Species
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus · family Ictaluridae
Live · updated
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
Choptank River — Cambridge
Clear Lake
Mississippi River (Clinton)
Tuscarora State Park
Lake Travis
Lake Lanier
Roosevelt Lake
Saguaro Lake
Chickamauga Lake
Jordan Lake
Falls Lake
Wheeler Lake
Kerr Lake (Buggs Island)
Lake Pueblo
Cherry Creek Reservoir
Chatfield Reservoir
Boyd Lake
Fort Peck Lake
Lake McConaughy (Ogallala)
Tuttle Creek Lake
Lake Sharpe (Pierre)
Lewis and Clark Lake
Harlan County Reservoir
Falcon Lake (Falcon International Reservoir)
Lake Hartwell
Lake Amistad
Pickwick Lake
Lake Wylie
Raystown Lake — Seven Points Beach
Cowans Gap State Park
Prince Gallitzin State Park
Summersville Lake
Lake Okeechobee
Shasta Lake
Lake Powell (Bullfrog)
Lake Guntersville
Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond)
Lewis Smith Lake
Folsom Lake
Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac
Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain)
Lake Fork Reservoir
Lake Pleasant
California Delta (Sacramento–San Joaquin)
Deep Creek Lake
Yellow Creek State Park
Lake Norman
Lake Mead (Hemenway Harbor)
Conowingo Dam Tailrace
Havre de Grace Fishing Pier
Occoquan Regional Park
Mariner Point Park
Chapman State Park
Betterton Beach
Fort Smallwood Park
Downs Park
Rock Hall Beach
North East Community Park
Louisa Lane Park (Charlestown Beach)
Dundee Creek Marina (Gunpowder Falls SP)
Miami Beach Park
Cox's Point Park
Friendship Farm Park
Chapel Point State Park
Rolph's Wharf
Lake Havasu
Jean S. Roberts Memorial Park (Perryville)
Jennings Randolph Lake
Monocacy River — Buckeystown
Potomac River — Point of Rocks
New River (Thurmond Gorge)
Lake Murray
Rocky Gap State Park — Lake Habeeb
Evitts Creek Ponds
Piney Reservoir
Potomac River — Williamsport
Conococheague Creek — Williamsport
Loch Raven Reservoir
Liberty Reservoir
Triadelphia Reservoir
Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper Lake
Lums Pond State Park
Burke Lake Park
Lake Anna State Park
Greenbrier State Park
Broadford Lake Park
Shawnee State Park
Laurel Hill State Park
Gifford Pinchot State Park
Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Cacapon Resort State Park
Lake Conroe
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Lake Tohopekaliga
Milford Lake
Cheat Lake
Mississippi River (Grafton)
Lake Seminole
O.H. Ivie Reservoir
Lake George
Lake Moultrie
Lake Monroe
Santee Cooper (Lake Marion)
West Point Lake
Mason Neck State Park
Pohick Bay Regional Park
Flying Point Park
Leesylvania State Park
J. Percy Priest Lake
Broken Bow Lake
Lake Texoma
Lake Berryessa
Kentucky Lake
Grand Lake o' the Cherokees
Lake Eufaula
Kentucky Lake
Lake Barkley
Lake Ouachita
Toledo Bend Reservoir
Carlyle Lake
Rend Lake
Elephant Butte Reservoir
Truman Lake
Lake of the Ozarks
Lake Marion
Weiss Lake
No locations match that filter.
What anglers are reporting about channel catfish
From the Maryland DNR weekly fishing report, published May 27, 2026 · 105 days old — a newer report may be available.
Upper Chesapeake Bay
The weekend rain brought about some increased flows at the Conowingo Dam this week and anglers are fishing at the dam pool for blue and flathead catfish with good results. The blue catfish action mixed with channel catfish continues down the Susquehanna and out into the upper Bay. All the region’s tidal rivers also hold populations of blue and channel catfish. Overcast conditions often make for excellent fishing for striped bass, which anglers are reporting this week. Casting paddletails and soft plastic jigs near structure and jigging along channel edges is a very popular way to fish and obtain good results.
Species mentioned: blue catfish, channel catfish, flathead catfish, striped bass
Excerpts are anecdotal and reflect a single week's observations from DNR biologists and reporting anglers — not predictions. Use as one signal among many; verify against current conditions before planning a trip.
Regulations by jurisdiction
Maryland (non-tidal)
Stale: last verified 140 days ago.
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)
Stale: last verified 140 days ago.
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
Stale: last verified 12 days ago.
non tidal-trout
- Creel
- 20
Virginia channel/white/flathead catfish: 20/day, no length limit, year-round (rivers below the fall line have no daily limit).
Source · verified 2026-08-28
Potomac main stem (PRFC)
Stale: last verified 140 days ago.
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
WV
Stale: last verified 103 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 30
30/day (lower on some designated impoundments).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
TX
Stale: last verified 103 days ago.
non tidal
- Min size
- 12"
- Creel
- 25
12" minimum, 25/day (channel & blue catfish in combination).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
GA
Stale: last verified 103 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
No statewide creel or size limit on channel catfish in Georgia.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
FL
Stale: last verified 103 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
No statewide bag or size limit on channel catfish in Florida.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
CA
Stale: last verified 103 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
No size limit; 10/day in the Southern and Colorado River districts (no limit elsewhere).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
AZ
Stale: last verified 103 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
10/day in combination (Colorado River district); no size limit.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
TN
Stale: last verified 103 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
No statewide limit; some reservoirs cap trophy-size fish.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
NC
Stale: last verified 103 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
No statewide creel or size limit.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
SC
Stale: last verified 103 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 25
Santee Cooper: 25/day (catfish combined), no more than two over 32".
Source · verified 2026-05-29
MO
Stale: last verified 103 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 20
20/day (channel & blue catfish combined).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
OK
Stale: last verified 103 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 15
15/day (channel & blue combined), only one blue over 30".
Source · verified 2026-05-29
AL
Stale: last verified 103 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
No limit under 34"; only one over 34"/day.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
KY
Stale: last verified 103 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 15
15/day (blue & channel combined), only one over 25".
Source · verified 2026-05-29
AR
Stale: last verified 103 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 3
3/day statewide (varies by water body).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
NTCO
Stale: last verified 100 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
Channel, blue, and flathead catfish in aggregate: 10/day, 10 in possession.
Source · verified 2026-06-01
NTMTE
Stale: last verified 100 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
Eastern District: 10 channel catfish daily, 20 in possession.
Source · verified 2026-06-01
NTUT
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 25
Lake Powell: 25 channel catfish/day.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTNV
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 25
Lake Mead: 25 catfish/day.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTND
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
North Dakota: no daily limit on channel catfish on most waters.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTNE
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
Nebraska: no statewide daily limit on channel catfish.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTLA
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 50
Louisiana: 50 catfish/day (channel, blue, and flathead combined) on most freshwater.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTIA
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 8
Iowa: 8 channel catfish/day.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTKS
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
Kansas: 10 channel catfish/day on most waters.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
IL
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
Illinois: no daily limit on channel catfish 13–28"; only 1 over 28"/day on most waters.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTNM
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
New Mexico: catfish limits vary by water; the San Juan and Animas have no bag or possession limit. Confirm the water.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTSD
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
South Dakota: 10 catfish/day in combination (only one flathead 30"+), 20 in possession.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
IN
Stale: last verified 98 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
Indiana: 10 channel catfish/day on most waters.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
Maryland (tidal)
Stale: last verified 12 days ago.
tidal bay
- Creel
- no daily limit
Tidal waters: no minimum size and no daily creel limit; open year-round.
Source · verified 2026-08-28
Delaware (tidal)
Stale: last verified 12 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
Not a gamefish in Delaware and not in the non-tidal size/creel table — the default rule applies: no closed season, no size limit, no possession limit.
Source · verified 2026-08-28
PA
Stale: last verified 12 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 50
Pennsylvania inland: no minimum size; 50/day in the combined panfish/other-gamefish group (shared with perch, crappie, suckers, etc.). Panfish-Enhancement waters may differ.
Source · verified 2026-08-28