Channel Catfish (Lctalurus punctatus)

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Description Regulations Habitat Records Gamefish in the Chicago Area include: Largemouth Bass Brown Trout Rainbow Trout Bluegill Bullhead Catfish Northern Pike Walleye Crappie Channel Catfish Fishing for these requires a trout stamp in addition to your fishing license.

Description Channel catfish prefer areas near old treestumps, fallen trees and logjams. They can be found on the edge of the main channel where the bottom drops sharply to deeper water. The fish rely primarily on sense of smell to find food so baits with a strong odor work best. Since light for vision is not required for feeding, sometimes the best time to catch catfish is at night. Please check the fishing advisories for information. Regulations There are no statewide creel or length limits for Channel Catfish. You still must follow any site specific regulations. Site specific limits Habitat, habits and breeding For much more information on breeding, habits and habitat, you can read the entire U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) for Channel Catfish This link is a scanned photocopy of the actual reports used by your local government to decide what fish to stock in particular locations. The reports are normally printed on heavy stock blue paper (You'll see the paper reflecting in the background of the scans. Warning: This report is a little over 2 meg in size and will require you to have Adobe Acrobat installed to view properly. Records Illinois record: 45 lb. 4oz North American Record: 58lb. 0oz

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