Hey all, the picture shown is me holding a big cat my father caught tonight in a canal. My first thought was blue cat due to the size, but I'm not sure if this water even HAS blue cats. It is known, however, to hold nice channel cats, though none of us (carpers) have ever caught one bigger than 12 there. This one weighed in at 16.25lbs. and was caught on a bread ball.

The more I look at it, I think it's a channel. I've never caught a blue before, but I have seen them caught, and this one looks more channel to me.

That's a blue cat.

Blue... nice one too!

if you look close it has spots isnt that the mark of a channel cat

The only real way to tell is to count the anal fins. It's got a couple of spots to look like a channel but what's sticking out to me is that it's got a little hump right before the dorsal fin. That tells me by the limited amount of knowledge that I have that it would be a Blue Cat. Either or it's a nice fish.

What is a breadball?
Is it as simple as it sounds?

Looks like a blue to me.

Nice blue cat.

Yep yep, it's a "carp" bait that catches at least as many channels (plus the dreaded bullhead...and the even more dreaded turtle). Just tear the crust off a piece of bread (any kind will do, white, wheat, potato, whatever), and use half of what's left to make a "dough" ball around the hook. It's best to try to leave the hook point exposed but not necessary. I like to "freeline", or use no weight other than the bait and hook itself. Can't cast it very far, so it works best in ponds, canals, etc. Channel cats tend to swallow it very quickly, so set the hook quickly if you want to save your tackle.

Thanks for all the input guys, I appreciate it!

That is a definitely a blue cat, nice catch

Many $$$$'s and a whole boatload of different stank baits,cast nets perch traps and assorted others. All I needed was a BREAD BALL? Shucks Bread ball or Hand granade thats a nice fish. OH Blue Cat.

OMG--Thats exactly what I was thinking!
Plain bread!

I missed this secret somewhere---

I LOVE this site!
I'm fishing the brazos below PK this weekend, I'll give this a try.
(Breadball???)

Their eyes are a bit different as well.

Nice Blue!

The dots/spots were making me think it was a channel