Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
For blue and channel catfish, no minimum length limit; daily bag limit = 25 in any combination, of which only 10 can be 20 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 Mackenzie
Steep canyon banks, rock faces and boulders dominate; coves contain some flooded timber.
Fishing approach
Lake guide guidance: Target open water for hybrids with shad-like lures or live bait. Fish flooded trees for bass and rock or timber structure for crappie using jigs or minnows.
Fishing guidance describes documented approaches, not a promise of fish activity today.
No active lake-specific advisory or possession ban was named in the reviewed DSHS directory. This does not guarantee that fish are 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 ↗