Freshwater · Late spring through autumn; best on warm nights
Amur Catfish
Silurus asotus
The default 'catfish' (鲶鱼) of northern China — a smooth, scaleless Silurus found nationwide but at its classic best in the northern systems: the Heilongjiang (Amur), Songhua, Yellow and Yangtze rivers. A nocturnal bottom predator that most northern anglers simply call 鲶鱼 or 土鲶. In Japan the namazu is a popular lure game fish, worked with noisy topwater lures and soft baits at night on rivers, lakes and irrigation canals.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Smooth, scaleless dark grey-brown catfish with a broad, flattened head
- Two pairs of barbels: one very long pair at the mouth corners and one short pair on the chin
- Small dorsal fin set far forward; long anal fin that does NOT merge into the rounded tail
- White belly; body slimy and completely without scales
- Mouth wide but less enormous than the southern catfish's, and the fish stays far smaller
Habits
- Nocturnal bottom predator — hunts fish, shrimp and frogs by taste and smell after dark
- Rests by day in deep holes, undercut banks and submerged timber
- Moves into shallows and tributary mouths at night to feed
- Spawns in late spring and early summer in flowing water
Distribution
Regional coverage expanding
Where to find them
- Deep pools below rapids and dam outflows
- Confluences and backwaters after dark
- Undercut banks and bridge piers at night
Where they live
How to catch them
Night bottom ledgering with live bait River
Rig: Sliding sinker rig with a 2/0-4/0 circle hook, live bait pinned on bottom
Bait/lure: Live loach, small fish or chicken liver
Key tip: Set up before dark on a known deep hole, give the fish time to take, and use a bite alarm or loose drag.
Soft-bait lure along banks River
Rig: Weighted soft shad or worm on a jig head, crawled slowly along banks and structure at night
Bait/lure: Scented soft baits in dark colours
Key tip: Retrieve painfully slowly with long pauses; the take is a heavy, deliberate pull.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Medium-heavy spinning rod
- Line: 20-30 lb braid with a strong leader
- Terminal: Sliding sinkers, 2/0-4/0 circle hooks
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' 5-weight fly rod outfit
≈ US$180-260
Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.
Flies · Budget
Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)
≈ US$25-40
Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 1-4 lb; large specimens 10 lb and up
On the table
Excellent — the classic northern table catfish: rich, tender flesh with few bones.
Similar species
Southern CatfishSouthern catfish grows far larger in southern rivers, with an even broader head and an anal fin that runs into the tail; Amur catfish stays modest-sized and keeps a separate, rounded tail
Soldatov's CatfishSoldatov's catfish is a Heilongjiang-only giant that passes 45 lb with a heavier, speckled body; Amur catfish is the smaller, nationwide everyday catfishRegulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
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