Lake Pinkston · Individual fish profile

Flathead Catfish

Pylodictis olivaris

Lake Pinkston · Keep or release

Daily bag

Length rule

18-inch minimum

5 flathead catfish daily; minimum length 18 inches.

Gear restriction: Trotlines are prohibited.

Flathead Catfish · Identification features below.

Broad flattened head, projecting lower jaw and a tail that is not deeply forked.

Clear water with standing timber, hydrilla and lily pads.

TPWD documents a historical flathead record; a current bait ranking is not available.

Fishing guidance describes documented approaches, not a promise of fish activity today.

Eating guidance · Flathead Catfish

Channel Catfish: No lake-specific advisory found in the checked DSHS active list. This does not establish that fish are safe to eat.

Harvest permission and eating restrictions are separate.

Prefers cover such as submerged wood and feeds mainly on live fish as an adult.

Sources & lake evidence

Black and white crappie and flathead catfish occurrence is established by TPWD historical lake records. Records do not establish current abundance.