Channel Catfish
The most widely distributed catfish in North America and a popular stocked fish for its size, fight, and table quality.
- Scientific name
- Ictalurus punctatus
- Family
- Ictaluridae
- Adult size
- Commonly 12–24 inches in stocked waters; can grow much larger in rivers.
Identification
Slate-blue to olive body, deeply forked tail, and eight barbels ('whiskers') around the mouth; often has scattered dark spots (most visible in younger fish).
Habitat
Rivers, reservoirs, and stocked ponds and lakes; tolerant of a wide range of water conditions.
Diet
An opportunistic omnivore — fish, insects, crustaceans, and plant material, located largely by smell and taste.
Angling
Popular with bait anglers using cut bait, worms, or prepared 'stink bait'; often stocked specifically for summer evening fishing.
Recommended Tackle & Gear for Channel Catfish
Field-tested tackle, baits, and rigging strategies suited for catching Channel Catfish.
Heavy Duty Offset Circle Hooks (1/0–3/0)
Circle hooks naturally turn into the corner of a catfish's jaw as it turns, preventing gut-hooking and improving hookup rates.
Catfish Carolina Rig & Egg Sinker Terminal Kit
Delivers cut bait or stink bait right to channel bottoms and deep holes where stocked channel cats scavenge.
Aluminum Fishing Pliers with Braid Cutters
Safely removes hooks, pinches split-shot sinkers, and cleanly snips braided, mono, and fluorocarbon lines.
Plano Waterproof Utility Tackle Box Tray (3600)
Keeps terminal tackle, weights, and spinners dry and corrosion-free with customizable compartments.
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Where Channel Catfish is stocked
When Channel Catfish is stocked
Top Channel Catfish waters
Canyon Ferry Lake
7 species · 2261 records
Last stocked September 2025
Logan River
CACHE County · 5 species · 2246 records
Last stocked July 2026
Weber River
WEBER County · 7 species · 2119 records
Last stocked July 2026
Provo River
SUMMIT County · 5 species · 1298 records
Last stocked June 2026
Salem Pond
UTAH County · 10 species · 789 records
Last stocked June 2026
Willow Park Pond
SALT LAKE County · 10 species · 769 records
Last stocked June 2026
Piute Reservoir
PIUTE County · 15 species · 741 records
Last stocked May 2026
Jordanelle Reservoir
WASATCH County · 8 species · 710 records
Last stocked July 2026
Farmington City Reservoir
DAVIS County · 9 species · 628 records
Last stocked June 2026
Bountiful Pond
DAVIS County · 8 species · 617 records
Last stocked May 2026
Meadow Creek P
WEBER County · 12 species · 601 records
Last stocked June 2026
Musselshell River
7 species · 573 records
Last stocked July 1982
Spring Lake
UTAH County · 8 species · 540 records
Last stocked June 2026
Highland Glen Park P
UTAH County · 8 species · 466 records
Last stocked June 2026
Echo Reservoir
SUMMIT County · 6 species · 465 records
Last stocked May 2026
Kaysville Stake Pond
DAVIS County · 9 species · 451 records
Last stocked May 2026
Jensen Nature Park Pond
DAVIS County · 12 species · 445 records
Last stocked June 2026
Midas Pond
SALT LAKE County · 8 species · 437 records
Last stocked June 2026
Banks Lake
Grant County · 7 species · 407 records
Last stocked April 2026
Kidney Pond
SALT LAKE County · 9 species · 394 records
Last stocked June 2026
Sandy Community Fishery
SALT LAKE County · 9 species · 374 records
Last stocked May 2026
Sevier River
SEVIER County · 5 species · 374 records
Last stocked May 2026
Cove Pond
SALT LAKE County · 7 species · 371 records
Last stocked June 2026
Lake St Clair
Thurston County · 7 species · 356 records
Last stocked May 2026
Frequently asked
Where is Channel Catfish stocked?
Channel Catfish is stocked in 204 waters across 3 states: Utah, Washington, Montana.
When is Channel Catfish stocked?
Channel Catfish is typically stocked in summer, most often in June, based on records across every state that stocks it.
How many Channel Catfish are stocked?
About 1,785,147,064,796,580,400,000 Channel Catfish have been stocked on record since 1937, across Montana, Utah, Washington.
What size Channel Catfish are stocked?
Stocked Channel Catfish average about 12.9 inches, based on sizes reported by Montana, Utah — not every state reports sizes.
What does a Channel Catfish look like?
Slate-blue to olive body, deeply forked tail, and eight barbels ('whiskers') around the mouth; often has scattered dark spots (most visible in younger fish).