Commercial Fishing Productive for Colvin
Have you ever had fried buffalo ribs? From the best of my memories as a kid, they were a treat almost second to none. My dad would sometimes take me with him to the fish market in Winnfield where fried buffalo ribs were a treat he loved and so did I. I haven’t had any since then but I’m guessing they’re just as delicious now as they were back then.
The Ouachita River is teeming with buffalo fish there are some folks who fill a boat with buffalo that are sold to local markets.
Daniel Colvin, Bernice, occasionally pays a visit to the Ouachita to bring in buffalo but his main venture is setting out his nets in Corney Bayou to catch lots and lots of eating-sized channel catfish that he cleans, processes and makes available to fish-hungry folks living in neighboring towns around Bernice.
I already knew about Colvin and his deer hunting success and after reading about his commercial catfishing exploits to Corney, I gave him a call to get the lowdown on how he goes about commercial fishing for catfish.
First off, a resident commercial fishing license, renewable annually, costs $96 and expires on December 31 each year and must be renewed at the beginning of the following year.
“I have been a licensed commercial fisherman for the last 20 years and it has turned into a business that is productive and keeps me busy,” said Colvin.
He has joined forces with another fisherman to help him do what he needs to do every month.
“I met this other fisherman who like me is a ‘math’ guy and we figured out how many pounds we could handle each week. It has worked out well for both of us catching and selling catfish commercially,” he noted.
Colvin runs his nets twice a week and said about the most fish her can handle per trip is about 1,000 pounds.
“I could probably catch twice that but I don’t want to have to fool with more. I run my nets twice a week, bring in my catch, clean and dress them and package them for sales. I have contacts in the towns surrounding Bernice and make a couple trips a week to each and advertise via the internet when I’ll be there.
“Some of the towns require a permit but most don’t – I just let folks know I’m coming and what day and time and they show up,” he said.
With so many fish ready to sell twice a week, does he have trouble selling all he brings to each town?
“I sell out at every town twice a week and never have to bring fish home. It’s been a good business and something I enjoy.
“I have three businesses I run and can’t afford to spend all my time at one or the other so I plan it out pretty well so I can get folks the fresh catfish filets they want,” said Colvin.
My columns are usually about recreational anglers and how they catch their fish. However, when I learned what Colvin was doing commercially, the information he provided contained the substance for another article. His story and how he makes it work I find to be most interesting. Just another wrinkle on catching and utilizing game fish.
FISHING REPORT
CANEY LAKE – Bass are fair around the grass early on topwaters. Later in the day, look for the bass to be around the channel drops in deeper water. Soft plastics and crank baits are picking up some. Crappie are around the deeper tops and are hitting jigs and shiners. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BUSSEY BRAKE – Crappie are deep and are fair on shiners or jigs. Some bass are being caught early on topwaters and later using soft plastics and crank baits around deeper brush. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – Bass are fair on crank baits and soft plastics. Crappie are fair in the river lakes. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass are best on topwaters early with soft plastics and crank baits later in the day around the humps and channel drops. Crappie are in deep water in the channel and fair on jigs and shiners. Catfish are fair on red wigglers and night crawlers fished just off the banks. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie are suspended fairly deep. Bass are around the deeper brush and drop-offs on crank baits and soft plastics. Bream reportedly are slow. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water is quite low. Catfish are being caught on trotlines and noodles and buffalo caught in nets. The lake is full of carp, which is hurting the crappie, bream and bass numbers. For info call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.