The Brown Bullhead is a catfish that is found in murky streams, rivers, ponds, lakes and marshes. The best method for catching Brown Bullhead is bait casting and still fishing with a hook and worm. The best bait for a catching Brown Bullhead include worms, chicken liver, insects and dough balls.
Habitat: Lake, Pond, River
How to identify a Brown Bullhead
The coloring on the brown bullhead can be yellow-brown or chocolate brown to olive, gray, or bluish-black. Its sides are often lighter and may be speckled with brown spots. Their bellies are yellow or white. Very round brown bullheads that have jet black coloring are often mistaken for black bullheads, so coloring alone is not a good way to identify them. It’s important to look at other physical details. Both the brown bullhead and yellow bullhead have sharp, tooth-like edging at the top of the pectoral fin along the rear of the pectoral spine. The black bullhead doesn’t have this sharp edging, or it is very small in comparison. In the brown and black bullheads, the tail is squarish, while in the yellow bullhead the tail is slightly rounded. The brown bullhead is usually freckled and its barbels are dark brown to nearly black but can be pale yellow or white at the base of the chin. The yellow bullhead is never freckled and its chin barbels are yellow, buff, or pale pink, with the upper barbels light to dark brown.
Where to catch Brown Bullhead
The brown bullhead can be found in the Eastern United States on both sides of the Appalachians and Southern Canada. It is also found in many other places worldwide. The brown bullhead can be found in larger bodies of water and at deeper depth that other bullhead species.
The following are habitats where you can catch Brown Bullhead:
- Cliffs and Steep Shore Banks
- Current Edges
- Dams and Falls
- Drop-offs
- Freshwater Lakes and Ponds
- Gradual Shores
- Lake and Pond Fishing Holes
- Inlets and Outlets
- Inside Turns and Coves
- Open Water
- Overhanging Trees and Bushes
- Piers, Docks and Pilings
- Points and Break Lines
- Rock and Boulder Pockets
- Rocks
- Shoreline Shallows
- Springs Holes
- Sunken Objects
- Undercut Banks
- Walkways and Bridges
How to catch Brown Bullhead
Although the brown bullhead can be caught any time of the year, the best time to fish for them is at night when the weather is warm. For the best chances of success, look for a water hole with a muddy bottom. Swamps are generally a good choice. The best method for catching the brown bullhead is the standard hook and worm. Because these fish stick near the bottom, it is advisable to use a slip-sinker. Choose a smaller hook so that it is easier to remove.
The following are effective fishing methods and techniques for catching Brown Bullhead:
Best Lures, Bait & Tackle to catch Brown Bullhead
Earthworms make good bait for catching brown bullheads, although they’ll eat just about anything. Chicken livers have also been known to work well, as do small fish and bread.
The following are fishing lures, bait and tackle that can be used to catch Brown Bullhead:
