Brown Bullhead fishing
Ameiurus nebulosus. Chin barbels are dusky to blackish on a yellow-brown base, not solid black (black bullhead) or pale white (yellow bullhead).
Brown Bullhead fishing uses a bottom slip-sinker rig or nightcrawlers or angleworms on 4 to 8 lb line, at dusk and at night. Brown bullhead is a wild, self-sustaining species everywhere it occurs among the states this site tracks.
Published by Fishypedia · Sources last checked September 23, 2026
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
- Active times
- Dusk and Night
- Line
- 4–8 lb
- Hook sizes
- Size 2 to 1/0, long-shanked; bullhead swallow bait deep, and a long shank makes hook removal easier.
- Stocked in
- 1 state
Identification
- Chin barbels are dusky to blackish on a yellow-brown base, not solid black (black bullhead) or pale white (yellow bullhead).
- Strong saw-like teeth line the rear edge of the pectoral spine, a feature black bullhead lacks.
- Tail fin is square to slightly notched, not deeply forked like channel or blue catfish.
- 21 to 24 rays in the anal fin.
- Olive-brown to dark brown back and mottled sides fading to a cream-white belly; no scales.
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , michigan.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 23, 2026 , maine.gov, accessed September 23, 2026
Top lures
Small hook and slip sinker fished still on bottom.
Used in place of a bottom rig in shallow water.
Sources: dnr.state.mn.us, accessed September 23, 2026 , in-fisherman.com, accessed September 23, 2026
Top baits
The most reliable bullhead bait.
Sources: michigan.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , myodfw.com, accessed September 23, 2026
Line & tackle
- Line
- 4–8 lb
- Rod power
- Hook sizes
- Size 2 to 1/0, long-shanked; bullhead swallow bait deep, and a long shank makes hook removal easier.
Sources: gameandfishmag.com, accessed September 23, 2026 , dnr.state.mn.us, accessed September 23, 2026 , wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 23, 2026
Depth by season
Spring
Moves into shallow bays, river mouths, and warming shallows to spawn in late spring or early summer, among the first areas to warm each year.
Summer
Typically holds in under 15 feet of water on soft, vegetated bottom, though Michigan's state agency has documented it as deep as 40 feet.
Fall
Remains shallow and keeps feeding.
Sources: in-fisherman.com, accessed September 23, 2026 , michigan.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 23, 2026
Stocked behavior
Brown bullhead is a wild, self-sustaining species everywhere it occurs among the states this site tracks. It does not appear in Washington's, Utah's, Michigan's, or South Dakota's stocking records, and Washington's and Michigan's own species profiles describe it only as a naturally reproducing, nocturnal bottom-feeder, never as a hatchery-released fish.
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 23, 2026 , michigan.gov, accessed September 23, 2026
Common mistakes
- Casting artificial lures instead of bait; bullheads and catfish forage by smell and taste.
- Fishing a bobber in windy water; a drifting bobber can lift bait off bottom and out of reach.
- Using a short-shanked hook; bullhead swallow bait deep, and a long shank makes safe hook removal easier.
Where it's stocked
1 location shown. Tap a pin for details. · Open this area in Google Maps
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 3.77 lbs | – | Alcona Dam Pond, Alcona County | 2014 |
| Washington | 3.90 lbs | Joe Ochota | Ludlow Lake | 1997 |
| Wisconsin | 4 lbs. 2 oz. | – | Little Green Lake, Green Lake County | 2006 |
Common questions
What lures work for Brown Bullhead?
Bottom slip-sinker rig (bait, not a true lure): Small hook and slip sinker fished still on bottom. Bobber-and-bait rig, shallow water: Used in place of a bottom rig in shallow water. Drop-shot rig.
What bait works for Brown Bullhead?
Nightcrawlers or angleworms: The most reliable bullhead bait. Chicken liver or cut bait. Prepared stink bait or dough bait.
Where do Brown Bullhead hold?
Spring: Moves into shallow bays, river mouths, and warming shallows to spawn in late spring or early summer, among the first areas to warm each year. Summer: Typically holds in under 15 feet of water on soft, vegetated bottom, though Michigan's state agency has documented it as deep as 40 feet. Fall: Remains shallow and keeps feeding. Winter: Feeding slows drastically in cold water; Washington's state agency describes winter bullhead fishing as difficult.
How big do Brown Bullhead get?
The Michigan record is 3.77 lbs from Alcona Dam Pond, Alcona County in 2014. The Washington record is 3.90 lbs from Ludlow Lake in 1997. The Wisconsin record is 4 lbs. 2 oz. from Little Green Lake, Green Lake County in 2006.