Bill, It ain't pretty because I skin them alive. First cut around them behind the head. Then, cut through the skin from the head to the tail. Next, I use a nail puller that has been dulled so they won't cut through the skin. GOOD pliers will also work. Hold the fish by the head and grab the skin with the nail puller and start pulling from the head area where you made the first cut and pull toward the tail. This can sometimes take several tries because the skin usually tears. After getting all of the skin off, hold the fish by the head and body and twist the head until it breaks loose. Pull it forward. Usually, most of the guts come out with it. Next cut off all of the fins and tail. Last, make a cut from the stomach area to the area where the head was. Clean out the rest of the guts. If you have a really large catfish, you can nail the head to a vertical board or tree. After you've done it a couple of times, it takes longer to explain it than it does to do it.
If anyone has a better way, I'd like to hear about it.
Dave
