Snag_826Next plate sized channel I catch at Arthur is coming home with me. Ive heard of soo many people eating them out of there its about time I give it a try. Any cooking suggestions ZelieSam or do you just fry em up like any other fish?

 
Hmmm.  I fry them up much like any other fish after a bit of special attention in the filleting process.  I'm a flour with spices or seasoned breadcrumbs or prepackaged fry mix or beer batter kind of guy in general, all of which are great on catfish but we don't tend to batter them.  Many people like cornmeal breading but I think cornmeal tastes like a bunch of sand in the way of the fish flavor so I don't choose that route.  
 
When I fillet a bigger cat (bigger in this case are the 5lb cats) I take extra effort to remove any meat that isn't white.  The bigger cats have some yellow in the meat near the head, and that's fine, but any bloodline goes as does anything that touched the skin.  We don't eat much fish skin but I know some guys do... I would NOT recommend that on these cats.  The farmed channels you see in the 1-2 lb range are very young pellet fed fish.  These bigger guys have been swimming around eating whatever they could catch for a few years and they have the bloodlines to prove it.  Don't worry about throwing away a bit of fillet to get only the good stuff because there's plenty of meat on a channel.  I don't think I'd keep anything bigger than the ones I kept last summer... past 5 or 6 lbs I'm throwing them back for trophy/breeding.  I can honestly say I haven't caught one less than 20" or so recently... too much food I guess and they grow fast.  
 

PorktownFrom what a trusted source for Arthur said on here before, the channels during the Summer take on a "muddy" flavor, but not so much in the cooler water.  I don't know this from experience though.  I have had other fish give off a muddy flavor from there as well.  Similar to the smell of your anchor when pulling up with the bottom sediment.  Not very appetizing.  I wonder if bleeding them instantly and icing would change that?

 
I've heard that sort of thing before.  Can't back it up with experience though.  We kept most of our cats from warm water / dead of summer fishing.  Never noticed a difference and certainly nothing I'd consider muddy tasting.  Though read above for how we clean them, that may make the difference.
 
We don't bleed our catch.  Huck them on ice when they hit the boat and fillet them when we get home.  
 

PorktownAfter he cooked the smaller one, we decided to take along some cat gear the following few trips.  Of course, they seem to favor the rods targeting panfish/wipers/bass/walleye and snot them up and force to retie, rather than hitting the cat gear.  A ton of fun hooking into a nice one on light action panfish gear.  Still pretty fun on the more stout gear too. 

I hooked into one last year just before daylight under a school of alewives that I couldn't put the brakes on with my 6' medium spinning gear.  Pretty sure it was a big cat from the fight.  He broke me off in the anchor rope before we could pull it.  That is definitely a good problem to have at Arthur, there are quite a few species that get 10lb+ that are pretty much anywhere in the lake and that you'll hook occasionally while fishing for panfish.  

I always catch channels at Arthur no matter what I am actually targeting on live and artificials. My fiance caught a seven pounder on ultralight gear with a crappie jig. I couldn't believe we got it in the boat. The jig fell apart as soon as it hit the deck.

I fry the smaller ones whole--that's the way we do it in the South. Bleeding them helps with the "muddy" taste.

Hey, 
Thanks a lot for all the tips and advice.  Just a couple of general comments.  
 
First - thanks for all the advice, comments, and suggestions on places to fish.  I'm not really familiar with some of the local forum history and issues, but I see that there are some sensitive topics here.  I'll try to learn the lay of the land before I touch too much of a nerve.  
 
Second - I appreciate all (most?) of the safety warnings and concern.  I understand the danger that is ever-present in any body of water, and what can happen in the blink of an eye.  So I will not be approaching this endeavor recklessly or arrogantly.  However, as I mentioned earlier, I have taken a variety of unpowered watercraft into a broad range of conditions.  I'm not inexperienced on the water - I'm inexperienced in finding catfish in the Allegheny.  So, when I don't know something, I have no problem asking - hence my posts. 
 
Finally, Snag, Fisherlady, fishingguy, etc., plus the people who sent me PM's - thanks again for the help. I'm just trying to help my son succeed at a fishing goal he's excited about - that's good stuff.  While we likely won't make it out this weekend (I don't like the water levels right now), if we have any luck I'll be sure to let everyone know.  It's great when you see your kid have success like that, and you all have definitely improved our chances. 
 
G.  
 
P.S.  I think I'm going to regret the question - but who is Jim Halupka?  And what is the background on 'HPD?"  Or would it be best not to bring the whole thing up, as it sounds like a sore subject?

GPMAnd what is the background on 'HPD?"

 
Guessing here, but I'd say "Highland Park Dam" for that one.  Which much to the point, if someone feels that fish gathering below a dam is a sekret they might also think that McRibs are made from actual rib meat.  

Yea know SNAG I thought that very same thing about Arthur fishing for stripers at night !!! 10/15 years ago Spoonie and I were darn near the only boat on the water after 9 PM.  Now  you can not swing a dead cat by the tail without hitting some sap fishing within arms reach. Heck on the weekend you don't even need a flashlight to retie you can just all lights from the other boats. But hey what the heck what do you care.

python73

GPMAnd what is the background on 'HPD?"

 
Guessing here, but I'd say "Highland Park Dam" for that one.  

Correct, and has been getting fishing reports posted in the local newspapers since I was a kid delivering the Pgh. Press.  Likely before then as well.  Possibly the least secret spot in the Pgh. area.  There is very minimal shore access, those that fish it a lot, like to be the only ones to fish it.  A few months back, one of them came on this site bashing others for any opinion (on any topic).  Those getting insulted for any opion decided to return the favor by posting directions and fishing reports to his favorite spot.  Giving specific directions to any spot or specific fishing reports on the public forums is frowned upon by many.  PM is always the best approach for anything in detail.  If posting on the public forum, keeping it vague is always best.  The longer you stick around here, the more and more PMs/in person people you will meet and get a good idea of what to look for in the vague reports that many give.  I was guilty of some pretty bad, specific reports in my time, and have noticed a lot more competition for real estate in my favorite fishing grounds, likely partially to my own doing.  The best reports in my opinion are those that seem worthless to most, but give clues. 
i.e. "Tried my luck last night on the Allegheny (all the more specific you need to be), can even say "one of the rivers".  Water temp was around 60 degrees.  Had fun with some whiskers.  Two nice ones."  The more vague you are on your location, the more you can talk about actual fish caught.
Sooner or later you'll have a group of people that you PM more specific reports to, and share tips.  Hopefully you are all benifiting from your time and effort.  It beats the heck out of someone else giving specific directions to one of your favorite spots, which is usually empty, and show up to see others waiting in line to give it a shot.  Many of those waiting in line have never helped you, and no intention on ever helping you or others.  It's just the beast of this site and others like it.  I'm not sure if this site still shows it, if it does, take a look at a topic, registered users and those viewing.  It is usually 4:1, unregistered viewers reading topics to get info, with no intention of sharing their info.  Why help them, if they aren't looking to help others. 
 
Jim Halupka was a screen name of a college kid at the time, that enjoyed the affects of bong hits and beers, before posting fictisous questions to get others to bite.  Usually becoming more and more obsurd as the string went along.  Great entertainment, but banned from the boards.  Every so often makes a short lived comeback before getting banned again.  One of the more enjoyable, although not really fishing benificial, contributors here. 

Porktown, 
 
Thanks for the background, and advice.  Like any place, as a new guy, it helps to know some background and the local etiquette.  I will keep that in mind.  Based on some PMs, and messages I've already received - I owe some people some info.  If we have some luck this summer, I'll start to give back what I find out.  
 
Bighead_1, again, thanks for the caution.  Believe me, I am aware of what is involved in riding a unpowered boat (canoe, kayak, rowboat, IBS, etc.,) on rivers, surf, etc.,  I've seen the cautions, and I am not ignoring them.  However, just as an FYI, it can be done and it can be done safely.  You can catch huge fish in small boats, (as in sharks, tuna, stripers, etc.,), you can go down whitewater, you can ride down commercial rivers - depending on the circumstances, boat, experience, etc.,  So, I know what I'm getting into. 
 
Finally, as for the potential for a 30-lb flathead - I HOPE we get a chance to hook one!  That would be quite the ride for my son, (and yes, he'll have PDF, he's a strong swimmer, trained, etc.,).  Frankly, there's nothing that a 30-lb flathead can do that can't be addressed by a combination of common sense, good boat-handling, proper drag settings, and a hook knife if things get dicey.    
 
Been helpful, and it looks like the water levels keep dropping.  At what water temp does the flathead bite become really active?  Is it the same for channels?

Snag, 
 
Hey, thanks for the info, and the other lead.  When I get a chance to work that area, I'll definitely let you know if we had any luck, or what we found.  Do you mind letting me know if you're talking about the Rt 28 side of the river?  We will drift/paddle down and start mapping it out. 
 
I also found your old thread on fishing downtown on your lunch break - very good stuff!  I saw that other area you mentioned as having lots of activity as well.  It's a little further for us, but not crazily out of the way.  So I think we have multiple areas to start to learn this summer.  We should get out this weekend if the weather/conditions hold, and start putting the info to good use.  

So, what's up with this?  Did this guy ever go out in the canoe?  Or was he just mining for info.

well at the very least we havent read any reports about any canoes capsizing on the allegheny

FishinGuy
Allegheny just hit a "canoeable" level a couple days ago.

That is true.

Finally made it out between both jobs last night. Managed only two small fish between the both of us after the storms. We were out till almost 2am and go completely soaked. it was nice nonetheless to dust off the cobwebs...need to get bigger bait all my honey holes are fished out.

If you can go to the first trench in one it should be nothing