mudcats
Whiskered river dwellers
Mudcats are freshwater catfish, especially flathead catfish or channel catfish—species that dwell near muddy river and lake bottoms.
The name reflects both their habitat and their whiskered, bottom-feeding nature.
We caught a mess of mudcats down at the river.
The term is common in Southern and Midwestern American English.
Facial sensory hairs
- barbelsFish sensory projections
- bottom-feederCreature eating from below
- channelPassage for transmission
- flatheadStraight-tipped tool or fish
blue · bullhead · gills · scaleless · nocturnal · omnivore · predator · ray-finned
Casual musical improvisation
- trotlineHorizontal fishing line with hooks
- chicken-liverEdible poultry organ
- nightcrawlerBig worm, or nocturnal person
- rodThin rigid stick
reel · hook · sinker · tackle · catch-and-release · angler · boat · trophy
Floor beneath flowing water
- lakebedBottom beneath still waters
- deltaSymbol denoting variation
- swampWaterlogged land with vegetation
- bayouMarshy, slow-moving waterway
backwater · creek · pond · reservoir · turbid · murky · silt · sediment
Cooked in hot fat
- blackenedDarkened by burning
- cornmealCoarsely milled dried maize
- filletingCutting meat from bones
- skinningRemoving outer covering
mild · hushpuppies · coleslaw · farm-raised · wild-caught · breaded · pan-fried · po-boy
Capacity to recover quickly
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- scrappyAggressively spirited despite odds
- survivorOne still alive after
hardscrabble · blue-collar · underdog · determined · rugged · steadfast · hardy
whiskers
Facial sensory hairs
- barbelsFish sensory projections
- bottom-feederCreature eating from below
- channelPassage for transmission
flathead · blue · bullhead · gills · scaleless · nocturnal · omnivore · predator · ray-finned · freshwater
noodling
Casual musical improvisation
- trotlineHorizontal fishing line with hooks
- chicken-liverEdible poultry organ
- nightcrawlerBig worm, or nocturnal person
rod · reel · hook · sinker · tackle · catch-and-release · angler · boat · trophy · setline
riverbed
Floor beneath flowing water
- lakebedBottom beneath still waters
- deltaSymbol denoting variation
- swampWaterlogged land with vegetation
bayou · backwater · creek · pond · reservoir · turbid · murky · silt · sediment · bottom-dwelling
fried
Cooked in hot fat
skinning · mild · hushpuppies · coleslaw · farm-raised · wild-caught · breaded · pan-fried · po-boy
resilience
Capacity to recover quickly
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- scrappyAggressively spirited despite odds
survivor · hardscrabble · blue-collar · underdog · determined · rugged · steadfast · hardy
mudcatssalmon
Pink-fleshed migratory fish
sport fish · game fish · trout · rainbow trout · steelhead