These cats also have an annoying propensity to hold the bait in their jaws, let the angler reel them in, and then spit it out at the last second. To land more bullheads, always use extra-sharp hooks. You should feel the bullhead yank at the bait a time or two before it swims off with it. When the fish starts moving away, count to three, then set the hook with a quick, upward snap. When working baits beneath a bobber, wait until the float disappears or starts to move slowly across the water.
Bullheads are notorious hook swallowers, so keep plenty of hooks on hand.
You can remove hooks with a disgorger or long-nosed pliers, but it's quicker to cut the line and retrieve the hooks when you clean the fish. Take care to avoid the bullhead's sharp pectoral and dorsal fin spines. If you get poked with a spine, old-timers will tell you to swipe the fish's belly across the wound. They say the protective slime covering the bullhead's body contains something that helps neutralize the stinging sensation. Household ammonia daubed on the wound with a cotton ball has the same effect.