Montana Field Guide

The stonecat is our other native catfish species. It is widespread throughout all of eastern Montana, preferring to live in cracks and crevices of rocks and logs in streams or on wave-swept shorelines of lakes. Like other catfish, it is an early-summer nest-building spawner. Stonecats seldom exceed 8-10 inches in length and thus do not provide a sport fishery. They are, however, renowned for inflicting a nasty sting on those who handle them and are unfortunate enough to be poked by the spines on their pectoral or dorsal fins.

Overall yellowish brown; back darker, underside light yellow or white.

Swift-water areas of streams among rocks or under logs; also lakes over sand and gravel bottom where there is wave action. Found mainly in flowing water over rocky substrates in lower Yellowstone River drainage study. Also found in riffle habitat in middle Missouri River study.

Largely aquatic insects and small fish. Known to eat spawn of other fishes.

Spawns June - Aug. in moderate current. Incubation: 1 - 2 weeks. Young guarded by parents. Spawning peaks late June.