Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
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; younger fish commonly show dark body spots. The anal-fin edge is more rounded than in blue catfish.
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
Occurs in rivers, lakes and reservoirs; feeds on a wide range of aquatic food.
General Channel 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 ↗