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CHANNEL CATFISH Scientifi c name: Ictalurus punctatus From the Greek, ictalurus meaning "fi sh cat" and punctatus is Latin for "spotted" in reference to characteristic dark spots on the body. Average size: Size of adult fi sh is highly variable, but can approach 3 feet in length. Commonly caught at 12-20 inches. A master angler is 30 inches or 12 pounds. The Nebraska state record is 41 pounds, 8 ounces. Habitat: ● Abundant in streams, rivers, reservoirs and ponds. ● Occupies a variety of habitats, but can be located underneath structure (fallen trees, cavities in rock piles). ● Relies on taste rather than sight for feeding, so is tolerant of turbid water Diet: Diet is varied depending on what is available, includes fi sh, insects, crayfi sh, mollusks, and plants. Most food is taken from the bottom. Will feed on decomposing organic matter (dead fi sh, dead plants, etc.). Activity: Most movement and feeding occurs after sunset and before sunrise. During daylight hours, will hide in natural cavities or remain sedentary in deeper pools and will move to shallows or near cover to feed. Identifying characteristics: ● Elongate, slender bodied. ● Smooth, scaleless skin. ● Sensory barbels (whiskers) around the mouth. ● Small, fatty tissue adipose fi n near the tail, doesn't help with locomotion like other fi ns. ● Deeply forked tail fi n. ● Olive-brown to slate-blue coloration with white bellies. ● Smaller fi sh have black spots on sides; larger fi sh lack spots and are often confused with blue catfi sh. ● Spines on dorsal and pectoral fi ns are sharp and brushpiles) and vegetation or at the edge of underwater ledges and drop-offs into deeper water. ● Largemouth bass are sight feeders and are most successful at fi nding prey in clear water. ● Seldom found deeper than light penetrates. Diet: ● Primarily feeds on other fi sh (piscivorous). ● Begins to consume fi sh when only 2 inches long. ● Also feeds on crayfi sh, large insects, frogs, anything that falls in the water or swims and fi ts into its mouth. Activity: Most active at dawn and dusk; spends the day in deeper water or lurking about logs, drift piles and other cover, but moves into the shallows in morning and evening to feed. Will feed during the day in deeper water. Identifying characteristics: ● Slender bodied (body depth is three times or more the length of body), streamlined. ● Very large mouth (when closed, mouth extends well past the back of the eye). ● Dorsal fi n almost completely separated into two parts: spiny dorsal and soft dorsal (soft dorsal has only cartilaginous rays and no spines). ● Dark horizontal stripe on the mid-side of the body. ● Dorsal markings are green, lower sides and belly are white. Interesting facts: ● Top predator in Nebraska's fl ood control reservoirs and farm ponds, the primary water body types in Eastern Nebraska. ● Mature females will be larger than males. ● Can grow to 2 pounds in fi rst year with abundant food. ● Males are territorial and fi ercely guard nests. ● Fry (newly hatched fi sh) will school, and males will provide protection of schools. ● In northern states, bass will live longer but not grow as large. ● Most targeted fi sh in Nebraska. Fishing tips: Small bass can often be caught by still-fi shing with a worm under a bobber in urban water bodies. For larger bass, slow-retrieve a plastic worm or frog, minnow, plug, spinner or spoon. LARGEMOUTH BASS (continued) 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 CHAPTER 5 ● IDENTIFICATION AND LIFE HISTORY