Channel Catfish Native
🔬 Ictalurus punctatus
Bottom feeder active at night. Stocked in many Michigan lakes.
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Bite this month
Excellent
Best season
Summer
Keeper size
12" at ~4 yrs
Regulations
limit 10
Where to Catch Channel Catfish in Michigan
Channel Catfish Conservation Status
Native Channel Catfish is native to Michigan waters. Stocked widely across Michigan. Numbers are strong in managed lakes and rivers. The daily bag limit is 10.
Channel Catfish Habitat & Behavior
Stocked in many Michigan lakes and slow-moving rivers. Bottom dweller preferring soft mud or sand. DNR records show Channel Catfish present in 204 Michigan water bodies. Highest stocking activity on record is in Washtenaw, Clinton and Calhoun counties. Bite activity rates Good or better in Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep and Oct.
Best Channel Catfish Techniques
Chicken liver, stink bait, night crawlers on bottom
Best Channel Catfish Baits
Night crawlers, chicken liver, cut shad, stink bait, blood bait
Channel Catfish Fishing Regulations in Michigan
10
Daily limit
20
Possession limit
Year-round
Season
Most active during warm months (June–September). Night fishing with cut bait or chicken liver is highly effective.
⚠️ Regulations shown are general statewide guidelines for 2025. Rules vary by water body and change annually.
Always verify current regulations in the official Michigan DNR Fishing Guide before you fish.
Michigan DNR Channel Catfish Stocking Records
Channel Catfish Stocking Events by Lake
| Date | Lake | County | Quantity | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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13 more recent stocking events available with Fishing Pro
See what's been stocked recently, including lake, quantity, and size.
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| Nov 15, 2024 | Searles Lake | 100 | 5.0" | |
| Jun 18, 2024 | Lewis Emery Park Ponds | 35 | 4.7" | |
| Jun 18, 2024 | Lewis Emery Park Ponds | 220 | 4.7" | |
| Jun 18, 2024 | Lake Interstate | 420 | 4.7" | |
| Jun 18, 2024 | Lake Delta (Erickson Pond) | 896 | 4.7" | |
| Jun 18, 2024 | Lake Ovid | Clinton | 8,258 | 4.7" |
| Jun 18, 2024 | Sand Lake #1 | Grand Traverse | 1,546 | 4.7" |
| Jun 18, 2024 | Sturgeon Lake | St. Joseph | 3,759 | 4.7" |
| Jun 18, 2024 | Tippy Dam Pond | 7,501 | 4.7" | |
| Jun 18, 2024 | Hall Lake | 691 | 4.7" | |
| Jun 18, 2024 | Campau Lake | Kent | 2,500 | 4.7" |
| Jun 22, 2023 | Palmer Lake | St. Joseph | 4,767 | 9.2" |
Most valuable for Channel Catfish anglers
See where Channel Catfish will be stocked next
Full stocking history across all 133 lakes, plus a forecast of which waters are due for restocking this season.
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775
Historical stocking events
133
Lakes stocked
Oct
Next likely stocking window
Peak Stocking Months
Sep
Oct
Jun
Top Stocked Lakes
See the top 5 lakes most likely to be stocked with Channel Catfish next season.
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Forecast based on historical DNR stocking patterns. Not a guarantee of future stocking. Verify with the Michigan DNR.
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Estimated Mature Channel Catfish — September
See Which Lakes Have Mature Channel Catfish Right Now
Based on DNR stocking records from 2020–2023, we estimate which Michigan lakes likely hold Channel Catfish at keeper size (12") today.
Best Times to Fish Channel Catfish
Angler Tips for Channel Catfish
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