Ok so i am planning on catching some freshwater catfish soon for the first time. I know the barbels are harmless but i do know they have sharp spines on their dorsal and pectroal fins. I know for a fact the saltwater catfish here sting with those spines but i dont know about freshwater catfish. So my question is what species of freshwater cats sting and how can i handle them without getting stung?

Yea they can. The barbs on the pectoral fins are coated with a slimy toxin. Sometimes people get headaches and sometimes people get nausea and vomiting. Best to hold them like you would in the fashion of picking up a sandwich with two hands. Make sure the web of your hands are well behind the barbs.

Those spines are also serrated like a steak knife. So not only will they cut you bad, but the barbs make it very difficult (and painful) to have to pull one back out, ask me how I know 

Yeah , they can get you good. I think little ones are the worse because they flop around so much. Iv'e had to laydown  in the boat before because a catfish sting made me all clammy and sweaty . 

If poked, rub the slime off the fish on to the wound...it will help take stinging sensation away.  An old timer told me this once, I thought he was pulling my leg and I am thankful I remembered what he said years down the road!...It works with channel cats anyway, can't speak for any others

If poked, rub the slime off the fish on to the wound...it will help take stinging sensation away.  An old timer told me this once, I thought he was pulling my leg and I am thankful I remembered what he said years down the road!...It works with channel cats anyway, can't speak for any others

 

Exactly. If you get stuck, rub the wound on the belly of the catfish. Instant relief! Those old timers are smart! I still remember burning my hand roasting hot dogs when I was 8. Grandpa told me to pee on it. Thought he was nuts, but again, instant relief. 

Exactly. If you get stuck, rub the wound on the belly of the catfish. Instant relief! Those old timers are smart! I still remember burning my hand roasting hot dogs when I was 8. Grandpa told me to pee on it. Thought he was nuts, but again, instant relief. 

   

 

     Ive never heard of such a thing, will be trying next time for sure. I may be mistaken, guys but isnt it more of a stab than a sting...just wondering.

Ive never heard of such a thing, will be trying next time for sure. I may be mistaken, guys but isnt it more of a stab than a sting...just wondering.

Both. Sting is from the toxin.

In addition to what others have said there are two major concerns, the first is venom, which in catfish is made up of a few amino acids and can kill tissue, blood cells, cause swelling and lead to nausea/sickness. For most freshwater catfish in North America it is pretty mild. Some catfish can kill you.

 

The other issue is secondary bacterial infection. Catfish and the water they come from is often full of microbes and the punctures are often nut clean cuts. Make sure you disinfect the wound thoroughly once you get home, no matter what you do to treat in the meantime. I have seen some hands blown up like balloons. 

I had a channel cat get me. I was using needle nose pliers to remove my hook and that sucker flipped/flopped and got my middle finger of the hand that was holding the pliers. Instant pain, bad pain, and bleeding like a stuck pig. The pain went on for 20 minutes and I had to wrap a towel around my finger to stop the bleeding. The next day I read on the net that a catfish fin will cause pain and induce bleeding. Later telling an old timer about it he told me next time to rub the belly of the cat on the wound. He said it once worked for him. About a month later I caught another cat and I cut the line. My mama didn't raise a fool 

The slime is good for the poke from a catfish i read somewhere its antibacterial

If poked, rub the slime off the fish on to the wound...it will help take stinging sensation away.  An old timer told me this once, I thought he was pulling my leg and I am thankful I remembered what he said years down the road!...It works with channel cats anyway, can't speak for any others

Works with bullheads too.

Works with bullheads too.

m

Followed by tossing them on the bank? Talk about a fish that can overtake a pond!

m

Followed by tossing them on the bank? Talk about a fish that can overtake a pond!

No that's bait if you can get them. No better flathead bait out there. I wish I knew of a pond with bullheads in it around here!

I think the term for bait sized catties of about 3" to 4  is "stone rollers". The locals catch some big smallies with them in the Susquehanna River.

 I was cut by one of the little buggers  and as mentioned ,it really hurt.Thanks  for the remedy.

C22

Got poked in the palm by a catfish several years ago.  It was a mild cut and I didnt think much of it but my hand had a sore feeling for the rest of the day.  I cleaned the wound but woke the next morning to see my hand very swollen.  I went to the ER and spent 3 days in the hospital.  The DR said had I not came to the hospital when I did, I could have lost all function in my hand due to damage to tendons the toxins were creating..

Got poked in the palm by a catfish several years ago.  It was a mild cut and I didnt think much of it but my hand had a sore feeling for the rest of the day.  I cleaned the wound but woke the next morning to see my hand very swollen.  I went to the ER and spent 3 days in the hospital.  The DR said had I not came to the hospital when I did, I could have lost all function in my hand due to damage to tendons the toxins were creating..

Ok I'll just not touch it at all costs.

Suppose a cat gets you on the hand in a surface vein? The toxins would be in your blood and go directly to your heart. Cut the line.

Ok so i am planning on catching some freshwater catfish soon for the first time. I know the barbels are harmless but i do know they have sharp spines on their dorsal and pectroal fins. I know for a fact the saltwater catfish here sting with those spines but i dont know about freshwater catfish. So my question is what species of freshwater cats sting and how can i handle them without getting stung?

Boca Grips and if you get stuck rubbing alcohol wipes to kill the slime ASAP! 

  All these stories about getting poked keeps me from targeting cat fish.  lol.  Know way do I want to mess with a cat fish.  If I ever catch one on accident I'm not going to baby it, that's for sure.  

Either use Boca Grips, Channel locks or use gloves or lip it !!! don't be scared All fish will fin you if you grab them wrong. Get sum !!!!!!!!!.

I've been stuck and cut plenty of times and haven't died yet. Just get a firm grip on them and learn how to hold them right and you'll be fine. Fish grippers are a great investment too. 

I think the term for bait sized catties of about 3" to 4  is "stone rollers". The locals catch some big smallies with them in the Susquehanna River.

 I was cut by one of the little buggers  and as mentioned ,it really hurt.Thanks  for the remedy.

C22

I grew up on e Susquehanna and stone cats are amazing bait! And their sting is terrible! Funny story involving a high school friend of mine, stone cats in a plastic bag held in the waistband of a pair of mesh shorts, and one of the most horrific screams I've ever heard. We were picking bait and sure enough, the bag came loose when he fell to the ground with one of the pectoral fins sticking out... covered in blood.

Yes. It's exactly what you're thinking, exactly where you're thinking. So, don't do what John did.

It's interesting that just about every article in magazines and websites devoted to catfishing never mentions the poison barbs on catfish.

Seems like the first article on catching cats should mention how to land them without getting stung...

 

I used to catch small channel cats and bullheads not knowing exactly how to land them  haha.  I usually just brought them in close and used long forceps to unhook the fish without touching them.   The very first one I caught I tried to lip land, like a bass, and it clamped down hard on my thumb

Luckily they don't have much in terms of teeth, so you can lip them. In reality, they aren't that dangerous so long as you just stay aware of the fins.