Lake Fork Reservoir · Individual fish profile
Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
Lake Fork · Keep or release
Daily bag
5
Length rule
18-inch minimum
5 daily; 18-inch minimum.
Identify your catch
Broad flattened head, projecting lower jaw and a tail that is not deeply forked.
Habitat on Lake Fork
Channel catfish dominate; TPWD also documents flathead and blue catfish.
Fishing approach
TPWD lists cutbait or stinkbait for channels and live bait for flatheads.
Fishing guidance describes documented approaches, not a promise of fish activity today.
Eating guidance · Flathead Catfish
No advisory for this lake was found in the DSHS active list checked October 10, 2026. This is not a guarantee of safe consumption.
Harvest permission and eating restrictions are separate.
General species guide
Prefers cover such as submerged wood and feeds mainly on live fish as an adult.
General Flathead Catfish profile →Sources & lake evidence
Documented in this lake’s TPWD fishing guide; source linked below.
Lake harvest rules ↗Eating guidance ↗Lake habitat & fishing guide ↗Species identification ↗