Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
Blue and channel catfish: 25 combined daily; at most ten may be 20 inches or longer.
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 Nacogdoches
The TPWD 2024–2025 fisheries report documents blue and channel catfish; historical abundance and directed fishing effort were low.
Fishing approach
Lake-specific catfish techniques have not been verified from the checked guide.
Fishing guidance describes documented approaches, not a promise of fish activity today.
No advisory for this lake was found in the active DSHS list checked October 10, 2026. This does not establish that fish are 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 lake-specific regulations reviewed October 10, 2026. Documented approaches are not a report of present fish activity. Gear restrictions: no additional gear exception shown in the checked lake-specific rule page.
Lake harvest rules ↗Eating guidance ↗Lake habitat & fishing guide ↗Fisheries survey · species evidence ↗Species identification ↗