Catfish died, not sure if I should clean it?

[Hugh Farbetween]

I left a lively catfish in a big livewell overnight. Temp mid 50's.I'm pretty new to catfish fishing. I thought they were so tough it would make it through the night. This morning I went down and it was upside down and dead. The color had drained out of it's skin and it was stiff. I put it on ice. I wish I'd done that before but didn't have the ice then. Has it gone bad? Thanks

[GoTennTitans]

If his gills aren’t red anymore, I would give him to the buzzards.

[artcarney_agr]

From the earth, back to the earth..........

They are a tough fish, but with long hours in the same water it doesn't take long for the ammonia levels to build up. Plus, if it was in the postspawn stage they tend to be in a delicate state then....that goes for about any fish in the postspawn stage.

[stormcloud]

If the gills are faded out, I would clean it and give it to someone I didn't like.

[Hugh Farbetween]

I looked at the gills and they were pink.

[GoTennTitans]

Red OK, pink prolly not. If you’re questioning it now.....you’ll be hesitant when you get ready to eat it. I wouldn’t.

[Techno2000]

I left a lively catfish in a big livewell overnight. Temp mid 50's.I'm pretty new to catfish fishing. I thought they were so tough it would make it through the night. This morning I went down and it was upside down and dead. The color had drained out of it's skin and it was stiff. I put it on ice. I wish I'd done that before but didn't have the ice then. Has it gone bad? Thanks

Clean it, if has no smell it should be OK to eat.

["G"]

Just throw it away and go catch another one

[Hugh Farbetween]

I looked at the gills and they were pink. I put it back in the lake. I'll let the creatures there decide if they're up for it. I imagine there will be some takers.

[Hugh Farbetween]

It took me hours to catch that one! Actually I was fishing for Crappie (without luck this day) and caught it on a little jig.