Channel Catfish

The Channel catfish is very highly regarded for its food and sports value. The Channel catfish is most abundant in the central part of U.S. and southern states.

 

HOW TO IDENTIFY A CHANNEL CATFISH

The distinctive Channel catfish can often be recognized at a glance by its deeply forked tail and spots on the body. The only other catfish with forked tails occurring in the U.S. waters are the BLUE CATFISH and the WHITE CATFISH, neither of which is ever spotted. In addition to the spotted specimens, some channel catfish may be entirely black dorsally (males during the spawning season), or dark blue without spots, or even uniformly light blue or silvery exactly like a blue catfish or white catfish.

In the latter cases, the species can be identified by the number of rays in the anal fin. White catfish have 19-23 rays, channel catfish have 24-30, and blue catfish have the longest anal fin with 30-36 rays. Internally, the channel catfish has two chambers in the swim bladder and the blue catfish has three.

 

WHERE TO CATCH CHANNEL CATFISH

The Channel catfish is currently distributed through most of the U.S. and parts of southern Canada and northern Mexico. In the U.S. it is most abundant in the central part of the country east to the Appalachians. Its occurrence is sparse along the west coast and east of the Appalachians because of its recent introduction.

Channel catfish prefer clean bottoms of sand or gravel in larger lakes and rivers. At spawning time, they will enter and ascend small tributaries and streams.

The following list includes places where you can catch Channel catfish:

 

GRADUAL SHORES                                                INLETS AND OUTLETS

PIERS, DOCKS AND PILINGS                                SPRING HOLES

SPRING HOLES                                                      WALKWAYS AND BRIDGES

HOLES                                                                      OPEN WATER

SHORELINE SHALLOWS                                         SUNKEN OBJECTS

FRESHWATER WEED BEDS

 

HOW TO CATCH CHANNEL CATFISH

The Channel catfish feed mainly on crayfish, fishes, and insects generally at night in swifter moving currents. The following are fishing methods you can use to catch channel catfish:

 

DRIFT FISHING                      STILL FISHING

 

CHANNEL CATFISH LURES, TACKLE & BAIT

The following are fishing lures, tackle and bait you can use to catch channel catfish:

 

BREAD OR DOUGH BALLS       MINNOWS

JIGS                                            CUT BAIT