UTER
Photo: Fishes of Texas team, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Ictalurus punctatus
How to catch Channel catfish
Channel catfish feed in 45–92°F water and bite best at 70–84°F. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows them in 48 waters; in October they are at their peak in Florida fresh water, Texas fresh water, Louisiana fresh water and 28 more.
10 pts · trophy at 24"Feeds 45–92°FBest 70–84°FIn season nowRiverLakeReservoirPond / pitCreek / streamBridgeCanalFish attractor / brush pile
About
The everyday catfish of the rivers and lakes, spotted and forked-tailed, on the bottom at night on anything that smells. Fried, with hushpuppies, the way it's meant to be.
How to fish it
A bottom rig in a river bend or a lake channel at dusk; let it sit. Circle hooks save the release.
What it eats
chicken livercut shadstink baitworms
Live bait for it
NightcrawlersWhole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water.
Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.
What to fish it with
the sizes that fish itLeader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
Hook#2–3/0
Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
Braid10–30 lb
The rule
not confirmed hereNo size limit; bag limit applies — confirm at MyFWC.
The current rule →Where it is, month by month
PPeakSSpawningAArriving·AroundLLeaving
Great Lakes
Fresh water by state