Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
For channel and blue catfish, their hybrids and subspecies, 25 (in any combination - 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; younger fish commonly show dark body spots. The anal-fin edge is more rounded than in blue catfish.
Habitat on Meredith
Steep rock, ledges and drop-offs dominate; upper water is turbid while lower water is clearer.
Fishing approach
Lake guide guidance: TPWD recommends slow, light-tackle walleye presentations using small jigs with minnows or nightcrawlers near rock and drop-offs. Smallmouth bass use rocky shoreline structure.
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 ↗