Channel Catfish Forecast
The channel catfish is the bread and butter of Kansas fishing. Found in nearly all waters from large rivers and reservoirs to small prairie streams, good channel cat fishing is never far away. State lakes are also popular places to catch channel cats. Department hatcheries produce millions of channel cats each year. The state record channel cat weighed 36 pounds, 8 ounces. The world record is 58 pounds.
Updated: 01/19/2023
Lakes
| Waterbody | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHANNEL CATFISH | |||||
| (>16") | (>24") | (>28") | (lbs.) | ||
| LAKES | |||||
| PLAINVILLE LAKE | 9.58 | 2.33 | 0.00 | 7.67 | G |
| CHASE SFL | 9.50 | 0.75 | 0.00 | 7.71 | G |
| PARSONS CITY LAKE | 9.13 | 0.75 | 0.13 | 13.09 | G |
| GARNETT-CEDAR CREEK LAKE | 8.81 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 6.74 | G |
| WOODSON SFL | 8.71 | 0.41 | 0.18 | 13.50 | G |
| NEOSHO SFL | 7.83 | 0.42 | 0.08 | 12.22 | G |
| EUREKA CITY LAKE | 7.63 | 2.13 | 0.50 | 19.44 | E |
| FORT SCOTT-GUNN PARK W POND-#2 | 6.50 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 5.87 | E |
| MOUND CITY LAKE | 5.72 | 1.11 | 0.17 | 10.84 | E |
| LAKE AFTON | 5.56 | 0.11 | 0.06 | 8.28 | E |
| SEDAN NEW CITY LAKE-SOUTH | 5.25 | 1.00 | 0.00 | 7.27 | E |
| FORT SCOTT CITY LAKE | 5.13 | 0.83 | 0.13 | 19.35 | E |
| PLEASANTON WEST LAKE | 5.00 | 0.67 | 0.00 | 4.75 | E |
| WINFIELD CITY LAKE | 5.00 | 0.20 | 0.00 | 8.42 | G |
| SABETHA CITY LAKE | 5.00 | 0.10 | 0.00 | 4.99 | E |
| SEDAN OLD CITY LAKE-NORTH | 4.75 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 7.47 | E |
| JETMORE CITY LAKE | 4.67 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 5.33 | G |
| DOUGLAS CO-LONESTAR LAKE | 4.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.98 | G |
| COLDWATER LAKE | 4.63 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 5.65 | G |
| OLATHE-CEDAR LAKE | 4.50 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 5.79 | G |
| MIAMI SFL | 4.50 | 0.08 | 0.00 | 5.82 | G |
| MARION COUNTY LAKE | 4.42 | 0.58 | 0.08 | 9.56 | G |
| ALTAMONT CITY LAKE-EAST | 4.33 | 2.00 | 0.33 | 8.94 | G |
| ATCHISON CITY LAKE #23 | 4.33 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 6.96 | G |
| WELLINGTON CITY LAKE | 4.31 | 0.19 | 0.00 | 5.83 | G |
| ANTHONY CITY LAKE | 4.12 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.23 | G |
| PAOLA CITY LAKE-LAKE MIOLA | 4.08 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 5.75 | G |
| CENTRALIA CITY LAKE | 4.05 | 0.40 | 0.10 | 10.63 | G |
| COUNCIL GROVE CITY LAKE | 4.00 | 0.20 | 0.10 | 11.65 | G |
| GARNETT CITY LAKE-NORTH | 3.92 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 6.66 | G |
| BROWN SFL | 3.58 | 0.75 | 0.08 | 9.03 | G |
| WASHINGTON SFL | 3.50 | 1.17 | 0.17 | 9.84 | G |
| PRATT COUNTY LAKE | 3.29 | 0.57 | 0.00 | 8.93 | G |
| HARVEY COUNTY LAKE-EAST | 3.21 | 0.07 | 0.00 | 6.36 | G |
| BROWNING OXBOW | 3.00 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 5.29 | F |
| JEWELL CITY LAKE-EMERSON LAKE | 3.00 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 5.60 | G |
| RICHMOND CITY LAKE | 3.00 | 0.33 | 0.33 | 9.80 | G |
| BOURBON SFL | 2.92 | 0.31 | 0.00 | 10.06 | G |
| CLARK SFL | 2.92 | 0.17 | 0.08 | 10.59 | G |
| JEWELL SFL | 2.92 | 0.08 | 0.00 | 6.85 | G |
| MIDDLE CREEK SFL | 2.89 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 8.85 | G |
| CARBONDALE CITY LAKE-EAST | 2.82 | 0.82 | 0.09 | 11.99 | G |
| SCOTT SFL | 2.82 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 8.82 | G |
| WELLINGTON-HARGIS CREEK LAKE | 2.75 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 7.27 | E |
| OLPE CITY LAKE | 2.75 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 5.73 | E |
| JEFFREY EC-AUX. LAKE | 2.70 | 0.15 | 0.10 | 16.52 | F |
| BONE CREEK LAKE | 2.69 | 0.38 | 0.12 | 17.68 | G |
| ALTAMONT CITY LAKE-WEST | 2.67 | 0.33 | 0.33 | 12.22 | G |
| HORTON-MISSION LAKE | 2.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.84 | G |
| GARDNER CITY LAKE | 2.61 | 0.44 | 0.11 | 16.38 | G |
| WICHITA-CHISHOLM NORTH LAKE | 2.60 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 6.02 | F |
| BANNER CREEK LAKE | 2.56 | 0.44 | 0.06 | 12.29 | F |
| WILSON SFL | 2.39 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 6.93 | G |
| DOUGLAS SFL | 2.33 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 6.32 | G |
| LAKE OLATHE | 2.22 | 0.22 | 0.00 | 8.99 | G |
| BUTLER SFL | 2.13 | 0.38 | 0.13 | 7.37 | G |
| GEARY SFL | 1.92 | 0.15 | 0.00 | 6.42 | G |
| YATES CENTER CITY LAKE-NEW | 1.89 | 0.22 | 0.06 | 15.53 | G |
| LAKE SHAWNEE | 1.88 | 0.63 | 0.13 | 15.00 | G |
| SHAWNEE SFL | 1.83 | 0.11 | 0.00 | 6.42 | G |
| GARNETT CITY LAKE-SOUTH | 1.83 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.31 | F |
| BARBER SFL | 1.77 | 0.08 | 0.00 | 5.26 | F |
| MINED LAND PIT 45A | 1.75 | 0.75 | 0.00 | 5.13 | G |
| LEAVENWORTH SFL | 1.75 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 4.80 | F |
| BELLEVILLE-ROCKY POND | 1.75 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.69 | F |
| HOLTON-PRAIRIE LAKE | 1.75 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.09 | F |
| GRAHAM CO-ANTELOPE LAKE | 1.73 | 0.73 | 0.09 | 7.47 | G |
| ROOKS STATE LAKE | 1.73 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.28 | G |
| MONTGOMERY SFL | 1.67 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 6.89 | G |
| OSAWATOMIE CITY LAKE | 1.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.49 | F |
| SABETHA-PONY CREEK LAKE | 1.60 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 16.30 | G |
| LEBO CITY LAKE | 1.50 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 8.91 | F |
| WICHITA-KDOT E. BORROW PIT | 1.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.74 | G |
| MELVERN RIVER POND | 1.33 | 0.67 | 0.00 | 7.39 | G |
| POTTAWATOMIE CO LAKE | 1.33 | 0.33 | 0.33 | 9.81 | F |
| CRAWFORD SFL | 1.33 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 8.39 | G |
| HERINGTON CITY LAKE-NEW | 1.29 | 0.07 | 0.00 | 5.17 | F |
| OSAGE SFL | 1.27 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.07 | F |
| ALMA CITY LAKE | 1.25 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 7.75 | F |
| GRIDLEY CITY LAKE | 1.17 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 6.47 | G |
| PLEASANTON EAST LAKE | 1.17 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 11.65 | G |
| HARVEY COUNTY LAKE-WEST | 1.14 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.03 | F |
| TUTTLE CREEK RIVER POND | 1.13 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 5.41 | F |
| HOWARD-POLK DANIELS LAKE | 1.10 | 0.60 | 0.10 | 13.22 | G |
| WICHITA-KDOT W. BORROW PIT | 1.00 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 7.55 | P |
| MADISON CITY LAKE | 1.00 | 0.11 | 0.00 | 5.73 | G |
| LOUISBURG CITY LAKE | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.41 | F |
| POTTAWATOMIE SFL #2 | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.37 | G |
| SPRING HILL CITY LAKE | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.40 | F |
| WIFA-GRAHAM CO-TREXLER POND | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.10 | F |
| LYON SFL | 0.94 | 0.24 | 0.12 | 18.19 | G |
| MCPHERSON SFL | 0.93 | 0.10 | 0.00 | 6.67 | G |
| STERLING CITY LAKE | 0.92 | 0.08 | 0.00 | 7.57 | F |
| YATES CENTER-SOUTH OWL LAKE | 0.89 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 7.14 | F |
| LAKE LENEXA | 0.83 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.10 | F |
| MOLINE NEW CITY LAKE-NORTH | 0.67 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 5.77 | F |
| OTTAWA SFL | 0.56 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.76 | F |
| MEADE SFL | 0.50 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 12.31 | F |
| NEBO SFL | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.35 | F |
| LOGAN CITY LAKE | 0.44 | 0.11 | 0.00 | 5.08 | F |
| ELLIS CITY LAKE | 0.40 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.83 | P |
| JEFFREY EC-MAKE UP LAKE | 0.39 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.62 | F |
| KINGMAN SFL | 0.35 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 6.21 | F |
| MOLINE OLD CITY LAKE-SOUTH | 0.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.04 | P |
| KIOWA SFL | 0.29 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.03 | F |
| GREAT BEND-STONE PARK LAKE | 0.28 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 13.94 | G |
| HORSETHIEF | 0.26 | 0.11 | 0.05 | 10.00 | G |
| COWLEY SFL | 0.25 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 1.94 | G |
| SHERIDAN SFL | 0.25 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 11.95 | F |
| GREAT BEND-VETS PARK LAKE | 0.17 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.20 | G |
| LAKE ATWOOD | 0.11 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.44 | P |
| POTTAWATOMIE SFL #1 | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.29 | P |
| ATCHISON CITY LAKE #7 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.16 | P |
| EDNA CITY LAKE | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.86 | P |
| SEVERY CITY LAKE | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.61 | F |
Updated: 01/19/2023
Ponds
| Waterbody | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHANNEL CATFISH | |||||
| (>16") | (>24") | (>28") | (lbs.) | ||
| OVERBROOK CITY LAKE | 3.50 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 12.86 | G |
| AGRA CITY LAKE | 2.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.38 | G |
| PARKER CITY LAKE | 0.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.53 | P |
Updated: 01/19/2023
Reservoirs
* - Designates waters that were not tested during the current year.
| Waterbody | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHANNEL CATFISH | |||||
| (>16") | (>24") | (>28") | (lbs.) | ||
| RES | |||||
| LOVEWELL | 6.11 | 0.96 | 0.13 | 13.83 | G |
| HILLSDALE | 5.81 | 0.22 | 0.06 | 10.62 | G |
| BIG HILL | 5.47 | 0.63 | 0.03 | 8.60 | G |
| MARION | 5.36 | 0.20 | 0.02 | 5.48 | G |
| TORONTO | 3.75 | 2.36 | 0.53 | 12.78 | G |
| KANOPOLIS | 3.70 | 0.48 | 0.00 | 6.54 | G |
| ELK CITY | 3.11 | 0.47 | 0.03 | 8.42 | G |
| WILSON | 2.76 | 0.48 | 0.03 | 10.11 | G |
| PERRY | 2.54 | 0.65 | 0.14 | 12.70 | G |
| MELVERN | 2.46 | 0.30 | 0.06 | 11.45 | G |
| CLINTON | 2.45 | 0.09 | 0.00 | 6.06 | G |
| CHENEY | 2.29 | 0.51 | 0.09 | 14.81 | G |
| LACYGNE | 2.27 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 7.26 | G |
| GLEN ELDER | 1.94 | 0.45 | 0.17 | 16.60 | G |
| POMONA | 1.51 | 0.09 | 0.06 | 11.96 | G |
| FALL RIVER | 1.43 | 1.06 | 0.37 | 14.53 | G |
| WEBSTER | 1.28 | 0.08 | 0.03 | 10.64 | F |
| KIRWIN | 1.22 | 0.33 | 0.08 | 11.23 | F |
| COUNCIL GROVE | 1.18 | 0.20 | 0.04 | 7.59 | F |
| JOHN REDMOND | 0.98 | 0.24 | 0.10 | 14.02 | F |
| CEDAR BLUFF | 0.90 | 0.12 | 0.04 | 14.15 | F |
| WOLF CREEK | 0.81 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.16 | F |
| TUTTLE CREEK | 0.75 | 0.12 | 0.07 | 14.31 | F |
| EL DORADO | 0.67 | 0.02 | 0.00 | 5.39 | F |
| MILFORD | 0.30 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 9.23 | F |
| SEBELIUS | 0.17 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 22.56 | F |