Identification.
Catfish - long, slender bodied fish with a very broad head and narrow tapering tail. Head moderately large with three pairs of barbels, 2 on the lower side of the head and the third rising from the upper lip, this pair being very long. Catfish have tiny dorsal fin, no adipose fin on the back, anal fin very long based and low. Body scaleless.
Catfish coloration, dull brown or green on the back mottled with cream and yellow ventrally.
Habitat.
Catfish live in slow flowing lowland rivers and still waters such as lagoons, oxbow lakes and marshes in flood plains. Largely nocturnal in activity, it usually spends daylight hours hidden amongst tree roots, weed beds etc.
Food.
Catfish will eat bottom living fish, and also ducklings, water voles and amphibians, young fish eat insect larvae.
Breeding.
Catfish spawn mid May to mid July, eggs laid in a shallow depression made by the male. Male guards the pile of eggs until they hatch.
Statistics.
Catfish can be found in selected still waters throughout the UK. The current UK record is 62lb.
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