Channel Catfish Fishing Guide

The channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is the most widely distributed and heavily fished catfish in North America, stocked in virtually every state and supporting both commercial aquaculture and massive recreational fisheries. Adults are identified by deeply forked tails, scattered dark spots on silver-gray flanks (fading in large fish), and the 8 sensitive barbels (whiskers) around the mouth. Channel cats have taste buds covering their entire body surface — over 27,000 in total — making them extraordinarily efficient at locating food by chemical detection in turbid water. They are primarily nocturnal feeders that become most active at dusk and through the night. The catfish farming industry in the Mississippi Delta, centered in Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas, produces hundreds of millions of pounds annually and made catfish one of the most consumed seafood items in the US.

Channel Catfish is a freshwater species.

Habitat

Rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and ponds throughout the central and eastern US, from southern Canada to Mexico; widely introduced in the West, including California. Prefers moderate current over sand, gravel, or rock substrate in rivers; in lakes, relates to hard-bottom areas and creek channels. Most abundant in warm, productive lowland systems.

Diet

True omnivore consuming fish, invertebrates, plant material, and virtually any organic matter that registers on their chemosensory system. Cut shad, chicken liver, nightcrawlers, and commercial dip baits are the most effective fishing presentations, exploiting the channel cat's powerful chemical detection ability.

Fishing Techniques

• Bottom fishing with cut bait or prepared stink bait
• Chicken liver on circle hooks
• Drift fishing with live minnows
• Noodling (hand fishing)
• Night fishing near channel edges

Best Seasons

Summer, Spring

Size & Records

Average weight: 3 lbs. World record: 58 lbs (Santee-Cooper Reservoir, South Carolina, USA (1964)).