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
Conowingo Dam Tailrace
Havre de Grace Fishing Pier
Choptank River — Cambridge
Mariner Point Park
Betterton Beach
Rock Hall Beach
Flying Point Park
North East Community Park
Louisa Lane Park (Charlestown Beach)
Dundee Creek Marina (Gunpowder Falls SP)
Miami Beach Park
Cox's Point Park
Rolph's Wharf
Jean S. Roberts Memorial Park (Perryville)
Clear Lake
Mississippi River (Clinton)
Loch Raven Reservoir
Shawnee State Park
Raystown Lake — Seven Points Beach
Laurel Hill State Park
Cowans Gap State Park
Prince Gallitzin State Park
Gifford Pinchot State Park
Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Yellow Creek State Park
Shasta Lake
Lake Havasu
Lake of the Ozarks
Truman Lake
Grand Lake o' the Cherokees
Lake Eufaula
Lake Mead (Hemenway Harbor)
Milford Lake
Tuttle Creek Lake
Cheat Lake
Carlyle Lake
Rend Lake
Mississippi River (Grafton)
Lewis and Clark Lake
Harlan County Reservoir
Lake Monroe
Falcon Lake (Falcon International Reservoir)
California Delta (Sacramento–San Joaquin)
Folsom Lake
Lake Okeechobee
Fort Smallwood Park
Downs Park
Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac
Lake McConaughy (Ogallala)
Lake Francis Case (Chamberlain)
Lums Pond State Park
Lake Pueblo
Cherry Creek Reservoir
Chatfield Reservoir
Boyd Lake
Fort Peck Lake
Lake Powell (Bullfrog)
Deep Creek Lake
Occoquan Regional Park
Chapman State Park
Friendship Farm Park
Chapel Point State Park
Broken Bow Lake
Monocacy River — Buckeystown
Potomac River — Point of Rocks
Lake George
Lake Norman
Lake Berryessa
Rocky Gap State Park — Lake Habeeb
Evitts Creek Ponds
Piney Reservoir
Potomac River — Williamsport
Conococheague Creek — Williamsport
Liberty Reservoir
Triadelphia Reservoir
Seneca Creek State Park — Clopper Lake
Burke Lake Park
Greenbrier State Park
Broadford Lake Park
Tuscarora State Park
Cacapon Resort State Park
Lake Texoma
Lake Travis
Lake Conroe
Lake Lanier
West Point Lake
Lake Tohopekaliga
Lake Pleasant
Roosevelt Lake
Kentucky Lake
Jordan Lake
Falls Lake
Lake Guntersville
Wheeler Lake
Kentucky Lake
Lake Barkley
Elephant Butte Reservoir
Lake Hartwell
Lake Seminole
Lewis Smith Lake
Lake Amistad
Pickwick Lake
Lake Wylie
O.H. Ivie Reservoir
Lake Sharpe (Pierre)
J. Percy Priest Lake
Lake Anna State Park
Lake Fork Reservoir
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Lake Ouachita
Toledo Bend Reservoir
Summersville Lake
Mason Neck State Park
Pohick Bay Regional Park
Leesylvania State Park
Chickamauga Lake
Kerr Lake (Buggs Island)
New River (Thurmond Gorge)
Weiss Lake
Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond)
Jennings Randolph Lake
Lake Moultrie
Santee Cooper (Lake Marion)
Saguaro Lake
Lake Murray
Lake Marion
No locations match that filter.
What anglers are reporting about channel catfish
From the Maryland DNR weekly fishing report, published May 27, 2026 · 46 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 81 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 81 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
Potomac main stem (PRFC)
Stale: last verified 81 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 44 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 30
30/day (lower on some designated impoundments).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
TX
Stale: last verified 44 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 44 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 44 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 44 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 44 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 44 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 44 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- no daily limit
No statewide creel or size limit.
Source · verified 2026-05-29
SC
Stale: last verified 44 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 44 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 20
20/day (channel & blue catfish combined).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
OK
Stale: last verified 44 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 44 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 44 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 15
15/day (blue & channel combined), only one over 25".
Source · verified 2026-05-29
AR
Stale: last verified 44 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 3
3/day statewide (varies by water body).
Source · verified 2026-05-29
NTCO
Stale: last verified 41 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 41 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
Eastern District: 10 channel catfish daily, 20 in possession.
Source · verified 2026-06-01
NTUT
Stale: last verified 39 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 25
Lake Powell: 25 channel catfish/day.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTNV
Stale: last verified 39 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 25
Lake Mead: 25 catfish/day.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTND
Stale: last verified 39 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 39 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 39 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 39 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 8
Iowa: 8 channel catfish/day.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
NTKS
Stale: last verified 39 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
Kansas: 10 channel catfish/day on most waters.
Source · verified 2026-06-03
IL
Stale: last verified 39 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 39 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 39 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 39 days ago.
non tidal
- Creel
- 10
Indiana: 10 channel catfish/day on most waters.
Source · verified 2026-06-03