Catfish
Blue Catfish · Channel Catfish · Flathead Catfish
Blue and channel catfish: 25 combined daily and in possession. No more than 5 may be 20 inches or longer; only 1 of those may be 30 inches or longer. 5 flathead catfish daily; minimum length 18 inches.
Official lake regulations ↗
Habitat on Lake Tawakoni
Broad open water with sparse vegetation and scattered timber.
Fishing approach
Catfish: cut bait, shrimp, liver or worms; drift or bank fishing. Schooling temperate bass: spoons, slabs or live shad. Largemouth: shoreline cover. Crappie: bridge pilings, trees and brush.
Lake fishing guide ↗Blue Catfish: No lake-specific advisory found in the checked DSHS active list. This does not establish that fish are safe to eat. Channel Catfish: No lake-specific advisory found in the checked DSHS active list. This does not establish that fish are safe to eat. Flathead Catfish: No lake-specific advisory found in the checked DSHS active list. This does not establish that fish are safe to eat.
Official consumption guidance ↗Species within this group
Blue Catfish
Harvest: Blue and channel catfish: 25 combined daily and in possession. No more than 5 may be 20 inches or longer; only 1 of those may be 30 inches or longer.
Eating guidance: No lake-specific advisory found in the checked DSHS active list. This does not establish that fish are safe to eat.
Forked tail and a relatively straight-edged anal fin. Count anal-fin rays using an identification reference.
Channel Catfish
Harvest: Blue and channel catfish: 25 combined daily and in possession. No more than 5 may be 20 inches or longer; only 1 of those may be 30 inches or longer.
Eating guidance: No lake-specific advisory found in the checked DSHS active list. This does not establish that fish are safe to eat.
Forked tail; younger fish commonly show dark body spots. The anal-fin edge is more rounded than in blue catfish.
Flathead Catfish
Harvest: 5 flathead catfish daily; minimum length 18 inches.
Eating guidance: No lake-specific advisory found in the checked DSHS active list. This does not establish that fish are safe to eat.
Broad flattened head, projecting lower jaw and a tail that is not deeply forked.
Individual lake profiles
Choose the species for its own identification, harvest rules and eating guidance on this lake.
Source & occurrence note
Occurrence documented in the TPWD lake guide, fisheries survey or historical records. Historical evidence does not establish present abundance. Current harvest rules were checked separately from older survey regulations.