Freshwater · Late spring to fall; best at night in summer
Black Bullhead
Ameiurus melas
The black bullhead is a small, tough catfish of warm lakes, ponds and slow rivers in Manitoba, Ontario and the northern United States border waters. Eager on worms after dark, it is a classic beginner and shore fish across the Prairies and southern Ontario.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Dark brown to black body with a pale belly and long chin barbels
- Pectoral fin spine SMOOTH at the rear — no serrations, the key mark versus brown bullhead
- Chin barbels dark grey to black
- Broad, rounded head and a slightly forked to rounded tail with a pale edge in some fish
- No scales; skin smooth and dark
Habits
- Native to warm, muddy waters from Manitoba and Ontario south through the Mississippi system
- Feeds mostly at night on insects, snails, crayfish and dead fish
- Very tolerant of warm, low-oxygen water
- Spawns in late spring in nests guarded by a parent
- Schools in shallows in spring, deeper in summer heat
Distribution
Where to find them
- Muddy bays of Manitoba and southern Ontario lakes at dusk
- Slow Red and Assiniboine river backwaters
- Farm ponds and weedy creek mouths after dark
Where they live
How to catch them
Night bottom fishing Lake
Rig: Medium-light rod, slip-sinker rig with worms or liver resting on muddy bottom after dark
Bait/lure: Worms, chicken liver
Key tip: Fish after sunset in warm shallows — black bullhead feed boldly at night and bite hard.
Float fishing weedy shallows Lake
Rig: Light rod, small hook under a float at the edge of weeds in spring
Bait/lure: Worm pieces, corn
Key tip: Keep the bait just off bottom in 2-5 ft of water where bullhead cruise in spring.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Medium-light 6-7 ft spinning rod
- Line: 8-12 lb mono
- Terminal: Slip sinkers, circle or baitholder hooks size 2-6
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 8-12 in; large fish to about 16 in and 2 lb
On the table
Good when taken from clean water — firm, sweet flesh; skin before cooking.
Similar species
Brown BullheadBrown bullhead has a serrated rear edge on the pectoral spine and mottled brown sides with pale chin barbels; black bullhead has a smooth pectoral spine and dark chin barbels
Channel CatfishChannel catfish is much larger, silvery-grey with a deeply forked tail and dark spots on young fish; black bullhead is small, dark and broad-headed with a barely forked tailRegulations 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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