Catfish Fishing in North Carolina

There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. Adults range in size from less than a pound to hundreds of pounds. They can be found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers. There are even species which spend a limited amount of time on dry land. Big giant catfish put up a very noble fight once hooked.

Catfish Fishing Lakes In North Carolina

North Carolina presents ideal conditions for catfish and most waters in the state have one or more species of catfish. The major lakes with healthy populations of catfish include Apalachia Lake, B Everett Jordan Lake, Badin Lake, Belews Lake, Blewett Falls Lake, Chatuge Lake, Falls Lake, Fontana Lake, High Rock Lake, Hiwassee Lake, Hyco Reservoir, Kerr Lake, Kings Mountain Reservoir, Lake Gaston, Lake Glenville, Lake Hickory, Lake James, Lake Mattamuskeet, Lake Norman, Lake Rhodhiss, Lake Tillery, Lake Waccamaw, Lake Wylie, Mayo Reservoir, Mountain Island Lake, Phelps Lake, Roanoke Rapids Lake, Santeetlah Lake, Shearon Harris Reservoir and W Kerr Scott Reservoir. Most ponds, creeks, rivers and smaller lakes also have catfish.

North Carolina state record blue catfish was taken from Lake Norman, the state record channel catfish came from Fontana Reservoir, the Cape Fear River gave up the state record flathead catfish and Lake James yielded the state record for white catfish.

Most catfish are considered bottom feeders to one extent or another. They will generally eat anything that can get in their mouth. Their strongest sense is smell which they use to locate potential food sources. Capitalizing on this sense is the primary weapon in your search for these creatures. Aggressive catfish have been caught on most types of fast moving bass lures so don't under estimate their ability to catch live bait.

Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus

Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris

Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus

White Catfish
Ameiurus catus

Catfish Bait

Catfish Organizations & Resources

Catfish Conservation Group
U.S. Catfish Anglers Tournaments
Planet Catfish

If you have information, articles or photos relating to catfish which you would like to see published under North Carolina catfish articles, please submit them for consideration.

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Check out catfish information in other areas using the list of states to the left.

All About Fishing for Catfish in North Carolina.

58 lbs - 0 oz

40 lbs - 8 oz

65 - 90 Degrees

Prefers slightly stained to murky water with mild current and sand or rock bottom.

123 lbs - 9 oz

69 lbs - 0 oz

75 - 84 Degrees

Prefers streams or large bodies of slightly stained to murky water with moderate current and hard bottom.

143 lbs - 0 oz

85 lbs - 0 oz

68 - 80 Degrees

Found primarily in large river systems with deep current and swift channels.

22 lbs - 0 oz

13 lbs - 0 oz

70 - 85 Degrees

Prefers rivers and streams with slow moving current over muddy, sandy or even slightly silted bottoms.