Channel catfish are the largest member of the bullhead/catfish family found in New York State. The state record channel catfish for New York State is 35 lbs. 12 oz., though average sizes tend to be much smaller. Smaller catfish commonly weigh in the 3 to 8-pound range being more common. In addition to channel catfish, other catfish found in New York state include the flathead, white, and black bullhead.
Channel catfish live for about nine years on average but can live up to 25 years in some cases. They are typically found in large rivers, reservoirs, and lakes. Channel Catfish inhabit countless waters, as they are native to a vast geographical area stretching from southern Canada into northern Mexico, ranging across the St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay (Red River drainage), and Missouri-Mississippi River basins from the province of Quebec in Canada down through Manitoba to Montana and further south to the Gulf.
Channel Cats are highly adaptable, they can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. The water clarity and salinity of the water can also influence where channel catfish are found. They prefer to be freshwater catfish, in clearer waters with lower levels of salt, but they can adapt to brackish water with low or high salinities. In waters that are too salty for other fish species, channel cats may be more abundant as they will have less competition for food or space.
Channel catfish prefer warm and slow-moving waters, deep pools, or backwaters of rivers and streams. Their optimum water temperature for growth is 75 to 85º F, but these fish have been known to survive at temperatures from just above freezing to nearly 100º F.
These catfish are usually found in depths between 5 and 20 feet in lakes but can go shallower or deeper if the habitat is suitable. During the winter months, they favor deep haunts in slow-moving rivers with sluggish currents. In the summer these fish invade shallow bays and more turbulent waters. Channel cats also need plenty of cover such as logs, overhead structures, aquatic vegetation, or undercut banks.
Channel Catfish are primarily nocturnal feeders, meaning they spend most of the day resting in deeper waters and become active at night. They tend to prefer warm summer nights when their food is more abundant.
Channel Catfish are opportunistic bottom feeders that rely heavily on smell and taste to find their prey. They use their barbels (whiskers) around the mouth to search for and detect food. They also have sensitive taste buds in their mouths that allow them to determine if what they’ve found is edible or not. Once the catfish find a meal, they will use their powerful jaws to grab onto it and swallow it whole. Younger channel catfish are more omnivorous, eating a balanced variety of plants and small animals.
Channel Catfish are known to be highly aggressive predators and will hunt for food in schools. They can also use their bodies to create a suction force that helps them capture prey more effectively. Overall, Channel Catfish are voracious feeders and opportunistic predators that can adapt to different environments and prey sources as needed.
As the summer begins, adult channel catfish embark on their annual spawning ritual when water temperatures reach 68-70 degrees. Once these conditions are met, they travel to nesting areas to start gearing up for reproduction. Once water temperatures remain steady at 70-74 degrees they begin spawning.
The male selects the nesting site, clears the nesting site of any debris, and then attracts the female to the bed or nesting site. Once the female lays her eggs, which may number 3,000 to 4,000, she plays no further role. They prefer to spawn in shallow waters with a hard, sandy bottom, such as riffles or sand bars. The female will lay her eggs on the bottom substrate while the male will hover over them to protect them.
Channel catfish eggs mature and hatch in around 10 days, and the male protects their fry until they are about a week old. During this time, the fry feed on zooplankton, aquatic plants and small insects to survive. After the week is up, the fry will disperse from the nest site in search of larger prey and areas with more shelter. Channel Catfish are fully mature at approximately 18 months old.
Fishing for Channel Catfish is a popular pastime year-round, but the best time to target them is during the spring and summer months when they become more active. They tend to congregate in deeper water where there are plenty of places to hide and seek shelter such as sunken logs, old tires, and undercut banks.
When it comes to natural baits or lures, live bait works best for catching catfish. Nightcrawlers, shad, minnows, and worms are all great. Chicken livers are a popular cut bait for channel catfish among most new york anglers. It’s always a good idea to look into the various local baitfish species available as you want to use bait that the Chanel Catfish will recognize. You can also use artificial lures such as jigs, crankbaits, spoons, and spinners. Catfish are also attracted to strong scents so you can also try adding some smelly bait enhancers or attractants to your setup.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has specific regulations regarding the fishing of Channel Catfish. The open season for Channel Catfish is all year long. In most waterways in NY, there are no daily catch limits or minimum sizes for catching channel cats. But as always you should be sure to check the current DEC regulations for the waters you are planning to fish before you head out on the water.
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