Went shore-fishing at a local lake recently, and while I was there I noticed several bullhead that were either dead or dying next to shore. They looked messed up, cuts and ripped fins, bleeding etc. Does anyone know the cause of this? I don't really care about bullhead, just wondering if this has to do with the health of the whole lake. And I know bullhead are about the hardiest fish that swims. Thanks for any help.

Could they have been caught, dragged around on a stringer, then released?

Bull heads keep the bottom clean so are bass can live.

I clean them and roll them on a wood fire heads and all with some salt there yummy.

Could they have been caught, dragged around on a stringer, then released?

Only problem is that I saw multiple ones at two different locations a good distance apart on the same lake. They were all noticeably scarred, bleeding and dying. The lake seems fine though. Caught multiple bass and saw schools of baitfish, and sunfish spawning.

Bull heads keep the bottom clean so are bass can live.

I clean them and roll them on a wood fire heads and all with some salt there yummy.

Never tried them un-fried. Do love fried catfish and bullhead though.

Flathead Catfish love love love  bullhead.

Only problem is that I saw multiple ones at two different locations a good distance apart on the same lake. They were all noticeably scarred, bleeding and dying. The lake seems fine though. Caught multiple bass and saw schools of baitfish, and sunfish spawning.

 

 

Flathead Catfish love love love  bullhead.

Is it possible that someone was fishing for flatheads the night before? After a flathead eats a bullhead that's on a hook they often end up looking like the ones you're seeing if they don't get eaten in the first place. Bass actually like them as well so it's possible a big momma bass was terrorizing some bullheads too. 

I don't think there are any flathead cats in the waters around me (northern NY). There were a total of at least 6 bullhead, in two different locations on the same lake, a couple of the dead, and all of them just scarred and bleeding. It definitely seemed like something was going on. Also these bullhead were all 12"+, so it would have taken a huge fish to attack those, and there are no Pike in this lake. I had thought turtle, but it still doesn't explain why there are so many bullheads like this.

Could they have been caught, dragged around on a stringer, then released?

 

This sounds like the most logical explanation. If the water is healthy and all the other fish are thriving, the bullheads are probably being targeted. One thing that comes to my mind is that because catfish are scavengers and will eat just about anything, maybe they have ate something contaminated. But then again, that wouldn't explain the wounds. Maybe if there is something living in the water attacking them, Jeremy Wade from "River Monsters" should be notified so that he has an episode for the next season.

Are there any pike or pickeral? It certainly doesn't take a huge fish to attack a 12" bullhead. I caught 3 this size on a 7" Slammer Friday.

sounds like someone may have been using them for bait, or another fish in the lake is keying in on them and trying to eat them. i first thought flathead bait too, but then you say no flatheads in the lake. are there musky?

Big ole snapping turtle can flat out put a hurt on catfish too...

No Pike, no Musky and no flathead cats (there might be a few small channel cats) in this particular lake. The confusing part to me is how there were about 6 of these bullheads, some at least a half a mile from the others, and 2 were across a road only connected to the main lake by a drainage pipe far down the shoreline. They couldn't swim much if at all, and more or less just floated around half-swimming occasionally. Does anyone know if it has anything to do with bullhead spawning? I know they spawn around this time but would this have anything to do with it?