Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
- 6lakes
- 337logged catches
- 667 kg heaviest logged
Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is North America’s most numerous catfish species and the most fished catfish species in the USA. They are most abundant in large streams with low or moderate current. Channel cats have a top-end size of about 26 kg (57 lbs) and maximum length of 132 cm (62 in), but on average are usually around 4.5 – 9 kg (10 – 20 lbs). They are omnivorous and may be captured on a wide variety of baits including worms, grasshoppers, shrimp, crickets, frogs, bread, peas and cheese among others.
What actually catches it ranked by real logged catches
Baits
Small Cutbait 90 
Large Cutbait 26 
Leeches 16 
Cheese 16 
Medium Cutbait 15 
Shiners 11 
Pet Food 10 
Blood 5 
Large Minnows 3 
Mole Cricket Larva 3 
Crawfish 3 
Boiled Red Roe 2 Lures
Club-Series Craw 15 cm Best setups by lake 6 lakes with data
Lone Star Lake (reworked) — 91 catches , best 667 kg
- Small Cutbait Hook #1 Feeder bottom Shore 66×
- Small Cutbait Hook #2 Feeder bottom Shore 11×
- Small Cutbait Hook #1/0 Feeder bottom Shore 2×
- Pet Food Hook #1 Feeder bottom Shore 2×
Mudwater River — 87 catches , best 8 kg
- Large Cutbait Offset Hook #3/0 Float 4.5 m 9×
- Large Cutbait Hook #4/0 Float 250 m 6×
- Leeches Hook #2/0 Feeder bottom 5×
- Shiners Hook #1 Feeder bottom Shore 4×
Quanchkin Lake — 70 catches , best 29.93 kg
- Leeches Hook #4/0 Feeder bottom 7×
- Shiners Hook #4/0 Feeder bottom 5×
- Large Minnows Hook #4/0 Float 75 m 3×
- Blood Hook #7/0 Feeder bottom 3×
Lone Star Lake — 52 catches , best 0.8 kg
- Cheese Hook #2 Feeder bottom Shore 13×
- Pet Food Hook #6 Feeder bottom Shore 4×
- Small Cutbait Hook #2 Feeder bottom 3×
- Cheese Hook #2/0 Feeder bottom Shore 3×
Everglades — 26 catches , best 2.48 kg
- Medium Cutbait Hook #5/0 Feeder bottom 6×
- Large Cutbait Hook #5/0 Feeder bottom 3×
- Large Cutbait Hook #4/0 Feeder bottom 2×
- Small Cutbait Carp Hook #1/0 Feeder bottom 2×
Blue Crab Island — 11 catches , best 2.5 kg
- Medium Cutbait Hook #4/0 Feeder bottom 2×
- Medium Cutbait Hook #2 Feeder bottom Shore 2×
- Pet Food Hook #1/0 Feeder bottom 1×
- Night Crawlers Hook #2/0 Feeder bottom Shore 1×
How to catch
How to catch a unique Channel Catfish?
When it comes to float, feeder, or bottom fishing, the best way to catch Channel Catfish would be to use Large Minnows on a size #4/0 hook.
Where to find it
Also listed as effective documented, but not seen in the catch log
Data compiled from fp-collective and the Fishing Planet Wiki . Snapshot taken 2026-08-20. Game content and imagery © Fishing Planet LLC.