It's a Fishing Day

Species

Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus · family Ictaluridae

Native catfish of MD non-tidal rivers, reservoirs, and farm ponds. Bottom-feeder that takes chicken liver, stinkbait, nightcrawlers, and cut bait. Most active at night and in warm water.

Preferred conditions

Water temp
60–85°F (ideal 75°F)
Tide
either
Moon
either
Depth
5–30 ft
Active months
Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Best channel catfish conditions today

  1. Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac Fairfax, VA · harvest closed
    86/100
  2. Choptank River — Cambridge Dorchester, MD · harvest closed
    74/100
  3. Mason Neck State Park Fairfax, VA
    74/100
  4. Occoquan Regional Park Fairfax, VA
    74/100
  5. Pohick Bay Regional Park Fairfax, VA
    74/100
  6. Leesylvania State Park Prince William, VA
    74/100
  7. Rocky Gap State Park — Lake Habeeb Allegany, MD
    68/100
  8. Loch Raven Reservoir Baltimore, MD
    68/100
  9. Liberty Reservoir Carroll, MD
    68/100
  10. Triadelphia Reservoir Howard, MD
    68/100
  11. Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper Lake Montgomery, MD
    68/100
  12. Lums Pond State Park New Castle, DE · harvest closed
    68/100
  13. Burke Lake Park Fairfax, VA
    68/100
  14. Monocacy River — Buckeystown Frederick, MD
    33/100
  15. Conowingo Dam Tailrace Harford, MD · harvest closed
    33/100
  16. Havre de Grace Fishing Pier Harford, MD · harvest closed
    33/100
  17. Lake Anna State Park Spotsylvania, VA
    15/100
  18. Deep Creek Lake Garrett, MD
    0/100
  19. Jennings Randolph Lake Garrett, MD
    0/100

Regulations by jurisdiction

Maryland (non-tidal)

non tidal

Creel
5

Non-tidal MD: no minimum size, 5 per day, open year-round. Standard freshwater fishing license required.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Virginia (non-tidal — VDWR)

non tidal

Creel
20

Non-tidal VA: 20 per day statewide, no minimum size. No daily limit in rivers below the fall line. Distinctly more generous than MD (5/day). Primary fisheries: James, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Roanoke.

Source · verified 2026-04-22

Potomac main stem (PRFC)

tidal potomac

Creel
10

Potomac River main stem (PRFC): 10 per day, no minimum size. Less restrictive than NTVA (20/day) and NTMD (5/day) — PRFC sits in the middle. The tidal Potomac also has a thriving channel cat fishery below the Wilson Bridge.

Source · verified 2026-04-22