Well ... I'm so glad to make a post like this ... I finally caught a flat head (not a big one mind) ... the story is here:

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/2598352

But ... I have a general catfish related question which I have never needed before. When one catches a large fish, how should one "grasp" or "handle" the fish assuming I want to catch/release? The fish I caught tonight may only have been a few pounds but it was going to need a firm/solid grasp. In the end I put my rod down and clutched it two handed around the belly. What I wondered was if I could have put my thumb in its mouth and lifted it by the jaw? Would that have damaged the fish (or worse ... damaged me)? I nearly tried that a couple of times but each time, I lost my nerve thinking the beast was going to crunch my thumb in its jaws.

Hold it on it's bottom jaw with a firm grip. They do bite but it will not hurt unless you do what most people do and attempt to jerk their hand out.

But watch this as a warning (Sorry Jack)

http://www.txcatfishguide.com/texas_catfish_guide_1_catfishvideo14.htm

www.txcatfishguide.com
www.catfishbaitsoap.com
www.whiskerkitty.com
www.lewisvillefishingguide.com

That is a great video thanks for posting that. By the way, on the page you linked above, there is an error in the link to "Eagle Mountain" ... I think there is a typo in URL target ...

Neil

Sweet flathead Neil!!!

flathead have the softest bite of all the three major catfish species but the smaller ones can cut you if you don't grasp their bottom jaw securely ... it'll be like a paper cut as they have a sharp membrane on their lower jaw and if it slides sideways it'll cut ya pretty good but it has to get ya just right so there's not much danger there. the other two species you should grab them underneath both gills and grasp the fleshy part underneath and between the gills as that's almost like a suitcase handle built into them ... don't grab them by the gill plate if you're going to release them as you can injure them and rip them a little if they're big enough ... here's a pic of how I teach my clients to hold them. I wouldn't recommend putting your hand or fingers in a bluecat's mouth because they can bite ya really hard and if they slip out of your hand while you have them lipped they'll cut your fingers up really badly too.



if they're a little bigger than these you'll want to support the fish's body weight with your other hand while holding them securely between the gill plates with one hand

Thanks again Tiny. Solid and well described information. Most appreciated.

Kolban......Congratulations on the Flathead. Sound like you are making progress.

My 2 cents is.....Get a FLOATING FISH GRIP from Team Catfish.



All of the catfish species will bite and have a membrane of teeth that slightly point backward into their mouths. The blues probably have the strongest bite followed by the channel cats then the flatheads. Usually it's not the bite that tears you up....it's the roll, jerk, or twist that do the damage. When they have your fingers in their mouths and decide to roll your going to loose some hide.

There are many strong minded catfish anglers that never use a fish handling device. Some call it wimpy. I call it smart. This is the very best way to handle a catfish from the time it gets to your boat until you put um in the livewell or toss um back.




I have lost enough skin. If I can't get my hand securely around the catfish's horns (which means they are over 4 lbs) I grab um in the lower jaw with the grip.



The grips also work well when cleaning catfish. You can hold um down and turn um over while cleaning them.

Here is the correct link:

http://www.txcatfishguide.com/eagle_mountain_lake_catfish.html

I have grippers but they never seem to be where I need them when I need them so I don't worry about it much. I find trying to grab them other ways to be too awkward.

During those tiems of the year when I am putting plenty of big fish in the boat one right after the other, I just keep a rag in my pocket and put the rag in my hand before I insert said hand into the fishes mouth.

Even the worst bite doesn't hurt that bad so don't lose any sleep over it.

www.txcatfishguide.com
www.catfishbaitsoap.com
www.whiskerkitty.com
www.lewisvillefishingguide.com

i always grab them by the gills. the only time i put my hand in a kittys mouth is if i have gloves on. if they flop sometimes they will still get ya with the gloves on but it will not rip the hide off of your hand. also the only time when i put my hand in a kittys mouth is if it is a BIG fish and cant get it in the dip net. we pulled a 58 lb yella in the boat that was on a trotline by hand. you got to be careful, and calm. when you get your hand in his mouth dont let go, if he flops and you let go you will loose the fish, glove and possibly hide off of your hand. try to get both hands in his mouth and when you do clamp down and he should clamp down on your hand. i have a dip net that will handle a 70lb + fish and also a gaf but i dont use them unless if i have to.

the bite of a bluecat can hurt ya ... one of their main food sources is mussels and they crush those rascals with their jaw muscles ... about one out of 50 might clamp down on ya so hard that it feels like someone's grabbed hold of your thumb with a pair of pliers .. it's rare that they bite that hard but once in a while you'll find a blue that'll really clamp down on ya ... that's why I tell my clients to never put their hands or fingers in a bluecat's mouth .. jeff already mentioned bout he twisting a turning and then after you've handled just one by lipping him the next morning your finger or thumb feels sore as all git-out ... sometimes don't feel those cuts until the next day but they cut pretty deep. when ya got hold of one and he flops and slips off your grip the next morning is when you really pay fer it.

I usually wrap shop rags around my hand and grab em by the the mouth. My buddy grabs em bare handed and kinda wrestles em in the boat.

I was gonna ask why nobody suggested gloves made for handling fish. It sure beats anything else. Slip a glove on one hand and get'em out he water.

i would rather use a big dip net i only grab them when i cant get them in a dip net. (you cant get the head of the fish in the net cause you need to get the head in first and the main line is in the way for that).

Even the worst bite doesn't hurt that bad so don't lose any sleep over it.



I wish I could find the picture of my hand and a jersey glove after a 40+ lb blue tried to eat my hand for lunch.

I was taking pictures of the catfish and had my thumb and index finger in the blue's mouth. It was biting so hard I couldn't even think of getting away, it had me..... I was in an odd poition...the catfish jerked and got away from me then went right to the bottom of the boat. My fingers went with it.......glove and all. When the spinning was over the blue had shredded my fingers and had torn the 2 fingers totally off the glove. The next picture that was taken of the catfish showed brown jersry glove fingers hanging out of his mouth!!!

My 2 fingers were out of commission for about a week.....

Keep you fingers out of a bluecats mouth.....

I will use the FLOATING FISH GRIPS!

I love to lip the big Yellows, But I dont find the blues a pleasure, A big blues mouth 20 to 40# hasnt got big enough mouth for me to get both hands into! And as said befour one handed grasp dosent work well if the fish isnt wore down, Them big blues will spinn on you and it isnt comfortable.