Catfish Fishing

• Walter Seletnik, former harbor master in Norwich, recently e-mailed a request for information on where to fish for bullheads in this area. Being from Massachusetts, he referred to them as horned pout or "white bellied bullheads."
• The white-bellied part is descriptive on his part. There are three species of bullheads in Connecticut: brown, the most common; black; and, in some parts of the state, yellow bullheads. I've never seen or caught one of the yellow-flavored ones.
• Brown bullheads are most common and generally grow the largest, topping off at 17 inches and nearly two pounds, where black bullheads seldom get to be more than 11¼4 pounds. As their name implies, they are more of a brownish or gold tone, have squared-off tails (as opposed to forked tails of catfish), dark chin barbells, 18 to 24 anal ray count and a serrated rear edge to their pectoral spikes that are sharp like the edge of a saw. Try to slide a thumbnail down the edge of their spike and it will catch.
• Black bullheads are more rare statewide, but are found in a few ponds in this area. They also have dark barbells, tend to be more lean and black in coloration with a squared-off tail, 17 to 22 anal fin rays and a dull edge to the back of their pectoral spike that a thumbnail can more easily slide along.
• I've caught bullhead frequently from both Gardner Lake and Bog Meadows. Right off the dam is as good a spot as any to catch a bullhead at the bog. Gardner Lake has produced brown bullheads on the worms that have been intended for its walleye. Try fishing off the dam and spill way at the north end of Gardner Lake, where the road crosses its outflow stream.
• All the lakes in the chain of impoundments from Glasgo Pond to Ashland Lake, including Pachaug and Hopeville Ponds as well as Aspinook Pond on the Quinebaug River, also have populations of bullheads to catch. Try fishing from the launch area along the eastern end of the pond or Johnson's Cove from a boat.
• The Thames also has some bullheads, though anglers are more likely to land much larger ones below Greenville Dam to the harbor. White cats have deeply forked tails and white-chin whiskers as opposed to dark ones on bullheads. (by Bob Sampson Jr. on norwichbulletin.com)