Rod & Reel Combos
Ugly Stik Catfish Special Combo
A stout, long rod with a large reel for heavy sinkers and big cats.
Check PriceSpecies / Channel Catfish
Catfish
Channel Catfish Fishing
Found in nearly every river, reservoir, and pond in the country. Channel cats feed by scent and bite best on warm summer nights.
Best Months: May to Sep
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Plan by Month
Best Flies, Lures & Bait for Channel Catfish
Month
3 picks for October.
Nightcrawlers Whole or half
BaitLive Bait
Chicken Liver Chunk
BaitNatural Bait
Cut Shad Chunk or fillet
BaitNatural Bait
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
Rod & Reel
Channel Catfish Setup
Channel Catfish
Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning or casting rod, 3000 to 4000 reel, 15 to 20 lb line, slip-sinker rig with a circle hook.
The US
Where to Catch Channel Catfish
Lakes & Reservoirs · Alabama
Lake Eufaula
A 45,000 acre Chattahoochee River reservoir on the Alabama and Georgia line known for big largemouth and spring crappie.
Largemouth Bass · Crappie · Channel Catfish
Lakes & Reservoirs · Alabama
Lake Guntersville
Tennessee River impoundment with matted grass and big-bag tournament weights.
Largemouth Bass · Crappie · Catfish
Lakes & Reservoirs · Arizona
Roosevelt Lake
Arizona's largest lake inside the state, a desert reservoir with excellent largemouth bass and crappie fishing.
Largemouth Bass · Crappie · Channel Catfish
Lakes & Reservoirs · California
Clear Lake
The largest natural freshwater lake fully in California and one of the best trophy largemouth lakes in the West.
Largemouth Bass · Crappie · Channel Catfish
Lakes & Reservoirs · California
Lake Casitas
Southern California reservoir with a strong catfish and largemouth population.
Largemouth Bass · Channel Catfish · Bluegill
Rivers & Streams · Illinois
Illinois River
A big working river with spring walleye and sauger runs and strong catfish populations.
Walleye · White Bass · Channel Catfish
Lakes & Reservoirs · Kansas
Milford Lake
The largest lake in Kansas, known for white bass, wipers, and blue catfish.
White Bass · Walleye · Channel Catfish
Rivers & Streams · Louisiana
Atchafalaya Basin
The largest river swamp in the country, with cypress backwaters full of bass and sac-a-lait.
Largemouth Bass · Crappie · Channel Catfish
Lakes & Reservoirs · Missouri
Lake of the Ozarks
A sprawling Ozark reservoir with docks lining the shore and strong bass and crappie fishing.
Largemouth Bass · Crappie · Channel Catfish
Lakes & Reservoirs · Missouri
Truman Lake
A timber-filled reservoir and one of the best crappie lakes in the Midwest.
Crappie · Largemouth Bass · Channel Catfish
Lakes & Reservoirs · Mississippi
Enid Lake
Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Yocona River ten miles south of Batesville. The world record white crappie came out of this water, and the summer pool holds crappie, largemouth bass, white bass, catfish and bream.
Crappie · Largemouth Bass · White Bass
Lakes & Reservoirs · Mississippi
Ross Barnett Reservoir
A Pearl River reservoir near Jackson with crappie, bass, and catfish.
Crappie · Largemouth Bass · Channel Catfish
Lakes & Reservoirs · Mississippi
Sardis Lake
A large reservoir near Batesville with trophy crappie and spring bass.
Crappie · Largemouth Bass · Channel Catfish
Lakes & Reservoirs · New Mexico
Elephant Butte Lake
New Mexico's largest lake on the Rio Grande with bass, stripers, and catfish.
Largemouth Bass · Striped Bass · White Bass
Lakes & Reservoirs · Oklahoma
Grand Lake O' the Cherokees
A northeast Oklahoma reservoir that hosts major bass tournaments.
Largemouth Bass · Crappie · Channel Catfish
Lakes & Reservoirs · Texas
Falcon Lake
A Rio Grande reservoir on the Mexico border known for numbers of big largemouth.
Largemouth Bass · Channel Catfish
Lakes & Reservoirs · Texas
Lake Conroe
A popular lake north of Houston with bass, hybrid stripers, and catfish.
Largemouth Bass · Channel Catfish
Recommended
Gear for Channel Catfish
Rod & Reel Combos
Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Combo
Nearly unbreakable and sensitive enough for most freshwater fishing. A safe first combo.
Check PriceLine
Berkley Trilene XL Monofilament
Limp, easy-casting mono for spinning reels and general fishing.
Check PriceTerminal Tackle
Gamakatsu Circle Hooks
Circle hooks set themselves in the corner of the mouth and make release easy.
Check PriceTerminal Tackle
Egg Sinkers and Swivels
Egg sinkers, swivels, and beads for slip-sinker and Carolina rigs.
Check Price