Catfish: Differences in Blues?

[RANGER690]

During Sundays tournament, I had a 33 pound fish in the livewell. I caught another that showed 31.5 pounds. So I wanted to double check the weights before I culled. I got the livewell fish out and re-checked it. Then laid it beside the 31.5 in the floor. What a difference. The 33 was shorter, fatter and dark, had a bigger head and a much bigger mouth like a 40 class fish. In contrast, the 31.5 was light gray, long and leaner. Smaller head and the mouth of a 15-20 class fish.

Both fish came out of the same water. What gives? Male/female?

What have you folks noticed strikingly different in blues?

I have seen over/under bite pics. What else?

Dayton

[wasabi]

I caught one with a little cowboy hat on once.

[rapprunner]

RANGER690 originally wrote:
During Sundays tournament, I had a 33 pound fish in the livewell. I caught another that showed 31.5 pounds. So I wanted to double check the weights before I culled. I got the livewell fish out and re-checked it. Then laid it beside the 31.5 in the floor. What a difference. The 33 was shorter, fatter and dark, had a bigger head and a much bigger mouth like a 40 class fish. In contrast, the 31.5 was light gray, long and leaner. Smaller head and the mouth of a 15-20 class fish.

Both fish came out of the same water. What gives? Male/female?

What have you folks noticed strikingly different in blues?

I have seen over/under bite pics. What else?

Dayton


The 33 pounder just sounds like you and me, shorter, fatter, big head and mouth.[grin][grin] Maybe he had been feeding on some of those largemouth bass----I hope he eats every last one of them![grin][grin]

[jonnycat]

We caught one above the 895 bridge last winter that was solid black,even on the stomach. Only 20lbs, but we took a picture anyway. IMHO they reflect different colors from the area they reside in. For instance, they seem to be colored lighter down river in the deeper water. Its not a perfect study, just what I've observed. Often they appear to be a true blue or very dark grey. I guess we will have to start worrying when they turn up orange or reddish as is the sky over Hopewell at certain times of the summer evenings due to all the industry located there. I'm sure there is a reflection on the fish to a certain degree with all the unknown discharge pipes that are uncharted or claimed to be uncharted. I would be willing to bet that all the pipes from Richmond downstream are blueprinted somewhere is some office. Take water samples during the run-off after these rains and I'm sure we'll be shocked if true results were revealed. Enough of my ranting and raving. Later for now---jonnycat

[RANGER690]

Wasabi, lots of people fish while wearing a cowboy hat! Was it really a small one, like a kids hat? I bet you did look funny.

Rapprunner, if I had caught two fish that looked like us, I would have won the tournament!

Jonnycat, I don't even want to know what is in that river. Life is scary enough now!

Dayton

[Gottheblues]

it can also be that some of the fish have not been eating as well lately as others. When the bite was slow during September I noticed that a majority of the fish that I caught were very skinny. Usually by September they don't look like that. I also had 2 with cowboy hats and 1 that was wearing a beanie.

[RANGER690]

Okay, who is next? Anyone caught one with a big comb-over?

Bunch of Jack-a-lopes!

Dayton

[bozwell]

I've found that blues on the PM are a bit darker than the ones on the Matt.
The ones on the Matt. look like fat rainbow trout alot of the time.
Might have something to do with the bottom.
The Matt. seems to be sandier than the PM.
Even up river way past Aylett.

Ranger690... it's about time to hit the Bay.
The dog tower is locked & loaded to say the least.