Effective Strategies for Removing Bullhead Catfish from an Overpopulated Pond

As a fish trap manufacturer, I regularly get questions from folks who want to reduce or remove a population of bullhead catfish from their pond. If you're reading this blog, chances are you have the same problem. In this post, I will outline a comprehensive guide that will give you great ways manage and reduce bullhead catfish populations in your pond.

Understanding Bullhead Catfish

Although bullhead catfish are native in many regions, these resilient fish can quickly become a nuisance when they become overpopulated. Overpopulation can lead to a variety of issues such as poor water quality, misbalancing the pond's ecosystem, and stunting the growth of fish in the pond. Because they prefer to feed at night and will pretty much eat anything they can fit into their mouths, removing bullhead catfish can be a tough task. 

Before diving into removal strategies, it’s important to understand the characteristics and behavior of bullhead catfish:

• Species Identification: Bullhead catfish are often black, brown, or yellow, and tend to be smaller than other species of catfish. Bullhead typically grow to the 1-2 pound range, and can be distinguished from other species of catfish, such as channel-cats and blue-cats, by their squared tailfins. 

• Habitat: They thrive in murky, slow-moving waters with abundant vegetation. The average unmanaged pond is a perfect ideal condition for bullheads. 

• Diet: Opportunistic feeders, they'll eat almost anything. Crawfish, freshwater muscles, snails, insects, worms, leeches, mollusks, other small fish... you name it, it's on the bullhead's dinner menu. They'll even eat algae and plants. 
• Reproduction: Although bullhead catfish spawn once a year, they have a high reproduction rate as nests can contain up to 10,000 eggs. However, typically females lay between 300-700 eggs per spawn, and nests have 1,700 to 4,300 eggs. Eggs can take up to about 2 weeks to hatch, but generally have in around 5-7 days. 

Strategies for Removing Bullhead Catfish

Fishing Techniques

• Rod and Reel Fishing: This is kind of a no-brainer, but managing an overpopulation of bullheads can be done by rod and reel. However, it obviously requires a ton of time with a rod and reel in your hands. This method would not be the most effective as most folks don't have the time required to make a large enough dent in their bullhead population by hand fishing. However, if you do it enough and keep every bullhead you catch, then it will help lean the population down some. 

• Set Lines and Bank Poles: Place multiple baited lines around the pond, and check these lines regularly to remove captured fish. You can create mini-trotlines or use bank poles that you'd use to catch larger catfish. The trick with this method is to be sure and check these lines daily so that you can remove the caught fish, rebait the lines, and keep putting a dent in the population. This method is also labor and time intensive, but it will work. 
• Fishing Nets: Employ seine nets, use cast nets, or gill nets to catch larger numbers of bullhead catfish. You can even bait smaller hoop nets (like the one pictured below) and toss them into your pond. This method is also pretty labor-intensive but effective for significant population reduction.

 

Bullhead Traps

• Metal Box Traps: I know that I am biased on this one, but trapping bullhead catfish is my personal favorite method for removing larger quantities of unwanted fish from a pond quickly. Land owners can easily bait multiple traps around their pond and thin out the bullhead relatively easily, and without much time or labor involved. Simply bait the trap, throw it in the pond, and check it. If you can check them daily, great! If not, the fish will still be in the trap when you get back to it.
• Bullhead Trap Bait: This can include pretty much anything you can catch catfish on, but one of my personal favorites is to make a "tube" out of catfish paste bait (ex - Catfish Charlie) and toss it inside the bullhead trap. You can make the tube out of an old sock, or some pantyhose from a Dollar Store if you're brave enough to buy it. Also, believe it not, "Paste Bait Sandwiches" (you read that correctly) work very well as bullhead bait as well. Just spread the paste bait between two slices of bread and throw it in your trap. Easy as pie! 
• Benefits of Trapping Bullhead: The main reason that this is my preferred method of bullhead catfish removal is because it doesn't take much time and pond owners can catch the fish very quickly without much effort. Check out the feedback below from a recent customer who purchased a trap specifically for bullhead removal from us. 

 

Professional Electrofishing

• Description: Electrofishing is a method of "fishing" that involves using electrical currents to temporarily stun the fish, making them float to the surface. This allows for very easy collection with nets, etc. Electrofishing can be an extremely effective method of removing an unwanted species (bullhead) from a pond, however, the downside is that this is the most expensive method on the list as it requires professional assistance specialized equipment. You can expect charges of $600+, plus mileage and additional service fees, for this type of service. 

Habitat Modification

• Reduce Vegetation: Bullhead catfish thrive in areas with dense aquatic plants. Reducing vegetation can make the environment less favorable for them. There are lots of ways to do this, from tractor rakes, utilizing pond management services, or manually pulling vegetation yourself. 
• Increase Water Clarity: Clearer water conditions can make it easier to spot and remove catfish using some of the other methods mentioned in this post. 

Biological Control

• Introduce Predators: Stocking the pond with predatory fish, such as largemouth bass and flathead catfish, can help control bullhead catfish populations. Ensure that the introduction of new species does not disrupt the existing ecosystem balance.
• Other Predators: Here is a fairly comprehensive list of bullhead catfish predators to look for. Land owners can likely stock bass, channel catfish, and flatheads in the pond, but the other predators most likely will need arrive at the pond naturally. However, if you see these species around the pond, let them alone if you have a bullhead overpopulation problem. 

• Large game fish: Bass, pike, pickerel, and perch
• Channel catfish: Channel catfish are opportunistic eaters and have been observed preying on bullheads
• Flathead catfish
• Snapping turtles
• Water snakes
• Wading birds
• Great blue herons
• Otters: Otters will eat pretty much anything in your pond, including bass, crappie, etc. Beware of this predator.