Species
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus · family Ictaluridae
Live · updated
Native catfish of MD non-tidal rivers, reservoirs, and farm ponds. Bottom-feeder that takes chicken liver, stinkbait, nightcrawlers, and cut bait. Most active at night and in warm water.
Preferred conditions
- Water temp
- 60–85°F (ideal 75°F)
- Tide
- either
- Moon
- either
- Depth
- 5–30 ft
- Active months
- Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Best channel catfish conditions today
Lake Norman
Mississippi River (Clinton)
Lake Hartwell
Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond)
Lake Wylie
Lake Travis
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Lake Lanier
West Point Lake
Shasta Lake
Lake Havasu
Lake Pleasant
Roosevelt Lake
Saguaro Lake
Lake Powell (Bullfrog)
Lake Mead (Hemenway Harbor)
Toledo Bend Reservoir
Milford Lake
Tuttle Creek Lake
Rend Lake
Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain)
Lake Sharpe (Pierre)
Lewis and Clark Lake
Falcon Lake (Falcon International Reservoir)
Lake Seminole
Lake Amistad
O.H. Ivie Reservoir
Lake Okeechobee
Carlyle Lake
California Delta (Sacramento–San Joaquin)
Clear Lake
Lake Murray
Elephant Butte Reservoir
Harlan County Reservoir
Jordan Lake
Falls Lake
Grand Lake o' the Cherokees
Lake Pueblo
Cherry Creek Reservoir
Chatfield Reservoir
Boyd Lake
Mississippi River (Grafton)
Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac
Flying Point Park
J. Percy Priest Lake
Lake Marion
Lake Moultrie
Folsom Lake
Lake of the Ozarks
Truman Lake
Deep Creek Lake
Monocacy River — Buckeystown
Potomac River — Point of Rocks
Occoquan Regional Park
Broken Bow Lake
Weiss Lake
New River (Thurmond Gorge)
Santee Cooper (Lake Marion)
Rocky Gap State Park — Lake Habeeb
Potomac River — Williamsport
Conococheague Creek — Williamsport
Loch Raven Reservoir
Liberty Reservoir
Triadelphia Reservoir
Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper Lake
Burke Lake Park
Lake Anna State Park
Greenbrier State Park
Broadford Lake Park
Shawnee State Park
Raystown Lake — Seven Points Beach
Laurel Hill State Park
Cowans Gap State Park
Prince Gallitzin State Park
Yellow Creek State Park
Tuscarora State Park
Cacapon Resort State Park
Lake Fork Reservoir
Lake Texoma
Lake Conroe
Lake Tohopekaliga
Chickamauga Lake
Kentucky Lake
Lake Guntersville
Wheeler Lake
Kentucky Lake
Kerr Lake (Buggs Island)
Summersville Lake
Cheat Lake
Lewis Smith Lake
Pickwick Lake
Lake George
Conowingo Dam Tailrace
Havre de Grace Fishing Pier
Choptank River — Cambridge
Mariner Point Park
Betterton Beach
Fort Smallwood Park
Downs Park
Rock Hall Beach
Dundee Creek Marina (Gunpowder Falls SP)
Miami Beach Park
Cox's Point Park
Rolph's Wharf
Jean S. Roberts Memorial Park (Perryville)
Lake Barkley
Lake Ouachita
Lake Berryessa
Mason Neck State Park
Pohick Bay Regional Park
Leesylvania State Park
Chapman State Park
North East Community Park
Louisa Lane Park (Charlestown Beach)
Friendship Farm Park
Chapel Point State Park
Lake McConaughy (Ogallala)
Lums Pond State Park
Gifford Pinchot State Park
Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Lake Eufaula
Lake Monroe
Fort Peck Lake
Jennings Randolph Lake
No locations match that filter.
What anglers are reporting about channel catfish
From the Maryland DNR weekly fishing report, published May 27, 2026 · 15 days old — a newer report may be available.
Upper Chesapeake Bay
The weekend rain brought about some increased flows at the Conowingo Dam this week and anglers are fishing at the dam pool for blue and flathead catfish with good results. The blue catfish action mixed with channel catfish continues down the Susquehanna and out into the upper Bay. All the region’s tidal rivers also hold populations of blue and channel catfish. Overcast conditions often make for excellent fishing for striped bass, which anglers are reporting this week. Casting paddletails and soft plastic jigs near structure and jigging along channel edges is a very popular way to fish and obtain good results.
Species mentioned: blue catfish, channel catfish, flathead catfish, striped bass
Excerpts are anecdotal and reflect a single week's observations from DNR biologists and reporting anglers — not predictions. Use as one signal among many; verify against current conditions before planning a trip.
Regulations by jurisdiction
Maryland (non-tidal)
Stale: last verified 51 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 5
Non-tidal MD: no minimum size, 5 per day, open year-round. Standard freshwater fishing license required.
Source · verified 2026-04-22
Virginia (non-tidal — VDWR)
Stale: last verified 51 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 20
Non-tidal VA: 20 per day statewide, no minimum size. No daily limit in rivers below the fall line. Distinctly more generous than MD (5/day). Primary fisheries: James, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Roanoke.
Source · verified 2026-04-22
Potomac main stem (PRFC)
Stale: last verified 51 days ago.
tidal potomac
- Creel
- 10
Potomac River main stem (PRFC): 10 per day, no minimum size. Less restrictive than NTVA (20/day) and NTMD (5/day) — PRFC sits in the middle. The tidal Potomac also has a thriving channel cat fishery below the Wilson Bridge.
Source · verified 2026-04-22
WV
Stale: last verified 14 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 30
30/day (lower on some designated impoundments).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
TX
Stale: last verified 14 days ago.
non tidal
- Min size
- 12"
- Creel
- 25
12" minimum, 25/day (channel & blue catfish in combination).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
GA
Stale: last verified 14 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
No statewide creel or size limit on channel catfish in Georgia.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
FL
Stale: last verified 14 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
No statewide bag or size limit on channel catfish in Florida.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
CA
Stale: last verified 14 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
No size limit; 10/day in the Southern and Colorado River districts (no limit elsewhere).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
AZ
Stale: last verified 14 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
10/day in combination (Colorado River district); no size limit.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
TN
Stale: last verified 14 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
No statewide limit; some reservoirs cap trophy-size fish.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
NC
Stale: last verified 14 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
No statewide creel or size limit.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
SC
Stale: last verified 14 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 25
Santee Cooper: 25/day (catfish combined), no more than two over 32".
Source · verified 2026-05-29
MO
Stale: last verified 14 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 20
20/day (channel & blue catfish combined).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
OK
Stale: last verified 14 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 15
15/day (channel & blue combined), only one blue over 30".
Source · verified 2026-05-29
AL
Stale: last verified 14 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
No limit under 34"; only one over 34"/day.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
KY
Stale: last verified 14 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 15
15/day (blue & channel combined), only one over 25".
Source · verified 2026-05-29
AR
Stale: last verified 14 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 3
3/day statewide (varies by water body).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
NTCO
Stale: last verified 11 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
Channel, blue, and flathead catfish in aggregate: 10/day, 10 in possession.
Source · verified 2026-06-01
NTMTE
Stale: last verified 11 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
Eastern District: 10 channel catfish daily, 20 in possession.
Source · verified 2026-06-01
NTUT
Stale: last verified 9 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 25
Lake Powell: 25 channel catfish/day.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTNV
Stale: last verified 9 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 25
Lake Mead: 25 catfish/day.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTND
Stale: last verified 9 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
North Dakota: no daily limit on channel catfish on most waters.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTNE
Stale: last verified 9 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
Nebraska: no statewide daily limit on channel catfish.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTLA
Stale: last verified 9 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 50
Louisiana: 50 catfish/day (channel, blue, and flathead combined) on most freshwater.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTIA
Stale: last verified 9 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 8
Iowa: 8 channel catfish/day.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTKS
Stale: last verified 9 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
Kansas: 10 channel catfish/day on most waters.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
IL
Stale: last verified 9 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
Illinois: no daily limit on channel catfish 13–28"; only 1 over 28"/day on most waters.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTNM
Stale: last verified 9 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
New Mexico: catfish limits vary by water; the San Juan and Animas have no bag or possession limit. Confirm the water.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTSD
Stale: last verified 9 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
South Dakota: 10 catfish/day in combination (only one flathead 30"+), 20 in possession.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
IN
Stale: last verified 9 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
Indiana: 10 channel catfish/day on most waters.
Source · verified 2026-06-03