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Yellow Bullhead
Ameiurus natalis
8–12 inches
Typical Length
0.25–1 lb
Typical Weight
Year-round (no closed season)
Season Opens
18%
% of MN Lakes
Yellow bullheads are similar to their brown cousins but tend to favor cleaner, clearer water. They're distinguished by their white or yellowish chin barbels and are found throughout southern and central Minnesota.
Habitat
Yellow bullheads prefer cleaner water than brown bullheads, often found in lakes and streams with moderate vegetation and sand-to-gravel bottoms. They're still bottom feeders but are less tolerant of heavily degraded conditions.
When to Fish
Best months: June, July, August
Season opens: Year-round (no closed season)
Fished the same way as brown bullheads — worms on the bottom during warm summer evenings. They're often caught alongside other panfish species.
Did You Know?
- Yellow bullheads have white or cream-colored chin barbels, unlike the dark barbels of brown and black bullheads.
- Both parents guard the eggs and newly hatched fry, herding the young in tight schools near the nest.
Lakes with Yellow Bullhead near you
622 Minnesota lakes have Yellow Bullhead on record. Find the closest ones to you.
Yellow Bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) is a rough species found in Minnesota lakes and rivers. DNR surveys have documented yellow bullhead in 622 Minnesota lakes.