Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
For blue and channel catfish, no minimum length limit; daily bag and possession limit = 50 in any combination, of which no more than 5 may be 30 inches or greater in length. For flathead catfish, minimum length = 18 inches and daily bag limit = 5.
Identify your catch
Forked tail and a relatively straight-edged anal fin. Count anal-fin rays using an identification reference.
Habitat on Caddo
Cypress trees, extensive aquatic plants, piers and duck blinds provide cover in a shallow reservoir.
Fishing approach
Lake guide guidance: TPWD describes spring bass fishing and winter to early-spring crappie, white bass and pickerel opportunities.
Fishing guidance describes documented approaches, not a promise of fish activity today.
This lake has an active advisory, but this fish is not named in its species rows. That does not establish that it is safe to eat.
Harvest permission and eating restrictions are separate.
General species guide
A large catfish found in rivers and reservoirs. Fish and other aquatic animals form its diet.
General Blue Catfish profile →Sources & lake evidence
TPWD lake guide and reviewed fisheries evidence establish the listed species or group. Historical survey records do not establish current abundance.
Lake harvest rules ↗Eating guidance ↗Lake habitat & fishing guide ↗Fisheries survey · species evidence ↗Species identification ↗