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Fish Species - Details
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CHANNEL CATFISH
(Ictalurus punctatus)
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Other Common Names
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Catfish, channel cat, lake catfish, silver catfish, spotted catfish
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Identifying Characteristics
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Dark blue or olive on back, grading to silvery gray on the sides.
Small, dark, irregular spots on body.
The tail is deeply forked.
Four barbels on the chin, two on the snout, and one on each side of the upper jaw.
24 to 30 rays in the anal fin.
Excellent table fare.
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Habits and Habitat
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Inhabits lakes and large rivers.
Often found just downstream of dams.
Not usually found in weed beds; prefers open waters with bottoms of sand or gravel.
Feeds primarily at night.
A bottom feeder, channel catfish eat small fish, insects, and crustaceans.
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Tackle and Techniques
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Use light- to medium-weight tackle and 6- to 14-pound-test line.
The best fishing is at night.
Drift bait, such as a strip of fish belly or gob of worms, or fish on the bottom with slip sinker
using stinkbait.
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Current State Record
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32 pounds, 12 ounces; caught by Chris Dixon on Brant Lake (Warren County) on June 21, 2002.
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© Sander's Fishing Guides, Inc.
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