Never net your catfish.

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knifegill

Peacock Bass
MFK Member
Sep 19, 2005
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Oscar Tummy
Just a heads up for anyone planning to move their catfish. Try anything that the can't get their pokey selves caught in. Buckets/pitchers are good, after a vinegar soak to kill soap residue. Pillowcases are good too, as long as they've never been washed in detergent. I've always caught my catfish by hand. They don't flee as chaotically and seem to be calm during transit. Nets are breezy and cold, so I actually catch as many fish by hand as I can, though nets are usually involved in the capture. Hoping to prevent a prickly situation for somebody who might not realize it's coming.
 
Everyone in this forum knows better. This post was intended for the general forum, for those who might not know. Please put it back. Or I'll just wait five minutes and put it there again with a different word for 'catfish'. Siluridae or something.
 
Coax him to you with some food and get your hands under him. Get your fingers and thumb right behind his pectoral fins so he can't stab you. Once he calms down, slowly lift him. If he wiggles, just stop and let him calm down again. By now he shouldn't mind your hands and you will be able to move him. Move quickly but smoothly and add some melafix in case of slime damage. If he's small enough, us a 5 gal bucket instead.
 
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