Channel Cats of the Delaware

As the waters of the northeast region warm in the May sunshine, a fish that deserves more respect than it gets really begins to turn on.

Catfish or bullheads are all the same right? Well, not exactly. The channel catfish, Latin name Ictalaurus punctatus, is bigger than your average bullhead, and smaller than a blue or flathead, most of the time.

Ictalaurus is Greek and punctatus is Latin, meaning “fish cat” and “spotted,” respectively. Channel catfish are easily distinguished from all others, except blue catfish, by their deeply forked tail fin. Unlike flathead catfish, the upper jaw projects beyond the lower jaw. The channel cat’s coloration is olive-brown to slate blue on the back and sides, shading to silvery-white on the belly. Typically, numerous small, black spots are present, but may be obscured in large adults. The anal fin has 24-29 soft rays, in contrast to the blue catfish, which always has 30 or more rays in the anal fin.

In the northeast corner of Pennsylvania, the Delaware River provides some awesome opportunity to catch good numbers of channel cats, and some that are fair-sized and excellent eating.

Along its miles of winding water, the Delaware River contains lots of places where you can hunt for channel cats. With a map of the river in hand, look for holes and changes in the bottom depth where swift water stops or starts and forms pools. Channel cats will hang out in these pools, and prefer the deepest depths. Rocks, trees, rip rap, brush piles and other structure around these holes often hold catfish. Channel cats love to eat their prey live, and don’t mind chasing it down. Look for them near breaks in currents where baitfish hold up and pass by. Catfish lurk in these areas and wait for the chance to ambush prey. Undercuts in banks where creeks and rivers turn and bend are also common catfish hideouts. Anyplace that you can spot a break in the current, especially one caused by some sort of structure will be a good place to hunt for cats.

Good fishing for cats on the Delaware begins generally in May. As the waters warm, the cats move to the shallow water where activity is picking up among the smaller members of the benthic community. Later in the season, when temperatures rise, the cats will spend most of their time in deeper water during the day, where temperatures are cooler. At night they will cruise the shallows to hunt. They typically will still hold to structure and changes in bottom depth.

The nice thing about fishing for channel cats on the Delaware River is that you can catch just as many from the bank as you can from a boat. From the bank, position yourself where you can be on a point or rock that will let you get your bait into a hole. If you head out in a boat, anchor upstream at the head of the hole and drift your line back into it.

The most active feeding times and subsequent catching times, are early and late in the day, during periods of low light and at night. My best success has been right at dusk and into the dark. Catching channel cats is not all that difficult.

For gear selection, you can go light to medium action in five and a half to six foot rod length. Channel cats average a couple of pounds on the Delaware, but they can put up a sporting fight. Spool your reel with 6- to 8-pound-test line for best results and the occasional “rock” fish. For terminal gear, rig with #1 to #4 bait-holder style hooks. You will generally need at least a few split shot or slip sinkers to get the bait down. Slip your line through the hole in the slip sinker, and stop it on the line about eighteen inches from the end via a smaller split shot. Attach your bait-keeper hook.

Catfish will respond to a wide variety of baits, and you can buy yours or make your own, or use live bait such as minnows or night crawlers. Stink-baits are common for cats, and if you can handle using them, they will work. A pair of rubber gloves will make the task easier. My preference is to just use live minnows, a s they are neat to handle and cats love them.

Cast your rig upstream, quartering across, and allow the bait to roll down on or near the bottom till it catches. The best results with channel cats can be had if your bait is held on or just above the bottom. In swift waters a few extra sinkers might be required to keep your offering in the zone where you need to be. At night it can be tough to see the line to know when you have a hit, so a tiny bell can be attached to the rod tip to alert you when a cat grabs the bait. A small piece of bank grass split and hung on the bow in you line will make it easier to see when a fish picks up the bait as well. A fluorescent lantern, black light and headlamp will all make your night fishing adventure more fun. The black light will cause fluorescent monofilament to glow and look like a clothesline, making re-tying hooks much easier.

A few places on the Delaware worth noting for channel cat opportunity would be the Milford Beach area, Smithfield Beach, Zane Grey pool, and Narrowsburg pool. At the Zane Grey pool, one can access the deepest portion of this stretch, and the area of most current, by fishing from the New York side of the bank. If you have a boat, even a rowboat, you can get upstream of the confluence of the Lackawaxen and Delaware Rivers, and drop your line right into the place where the two currents meet. This is a great place for channel cats to sit in waiting for prey to pass.
The Narrowsburg pool can be accessed from a launch on either side of the river. This hole is very deep, and holds a lot of cats, and other big fish. Almost every pocket and hole along the Delaware River can hold some channel cats. They provide some excellent angling opportunity and are perfect for a summer fish fry.

The fillets of the channel cat are delicious and almost sweet to the taste. A Kevlar glove and sharp knife can make quick work of the cats, and the fillets can be halved for frying. Rolled in cornmeal, the meat can be deep fried in hot oil. If you are watching your diet, simply arrange fillets in a glass baking dish, season with Old Bay, salt and pepper, and smother with cheddar cheese and sliced green scallions. Bake about a half hour in a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees for the ultimate in cheesy-baked catfish! They may not be pretty to look at, but to some, they are the perfect game. •