Anglers consider yellow bullhead to be a good game fish for beginners to target because they aren’t very difficult to catch. These fish are found in waters near the Appalachians. They can be caught by fly fishing, bait casting, drift fishing, spin casting, and still fishing.
Habitat: Lake, Pond, River
How to identify Yellow Bullhead
When compared to other bullheads, the yellow bullhead is smaller, yet they are still feisty fighters. Their coloring can vary from dark green, to brown or black. These colors start out dark on their backs, then graduate into yellows and browns on their sides. Their abdomens are white. Yellow bullheads are the only bullhead species with yellowish barbels on their chin and brown ones on their upper jaws. Their round tails set them apart from brown and black bullheads, which have cropped tails. The pectoral fin spine of the yellow bullhead is sharp and serrated, whereas on black bullheads, it lacks this prominent serration.
Where to catch Yellow Bullhead
Yellow bullheads are found in shallow, weedy waters along each side of the Appalachians and the south as far west Texas. Brown bullheads have also been introduced in non-native regions.
The following are habitats where you can catch Yellow Bullhead:
- Current Edges
- Drop-offs
- Freshwater Lakes and Ponds
- Freshwater Weed Beds
- Gradual Shores
- Lake and Pond Fishing Holes
- Inside Turns and Coves
- Islands or Sand Bars
- Lily Pads
- Piers, Docks and Pilings
- Points and Break Lines
- Rock and Boulder Pockets
- Rocks
- Shoreline Shallows
- Sunken Objects
- Walkways and Bridges
How to catch Yellow Bullhead
Because it can be feisty when hooked, the yellow bullhead is considered a decent game fish. However, these fish are not too difficult to catch and are considered a good beginner game fish. One method to try with these fish is fly fishing. They are bottom feeders, so weights are needed to get the fly to the proper depth. Look for them at night in areas with thick vegetation. Other good methods to try include bait casting, drift fishing, spin casting, and still fishing.
The following are effective fishing methods and techniques for catching Yellow Bullhead:
Best Lures, Bait & Tackle to catch Yellow Bullhead
Yellow bullheads aren’t known to be picky eaters. Both baits and lures will work for these fish. Try shrimps or worms for bait, or flies for lures.
The following are fishing lures, bait and tackle that can be used to catch Yellow Bullhead:
