Photo: Unknown author / Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Ictalurus punctatus
Channel Catfish
Freshwater
About this species
A whiskered, forked-tail catfish that is the most numerous catfish in North America. It feeds by smell and taste, roaming river channels and lake flats at night. Stink baits, cut bait and nightcrawlers on the bottom are reliable.
Season
123456789101112
Depth
1 – 12 m
Habitat Spots
RiverLakeReservoir
Fishing Methods
BottomFloatLure
Bait & Rig
Stink baits, fresh-cut shad, nightcrawlers, or chicken liver on a slip-sinker rig fished on the bottom at night.
Edibility & Taste
Mild, firm white flesh ideal for deep-frying; one of the most popular fish-fry species in the southern United States.
Similar Species
Scattered black spots on the body and a deeply forked tail distinguish channel catfish from blue catfish, which has no spots and a straighter anal fin.
Record Weight
26.3 kg