#420OHIO
Ohio Strain Review:
Smoked Catfish
Does this fish sink or swim?
Review & Photos by: Randy Shaffer
Packaging: First Impressions
Bullseye Gardens is the label for Farkas Farms, out of Akron. This Tier II Sativa cannabis strain comes packed in a black plastic humidity-controlled pouch. These pouches are made by Grove Bags. There is a small two-inch wide clear window in the front of the package that allows patients to be able to see their cannabis before buying.
While I do love the bags, I’m not in love with the hot orange accents, which are used here to signify a sativa strain. But that’s nothing major. Functionality is key, and this packaging does a great job!
Cannabis Look: Out of the Bottle
Smoked Catfish is a rather odd name for a cannabis strain. So many strain names tend to lean on something approaching punny, or something on the nose. But Smoked Catfish is a perplexing title, especially considering the muted, almost sandy appearance of this strain.
Orange pistils, perhaps not unlike whiskers on a catfish, shootout in every direction, and wind around the nugs. This renders an alluring appearance, like the nugs are drawing you in. I did notice a slight tinge of yellow on the edges of a few leaves, but this could be common with this strain. Nugs were mid-sized in my pouch, about the size of a quarter. There were also some popcorn nugs in the bag as well.
How Does It Grind?
Farkas Farms has produced a great cannabis to grind. It’s nearly perfect. Not too brittle, not too soft. Just a few quick turns and you’ve got some lovely ground up cannabis. That said, this strain is pretty sticky, and I ended up having to turn the grinder a few times to break down the stickier chunks. Sticky buds are certainly not the worst problem to have, but patients should be aware that this strain may require a few extras twists on the old grinder.
Smell Before Vaping
Legend tells that Smoked Catfish got its bizarre name because of its odor, which oddly resembled that of fish. I can’t say the surface scents released from this strain really gave me that sensation. I was mainly taken aback by the strong aroma of limonene. This aroma is accented by caryophyllene, delivering a scent that’s a fine mixture of citrus and hops.
Farkas Farms really knows how to craft a fine smelling cannabis strain. Where Forbidden Fruit leaned floral and fruity, this cannabis has that distinct diesel odor, strongly accented by limonene. It’s not going to be for everyone, that’s the nature of diesel-leaning strains, but I couldn’t help but coming back for more. Even after my senses wore down, I still didn’t smell that catfish. If anything, I noted an earthy undercurrent, like a river. But fishy and smoky is not how I would describe it. More like … tranquil.
The Taste Test
I vaped this medical cannabis with an Arizer ExtremeQ vaporizer and a Pax portable vaporizer. I like to start my first bag at a lower temperature to open the terpenes, and work up to a higher temp to vaporize the cannabinoids.
I was really hoping Smoked Catfish wouldn’t come out in the taste, and I was not disappointed. This strain leans on the limonene, with perhaps just a hint of pinene as well. The aftertaste is silky and soft, with notes of hops and diesel, each complemented by sparks of citrus.
Again, no catfish smell or taste here. There is an earthy atmosphere to this strain that is unique from other strains I’ve tried, but I’d liken Smoked Catfish’s earthy taste more to a stream near a field of citrus trees.
I did experience a lot of cottonmouth with this strain, which made it harder to distinguish flavors. This problem was not present on my first two bags, but became more troublesome with further bags. This is a good cannabis to have with water … lots of water. You may also want to try a sweeter night tea or earl grey, or even a glass of dessert wine.
Medicinal Benefits and Side Effects I Noted
The medicinal benefits noted below are for educational purposes only, and are not a substitute for the advice of a medical practitioner or licensed budtender.
Smoked Catfish is a Tier II Ohio medical marijuana strain from Farkas Farms. It contains 26.91% THCA and 24.02% THC, as well as 0.06% CBDA and 0.0% CBD.
After one of the roughest nights of my entire life, I was hoping to ease the side effects of PTSD and soothe my aches and pains at the same time. The ability to relax and unwind, while being able to work out problems and troubleshoot — it can make all the difference.
My cannabis consultant suggested that I try Smoked Catfish for a gentle headband-like euphoric effect, which would help me relax. And this strain did exactly that. I was able to focus on the problems at hand and work through some difficult emotions. I felt free to relax, but also energized and recharged.
As with a lot of sativa strains, it’s best to start slow. My first two bags resulted in a somewhat jittery experience. I developed cottonmouth and felt a tad nervous. After some water and a quick snack, I stabilized and began to feel relaxed. This can sometimes happen to me if it’s been awhile since I’ve medicated with a sativa strain.
But don’t let that deter you. Smoked Catfish gave me just enough energy to finish my day, but it also supported me when I was ready to sleep. My joints and muscles felt relaxed, and I was able to fall asleep with ease. If you are sensitive to sativa strains, take it slow and you should have an enjoyable experience with this one.
Final Thoughts on Smoked Catfish
Farkas Farms has an excellent sativa strain on their hands. This one smells nice, grinds nice and feels nice. I did have some minor issues with cottonmouth, but I am more sensitive to sativa strains.
That said, the headband effect is strong with this one, so sit back and enjoy the gentle euphoria and soft relaxation.
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[…] Gardens. Not much has changed in terms of the pouch itself since I last profiled a Farkas strain, Smoked Catfish, back in early fall 2019. The pouch has switched colors, and the logo is no longer a sticker. […]