Channel Catfish

Physical Description

Like all catfish, Channel Cats possess barbels (whiskers) which are used for taste. They have a deeply forked tail (caudal fin) with an anal fin of 24-29 soft rays arranged in a radial (rounded) fashion. Their dorsal and pectoral fins possess hard, pointed spines that one would be advised to avoid. Although these spines are not poisonous, they can impose a painful puncture if not careful. Channel Cat’s colorations can differ with water conditions. Their back and sides can be brown, olive, copper, or a slate-blue shading downward to an off-white or silver belly. In their youth, Channel Cats display dark spots scattered on their sides. These spots tend to fade or vanish entirely in the adults.

Habitat

Channel Cats are plentiful in lakes, reservoirs, ponds, rivers, streams, and even brackish waters. They are typically fond of sand and gravel bottoms with cover in close proximity.

Distribution

Channel Cats are found throughout the United States and are North America’s most broadly dispersed sport fish.

Diet & Feeding

Channel Cats are not finicky eaters. They are omnivorous in that their diets include both plant and animal material. A Channel Cat’s menu may consist of insects, snails, crawfish, algae, aquatic plants, frogs, grasshoppers, crickets, worms, shrimp and fish. However, as Channel Cats mature they tend to feed on fish most of the time.

Baits

Popular baits among Channel cat anglers include (but not limited to!!) liver, worms, grasshoppers, crickets, shrimp, chicken, hot dogs, cheese baits, stink baits, dough baits, soap, sardines, minnows, goldfish, bait fish (shad, bream, etc) and a variety of homemade concoctions.

Life History

Spawning will start in late spring to early summer as the water temperatures rise to around 75°F. They nest in isolated areas such as rocks, logs, holes, cavities, and undercuts. Once hatched, the fry are highly vulnerable to predators. Most Channel Cats are mature when they are 12” in length and sexually mature between 3-6 years of age.

Age & Growth

There are various factors that influence the growth of Channel Cats, including warm, unpolluted, oxygenated water conditions. Thomas L. Wellborn noted:

1 “Channel catfish grow best in warm water with optimum growth occurring at temperatures of about 85° F (29.4° C). With each 18° F (10° C) change in temperature there is a doubling or halving of their metabolic rate. This means that within limits, their appetite increases with increasing water temperatures or decreases with decreasing water temperatures.”

1 Wellborn, Thomas L., Channel Catfish Life History and Biology, Southern Regional Aquaculture Center website, December 1988