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Who does not love to catch fish? It is a fun activity if you know all the details about fishing.
On the other hand, as a professional, you may know that handling a catfish can be challenging without knowing the proper technique.
For any beginner, as fun as a catfish is to catch, same also if you do not give full attention, it will not sting but can hurt you causes some pain and swelling.
Many people want to know the secret of how to hold a catfish without getting stung. Before hold a catfish, you need to know that their dorsal and pectoral fins each contain a sharp spine, and everything depends on it.
This spine makes them hard to hold and unhook if you catch it without proper preparation.
Thus, in this article, I will try to give all informative information about how you can hold this catfish properly without getting yourself hurt.
The techniques that can make your work easy if you are a newbie in this field.
Things Need to Know Before Holding a Catfish
There are several techniques you need to know before catching catfishes. It will be easier for you to handle them properly without having any trouble.
Below, I am mentioning the methods.
Fishing Method
Not only catfish, but you also cannot catch any fish if you do not know the accurate methods. All professionals give this thing priority first, then other techniques. If you are determined to catch a catfish, then you need to follow the proper steps.
The line and how to unhook their catch method are essential. On the other hand, if you want to kill it, do not remove the hook until the fish is out of breath.
Watch the Fins
Catfish is slippery fish, and that is the reason it is hard to hold. There are basically three fins. Two fins are mainly on the sides and another one on top of the fish. The fins of the catfish are very sharp spikes. You cannot hold them directly, and their poses are prickly dangerous. For that reason, experts also advise handling the fish with a lot of care.
Above everything, the spikes of the catfish are very toxic, and its single jab will be painful and reason to swelling to the hand.
- Size: To catch a catfish, always remember the size of the fish matter a lot. You cannot use the same technique for all sizes of fish. You can easily hold smaller catfish with a single hand. On the other hand, for the medium and large sizes fish, you need to apply different methods. Otherwise, it will be tricky to hold a catfish, or it can hurt you. Large catfish are rare to find, and you can get small catfish in deep holes in ponds or rivers and outside edges of river curves.
- The Catfish Teeth: Finally, never forget to check the teeth of it. Catfish have very tiny and sharp saw-type teeth. Catfish rarely bite, but still, you should need to be careful because if it bites accidentally, it could easily break a bone.
How to Hold a Catfish Properly
If you apply these below methods as a beginner, you can learn to hold a catfish without being an expert. All these methods are basic but tricky, so you have to be serious while doing it.
Holding on Flat Surface
Holding on a flat surface for catfish is the most common method you will find in fishing techniques. However, it needs so much accuracy, and you need to be careful.
The first thing you should worry about before catching this fish is the dorsal spikes and the side fins. A catfish can spike your hands if you do not hold them properly.
Like others, you do not need to be afraid of the whiskers because catfish used them for the smell. You may feel relief to know that they do not bite and spike randomly.
In this method, you need to be sure you flip the catfish over and use your hand to wrap it. Keep your all fingers on each side of the side fin of the fish. After, use your thumb under the remaining fin.
Hold from the Mouth
The second method you can apply while removing the catfish from the hook.
To apply this method, first, you need to hold it sturdy but using the fishing string, and then at the same time grab the tail of the fish.
Remember, before doing it, keep the fish at a safe distance. The fins of the fish do not prick your body or the skin if you do it.
Before grabbing the tail, make your hold stable. Otherwise, it will squirm around.
Lastly, find its pectoral fin to unhook the fish.
Holding with Covered Hands
If you still feel that your confidence levels are low, you can hold the fish with your hand covered. For people who are still confused, it can be the best way to grab this fish.
You can wear hand gloves or a thick towel to wrap your hands properly, then hold them with a firm grip to unhook them.
Conclusion
Many people think that catfish can strike them, and that is why they avoid catching it.
After you finish reading this article, you get to understand that how to deal with a catfish. You can use any one method I mentioned above to catch the catfish. All techniques are easy but very helpful.
As I said above, a catfish is very slippery, and its fins are sharp. You have to be very careful and need to learn all the techniques.
The first advantage is you do not need to be an expert fisherman. If you follow all methods step by step, you can enjoy the whole processing of fishing.
I hope that you find our article helpful. So keep your stress on one side, enjoy your fishing activity and learn new things to become a professional.
If you find our article beneficial, feel free to share it with your friends and family.
Read more: Can You Eat Muskie?
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