Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

Channel catfish are a widely introduced North American catfish found mostly in rivers, reservoirs, and lakes. They are popular food and sport fish, known for strong runs, whisker-like barbels, and a deeply forked tail.

Freshwater

Channel Catfish reference image — U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, public-domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Identification points

Smooth, scaleless skin with 8 barbels around the mouth
Deeply forked tail, unlike flat or squared tails of many other catfish
Dark back and silvery belly with a modestly forked anal fin

Habitat

Warm to cool freshwater rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and large streams; often near current breaks, holes, undercut banks, dam tailraces, submerged timber, and muddy bottoms.

Bait notes

Best on cut bait, live shad or sunfish where legal, nightcrawlers, chicken liver, stink baits, and prepared catfish dough baits. Fresh oily cut bait usually outperforms soft baits in moving water.

Behavior

Nocturnal to crepuscular bottom-feeder that uses smell and taste to locate prey. Eats aquatic insects, crayfish, minnows, carrion, and plant matter; often feeds aggressively in warm water and after rain or current increases.

Caution

Sharp pectoral and dorsal spines can puncture hands; handle carefully. As a bottom-feeder, large fish may carry higher contaminant loads in some waters, so follow local consumption advisories.

Fishing notes

Fish the bottom with slip-sinker or three-way rigs; keep bait anchored in current seams, holes, and channel edges. Use stout tackle, circle hooks for bait, and fish at night or in low light when they move shallow.