Sam Rayburn Reservoir · Individual fish profile

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

Sam Rayburn · Keep or release

Daily bag

50 combined

Length rule

No minimum

Blue + channel: 50 combined per day, no more than 5 at 30 inches or longer; no minimum.

Channel Catfish · Identification features below.

Forked tail; younger fish commonly show dark body spots. The anal-fin edge is more rounded than in blue catfish.

TPWD documents excellent year-round catfish fishing and extensive standing timber, channels and flooded cover.

Look for structure and channels; fishing techniques vary by catfish species and conditions. TPWD does not publish a validated lake-wide bait ranking.

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

Eating guidance · Channel Catfish

Not listed in DSHS Advisory 51. That does not establish that the fish is safe to eat.

Harvest permission and eating restrictions are separate.

Occurs in rivers, lakes and reservoirs; feeds on a wide range of aquatic food.

Sources & lake evidence

TPWD Sam Rayburn lake guide and historical water-body records. Records establish occurrence, not current abundance.