Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
Blue and channel catfish: 25 combined daily, no minimum; no more than 10 may be 20 inches or longer.
Identify your catch
Forked tail; younger fish commonly show dark body spots. The anal-fin edge is more rounded than in blue catfish.
Habitat on Lake Athens
Moderately clear water with native vegetation, timber and docks.
Fishing approach
TPWD highlights spring bass fishing, February–May crappie and white bass, and sunfish around native vegetation as water warms.
Fishing guidance describes documented approaches, not a promise of fish activity today.
No lake-specific advisory found in the checked DSHS active list. This does not establish that fish are safe to eat.
Harvest permission and eating restrictions are separate.
General species guide
Occurs in rivers, lakes and reservoirs; feeds on a wide range of aquatic food.
General Channel Catfish profile →Sources & lake evidence
Occurrence documented in the TPWD lake guide, fisheries survey or historical records. Historical evidence does not establish present abundance. Current harvest rules were checked separately from older survey regulations.
Lake harvest rules ↗Eating guidance ↗Lake habitat & fishing guide ↗Fisheries survey · species evidence ↗Species identification ↗