Syracuse.com - Bullheading is often more about patience and friendship than fish

[HuntingNY-News]

Sometimes you get a lot of action, sometimes you don't.

Brewerton— James Daher says bullhead fishing, or "bullheading," teaches an angler two things—patience and social skills. In addition, success can result in a tasty meal.

"Advanced technology has become the standard of fishing nowadays, but really it comes down to a hook, line, sinker, and waiting," said Daher, who works at Mickey's Bait and Tackle in North Syracuse. "The test of patience is part of being outdoors, and it gives you an opportunity to socialize and enjoy the nature around you."

I went out with Daher Sunday evening on the shore of Muskrat Bay on Oneida Lake. We fished well into the darkness, but had no luck. Nevertheless, I got a feel for this kind of fishing.

Bullhead fishing started on Oneida Lake a couple weeks ago, when weeds hadn't had a chance to grow along banks, but the water was still cold, Daher said. Anglers have been out nearly every night since.

James Daher said the best times he's had bullheading have been when he's been camping with friends. 

Bullheads average 8 to 12 inches. They can be caught year-round from land or boats on local waterways. However, spring evenings are the best time to fish for them from shore. Rising water temperatures and warm rains result in them gathering in the shallows and feeding aggressively.

Bullheads can be caught year-round and there is no daily catch or size limit. They're bottom feeders. Anglers often use night crawlers as bait. Other popular baits include minnows, crayfish, chicken livers and dough balls.

There were at least two other groups of anglers on the bank when we arrived Sunday.

"Bank fisherman" prepare up to three rods, which they prop up along the shoreline, he said.

Bullhead begin feeding at dusk and into the night on leeches, crayfish and minnows that are 20 yards or closer to the shore. They're a kin to catfish, with a large, flat head and barbels (whiskers) that they use to feel and locate food. They also have sharp spines on their pectoral (front) and dorsal (top) fins, so care must be taken in handling them.

"Some of the best times I've had bullheading were when I was out camping with friends," Daher said. "Camaraderie is part of the sport of fishing."

Joe Jacobs, of Syracuse, came up to the lake with a friend to try his luck at bullheading. "We're here to catch everything though...kind of whatever we find," Jacobs said. He'd been fishing at Oneida Lake since he was a boy—"it's always been fun to get out here on a nice spring night, hang out with friends, and catch some fish. It's peaceful," he said.

Daher set up two rods with light sinkers and suspended hooks with night crawlers as bait. After two hours, we had gotten at least five nibbles or bites, but none of the fish were very committed.

"At this point in the spring, you will usually get a lot of action," Daher said. "But sometimes the fish are stubborn."

Daher said that because bullheading doesn't work like bass fishing, which has become an exact science of expensive boats and sonar technology, it's an opportunity for anglers to revert back to traditional fishing ways.

When you do catch bullhead, they become somewhat of a delicacy at restaurants around the area, like William's Restaurant in East Syracuse, Daher said. "It's definitely a different taste," he said. "It's a rich, soft meat that is best when deep fried." They're also very

and cook yourself, he said.

Bullheading used to be huge in the 1980s, and though its popularity has waned since then, it has always been "a cult of sorts," Daher said.

"Young people would party on the beach and fish for bullhead to celebrate spring," he said. "I'd like to see that trend come back, for cultural reasons and community building more than anything."

Bull fishing takes, and teaches patience.Sarah Taddeo | The Post-Standard 

More on bullheads

There's three species of bullheads that are native to New York -- brown, yellow and black bullheads. Brown bullheads are the most plentiful, according to the DEC. Anglers say the best time to catch and eat bullheads is that their meat is mild and sweet this time of year.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog