Menu
Menu
Lake Arthur, Pennsylvania is the best location where Anglers can catch remarkably huge catfishes. It is located at the Moraine state park and is a warm water fishery. Ice fishing is also allowed here during winter. The lake is covered by the Appalachian forest ecoregion and amidst the pleasant scenic valley.
Types of fish that can be found
Anglers can find largemouth Bass, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, hybrid striped bass, yellow perch, and northern pike.
Type of fishing that can be done at the location
Besides winter fishing, shore fishing and boat fishing is allowed all over the year. Apart from Lake Arthur, one can see catfishes in Lake Conway, Arkansas, Pomona Lake, Kansas and all along Mississippi river from Illinois to Lousiana.
On average, their size varies from 1.2 to 1.6 m weighing around 80Kgs. The European catfishes grow up to 2.5 meters and weigh 100kgs and record catch reported is for 293Kgs. These are active during the day and stay inactive at nights and do not have scales over their body. The head is the most significant part in a juvenile fish, and they are said to produce different types of sounds too. When they grow as adults, they are so vast and considered even as invasive species in few parts of the world. There are also reports of incidents where the fish has attached humans and animals like buffaloes which cross the water bodies.
These are found along tropical South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Their range in the US is confined to lower Canada, Northern and Eastern United States as well as few parts of Mexico. These fishes are said to recognize sound types, and in few parts of the world, drumming sound is produced to create distress in them during the catch.
These are freshwater fishes and thrive well in shallow running waters and also live in coastal waters in few places. They settle in underwater spaces like deep scour holes and cavities. Submerged hollow wood logs and riparian zones provide the best spawning habitat for these. The younger ones are brought up in areas like sandbars over large sand shelves. They grow well in reservoirs, ponds, lakes and large rivers carrying more debris. Farming catfish is very easy in countries with a warm climate.
These eat other types of smaller fishes, invertebrates, aquatic plants, and eggs of other fishes. Some even feed on wood, algae, and blood of other fishes and huge catfishes can also consume aquatic birds and rodents that fall into the water. Anglers use lures such as dragonfly larva, water beetles, and common fly. Once the fish crosses the size limit of 18 inches, other fish types become their primary diet. Live baits like minnows, worms, tadpole/frogs, and grasshoppers work very well for catching these. The catfish identifies its preys based on the smelling system rather than the visual aid.