to look at. Keep a log on blues vs channels here on this sight somewhere to kinda keep track of white perch in stomach? Worth thinking about?

Willie Boy · 04-08-2007, 06:24 PM

X, I know channels are awful easy to propogate...any difference in blues? yield? survival rates? etc? as far as aquaculturists see it anyway?

Also, do you happen to know: is KS trying this as a means to help the WP situation or have studies shown this to be an option?

Interesting comments there...

AnglerX · 04-08-2007, 06:42 PM

http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/kdw...ish_production

Also sounds like they are good Zebra Mussels controls. As for the study? Right now I don't know? I do know that KDWP prefers to keep the white perch under control by any means.

burrodebo · 04-08-2007, 08:03 PM

Willie, I know you're looking for evidence, but as an aside, I know channels will eat mussels. Anecdotally, I've had great luck fishing for channel cats over mussel beds.

Now that the water is up at WT, one of my favorite mussel beds is now submerged again!!

south of 41 · 04-09-2007, 06:55 AM

The fish in my avatar was returned to Bo. Alot of the small one's are removed each year. I think they are hard for some to ID when they are little.

Pound for pound they are a much better fighter then a big flat in my book. They can strip drag with the biggest of big wiper's i have landed at BO. And i have had many wipers in the 28 to 29 inch range at BO.

Can seem to bust that 30 mark on wipers at BO but i am sure they are swimming in there.

How about you AnglerX every break 30 inchs? Or know someone who has?

Chad · 04-09-2007, 07:22 AM

I've only caught a handful of blues (and nothing spectacular), but South is right, they run a lot harder than channels. And channels pull twice as hard (pound for pound) as flats in my experience.

There's an article in the new in-fisherman that may be of interest to you. It features a unique technique for blue cat fishing from an angler that cut his teeth on walleye. He trolls rivers for them and has some innovative approaches. At certain times of the year, he actually trolls surface buzz baits. It'd be fun to catch a big ol' blue on top water.

south of 41 · 04-09-2007, 07:33 AM

Trolling for catfish

Interesting

Chad · 04-09-2007, 07:45 AM

Have you caught blues trolling?

south of 41 · 04-09-2007, 08:14 AM

Is speed drifting trolling? Then yes i have

AnglerX · 04-09-2007, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Can seem to bust that 30 mark on wipers at BO but i am sure they are swimming in there.

How about you AnglerX every break 30 inchs? Or know someone who has?

NO.

AnglerX · 04-13-2007, 09:56 AM

OK Willie, This is what I found.
Right now there is no documentation on blue catfish predation on white perch. Primary because white perch are from the east coast and blues are not. Kansas is using blues as an additional predator because blues are actually a predator that they have seen better reproduction on compared to flatheads. They are speculating because of the results at Milford that the blues will do good at other lakes that have white perch. Kansas wants to stay on top of the white perch and keep them controlled.(Are you listening Nebraska?) The Kansas lakes that have white perch are great fisheries and they don't want to "wait and see" what happens. Right now these lakes have great predator bases and are staying on the white perch. The biologist says that they don't want white perch moved around thus the new regulation of illegal possession of live white perch PERIOD! No cast netting, If a angler catches a white perch for bait-they must kill it right there on the spot. No putting it alive in livewell,or 5 gallon bucket.

Willie Boy · 04-13-2007, 10:51 AM

Bo, for the record, I want evidence when we're talking Global Warming...

Thanks X...lovely response. it's nice to see perhaps one thing in which KS is progressive...

Was just thinking...and the tidbit on potential zebra mussel impact?...unintended positive consequences...cool.

OldBaldGuy · 04-13-2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willie Boy

Thanks X...lovely response. it's nice to see perhaps one thing in which KS is progressive...

I heard that half the people in Kansas INSIST they haven't evolved from the apes. And the other half are afraid they're right.

Okay. Sorry. Back to blue cats...

Willie Boy · 04-13-2007, 01:02 PM

OBG, as much as I absolutely love the great state of Kansas there are several 'severely troubling' issues...the pro-life militants in Wichita (no problems with the agenda, just the methods), the small minded literalists who can't find room for science to coexist with their religion and the dangerous dude from Topeka, Fred Phelps.

Other than that, the folks and everything else are pretty good...kind of like Nebraska would be without all the Husker nonsense..

But the Blue Cat thing seems to hold some promise...which is really, really cool.

AnglerX · 04-13-2007, 01:10 PM

One thing I like about Kansas Fisheries Management is they are innovative-instead of strictly going by what the text book states they need to do.

04-08-2007, 12:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Willie Boy Willie Boy has no status. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: West Omaha Posts: 2,534 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Question of blue cats X, since you seem to be able to regularly channel the pointy headed one...or may well have the answer yourself (Aquaman, where are you?)... Has any work been done on blue cats vs channel cats as to their predatory efficiencies? if so, did anyone ever look at those efficiencies at various water temps? Reason I ask: 1. Blues can grow larger 2. Blues seem to be more active in colder water than channels (See Storm stories) Might be a great predator species for some local white-perch infested waters? Able to keep feeding a bit more during winter? Thoughts? as for you, OBG, cats are easily one of the most beautiful fish out there...just cause you can't toss liver on a fly rod is no reason to disdain this wonderful piscatorial family. __________________ I don't care what job I have, until I am king of the world I will be 'underemployed' :wRazzing:

04-08-2007, 01:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Done Done is always thinking about fishing. Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fremont, NE Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 1,161 Thanks: 81 Thanked 169 Times in 115 Posts	Also blues seem to be more of an open water fish. They also feed more on live fish. __________________ "The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." ~John Buchan

04-08-2007, 01:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
AnglerX AnglerX is resting Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: where the shad are.. Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor NEFGA Line Recycling Volunteer Posts: 3,565 Thanks: 257 Thanked 813 Times in 318 Posts	I can tell you that a certain lake in Kansas is now using blues for predator control against white perch. Branched Oak does have a limited amount of blues in it. I think because most anglers can't tell the difference between a blue and channel that any means of trying to protect them as predator fish would be futile. __________________ Keeper of the Blue Bucket

04-08-2007, 01:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Done Done is always thinking about fishing. Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fremont, NE Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 1,161 Thanks: 81 Thanked 169 Times in 115 Posts	Does it cost any more to raise and stock blues as opposed to channels? It doesn't seem like there would be much difference. __________________ "The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope." ~John Buchan

04-08-2007, 06:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
Musky Dreamin Musky Dreamin is needing to shake the cobwebs outa the bucktails Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Auburn NE Posts: 310 Thanks: 16 Thanked 12 Times in 9 Posts	I have never fished BO, but for those of you who #1 Do and #2 keep your blues, do you ever look at stomach contents. I dont usually fish for cat, cant even remember ever keeping one, just thought it might be something to look at. Keep a log on blues vs channels here on this sight somewhere to kinda keep track of white perch in stomach? Worth thinking about? __________________ Yesterdays tomorrow is today!

04-08-2007, 04:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
Egghead Egghead is near a reduced cost lifetime license Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 270 Thanks: 10 Thanked 30 Times in 19 Posts	My fishing partner caught a 37" blue on a dead white perch at BO last year. We regularly catch them up to 6 pounds on live white perch. During may and june we catch more blues then channels at certain spots. We almost always catch wipers around the blues so maybe the blues are around to get injured perch left over from the wipers, but they definitely take live white perch. Haven't seen a blue under 3 pounds so don't know if they are naturally reproducing. We have only caught a couple so far this year. Hopefully the next warm spell will get the wipers really going so we can get more blues.

04-08-2007, 06:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
Willie Boy Willie Boy has no status. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: West Omaha Posts: 2,534 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	X, I know channels are awful easy to propogate...any difference in blues? yield? survival rates? etc? as far as aquaculturists see it anyway? Also, do you happen to know: is KS trying this as a means to help the WP situation or have studies shown this to be an option? Interesting comments there... __________________ I don't care what job I have, until I am king of the world I will be 'underemployed' :wRazzing:

04-08-2007, 06:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
AnglerX AnglerX is resting Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: where the shad are.. Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor NEFGA Line Recycling Volunteer Posts: 3,565 Thanks: 257 Thanked 813 Times in 318 Posts	http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/kdw...ish_production Also sounds like they are good Zebra Mussels controls. As for the study? Right now I don't know? I do know that KDWP prefers to keep the white perch under control by any means. __________________ Keeper of the Blue Bucket

04-08-2007, 08:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
burrodebo burrodebo is picking ice out of the guides Emeritus Directors Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: On the Water Posts: 3,250 Thanks: 26 Thanked 94 Times in 35 Posts	Willie, I know you're looking for evidence, but as an aside, I know channels will eat mussels. Anecdotally, I've had great luck fishing for channel cats over mussel beds. Now that the water is up at WT, one of my favorite mussel beds is now submerged again!! __________________ "We subscribe to the idea that there's no such thing as failure. There's just giving up. We do not give up. We are relentless." -- The Edge, U2

04-09-2007, 06:55 AM	#10 (permalink)
south of 41 south of 41 is sunning high on a hill Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: waist deep in big grass Posts: 3,019 Thanks: 55 Thanked 414 Times in 208 Posts	The fish in my avatar was returned to Bo. Alot of the small one's are removed each year. I think they are hard for some to ID when they are little. Pound for pound they are a much better fighter then a big flat in my book. They can strip drag with the biggest of big wiper's i have landed at BO. And i have had many wipers in the 28 to 29 inch range at BO. Can seem to bust that 30 mark on wipers at BO but i am sure they are swimming in there. How about you AnglerX every break 30 inchs? Or know someone who has? __________________ Soon after I embraced the sport of angling I became convinced that I should never be able to enjoy it if I had to rely on the cooperation of the fish." Eighty percent of success is showing up. RECOVERING NICOTINE ADDICT SINCE April 6th 2008

04-09-2007, 07:22 AM	#11 (permalink)
Chad Chad is finished with #1 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gone Fishin' Posts: 7,474 Thanks: 366 Thanked 466 Times in 208 Posts Blog Entries: 15	I've only caught a handful of blues (and nothing spectacular), but South is right, they run a lot harder than channels. And channels pull twice as hard (pound for pound) as flats in my experience. There's an article in the new in-fisherman that may be of interest to you. It features a unique technique for blue cat fishing from an angler that cut his teeth on walleye. He trolls rivers for them and has some innovative approaches. At certain times of the year, he actually trolls surface buzz baits. It'd be fun to catch a big ol' blue on top water. __________________

04-09-2007, 07:33 AM	#12 (permalink)
south of 41 south of 41 is sunning high on a hill Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: waist deep in big grass Posts: 3,019 Thanks: 55 Thanked 414 Times in 208 Posts	Trolling for catfish Interesting __________________ Soon after I embraced the sport of angling I became convinced that I should never be able to enjoy it if I had to rely on the cooperation of the fish." Eighty percent of success is showing up. RECOVERING NICOTINE ADDICT SINCE April 6th 2008

04-09-2007, 07:45 AM	#13 (permalink)
Chad Chad is finished with #1 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gone Fishin' Posts: 7,474 Thanks: 366 Thanked 466 Times in 208 Posts Blog Entries: 15	Have you caught blues trolling? __________________

04-09-2007, 08:14 AM	#14 (permalink)
south of 41 south of 41 is sunning high on a hill Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: waist deep in big grass Posts: 3,019 Thanks: 55 Thanked 414 Times in 208 Posts	Is speed drifting trolling? Then yes i have __________________ Soon after I embraced the sport of angling I became convinced that I should never be able to enjoy it if I had to rely on the cooperation of the fish." Eighty percent of success is showing up. RECOVERING NICOTINE ADDICT SINCE April 6th 2008

04-13-2007, 09:56 AM	#16 (permalink)
AnglerX AnglerX is resting Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: where the shad are.. Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor NEFGA Line Recycling Volunteer Posts: 3,565 Thanks: 257 Thanked 813 Times in 318 Posts	OK Willie, This is what I found. Right now there is no documentation on blue catfish predation on white perch. Primary because white perch are from the east coast and blues are not. Kansas is using blues as an additional predator because blues are actually a predator that they have seen better reproduction on compared to flatheads. They are speculating because of the results at Milford that the blues will do good at other lakes that have white perch. Kansas wants to stay on top of the white perch and keep them controlled.(Are you listening Nebraska?) The Kansas lakes that have white perch are great fisheries and they don't want to "wait and see" what happens. Right now these lakes have great predator bases and are staying on the white perch. The biologist says that they don't want white perch moved around thus the new regulation of illegal possession of live white perch PERIOD! No cast netting, If a angler catches a white perch for bait-they must kill it right there on the spot. No putting it alive in livewell,or 5 gallon bucket. __________________ Keeper of the Blue Bucket

04-13-2007, 10:51 AM	#17 (permalink)
Willie Boy Willie Boy has no status. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: West Omaha Posts: 2,534 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Bo, for the record, I want evidence when we're talking Global Warming... Thanks X...lovely response. it's nice to see perhaps one thing in which KS is progressive... Was just thinking...and the tidbit on potential zebra mussel impact?...unintended positive consequences...cool. __________________ I don't care what job I have, until I am king of the world I will be 'underemployed' :wRazzing:

04-13-2007, 01:02 PM	#19 (permalink)
Willie Boy Willie Boy has no status. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: West Omaha Posts: 2,534 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	OBG, as much as I absolutely love the great state of Kansas there are several 'severely troubling' issues...the pro-life militants in Wichita (no problems with the agenda, just the methods), the small minded literalists who can't find room for science to coexist with their religion and the dangerous dude from Topeka, Fred Phelps. Other than that, the folks and everything else are pretty good...kind of like Nebraska would be without all the Husker nonsense.. But the Blue Cat thing seems to hold some promise...which is really, really cool. __________________ I don't care what job I have, until I am king of the world I will be 'underemployed' :wRazzing:

04-13-2007, 01:10 PM	#20 (permalink)
AnglerX AnglerX is resting Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: where the shad are.. Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor NEFGA Line Recycling Volunteer Posts: 3,565 Thanks: 257 Thanked 813 Times in 318 Posts	One thing I like about Kansas Fisheries Management is they are innovative-instead of strictly going by what the text book states they need to do. __________________ Keeper of the Blue Bucket

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