Black Bullhead (Ameiurus melas)

Body Type & Identification: Very dark — almost black on the back fading to yellow-white on the belly. Chin barbels are dark. Rounded tail with a pale bar at the base. The darkest of the bullhead catfishes. Tolerates extremely poor water quality — found in conditions that would kill other fish.

Preferred Water Temperature: 65°F–82°F. Extremely hardy — survives conditions that kill most other fish including very low oxygen, high turbidity, and temperature extremes. A nocturnal feeder most active after dark.

Habitat: Ponds, ditches, sloughs, oxbows, and slow rivers throughout the central and eastern US. The most pollution-tolerant of the catfishes — found in some of the most degraded aquatic environments. Common in agricultural drainage ditches and farm ponds of the Midwest.

Best Lures: Rarely taken on artificial lures.

Best Baits: Nightcrawlers work best. Chicken liver is very effective. Stink baits and dip baits produce well. Small pieces of cut fish work. Any strong-smelling natural bait fished on the bottom at night in slow or still water produces consistent catches.

Top 5 Destinations: Mississippi River backwaters, Illinois River IL, Farm ponds throughout the Midwest, Oklahoma reservoirs, Kansas rivers.