Where & How to Catch Bullhead

Bullhead are plentiful in many of our U.P. inland lakes and fishing for them can be loads of fun and oftentimes can produce some unsuspecting surprises. They are excellent table fare and can provide a fishing experience when all else seems to fail. 

Where to fish for bullheads

One of my most favorite inland lakes that I enjoy to catch bullhead is AuTrain Lake in Alger County. If the bluegill or yellow perch just don't seem to want to bite, (especially in early Spring) bullhead scavenging for food in the shallows usually will. You don't need a boat to catch bullheads. You can easily catch them from shore. In fact, you can catch them right off the boat launch doc on AuTrain Lake- that is, whenever the boat launch site isn't too busy.

The closer you can get to deep water from shore, the better. Bullhead fish are scavengers, bottom feeders always in search of an easy meal. They'll eat just about anything, from earthworms to home made dough balls. I once used pieces of a ham sandwich that sat on the back seat for most of the day. It saved me from having to take the time to go and buy more worms and kept my Grandson busy and happy enough, not to have to leave. Dead bait such as lifeless minnows will even work. Some say the more stinky the better. That may be.

In early spring bullhead head to warming water from inlets, streams and rivers to spawn. After their spawning ritual they move into high gear to feed on the runoff, so the shallows are a good spot to fish for them. You can fish them with a cane pole or spinning rod. You can use a small bobber or fish straight line, small slip sinker and a hook off the bottom. Every once and a while give your presentation a little lift off the bottom by raising your rod tip straight up. Keep your line free of slack and your rod tip the level of your torso. When a bullhead takes your bait, its light resistance and slow- simply raise your rod tip above your head with a slight "stab" to set the hook. The rest is in cleaning your bullhead for the frying pan.

Catfish & Bullhead Information

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Information about Catfish & Bullhead

Additional Fishing Cleaning Information & Resources

How To Clean Fish *
You have just landed the biggest fish of all. How do you clean it? You certainly don't want those ugly fish scales all over your wife's clean kitchen. Now what to do?

How To Fillet Fish *
Do you know how to fillet your fish? Once you become an expert at fish filleting, you probably will be asked to fillet everyone else's catch.

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Document updated
Sunday, 06-Apr-2008 12:21:10 CDT