Catfish Fishing in Texas

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.

This 18 pound 6 oz blue catfish was caught from Lake Houston by James May on live perch in 3' of water.

Catfish Fishing Lakes In Texas

Let's start with the major lakes with catfish. They include B.A. Steinhagen Lake, Belton Lake, Cedar Creek Reservoir, Choke Canyon Reservoir, Cooper Lake, Diversion Lake, Eagle Mountain Lake, Lake E.V. Spence, Grapevine Lake, Hubbard Creek Reservoir, Joe Pool Lake, Lake Arrowhead, Lake Bob Sandlin, Lake Bridgeport, Lake Brownwood, Lake Buchanan, Lake Caddo, Lake Conroe, Lake Corpus Christi, Lake Fork Reservoir, Lake Granbury, Lake Houston, Lake J.B. Thomas, Lake Kemp, Lake Kickapoo, Lake Lewisville, Lake Limestone, Lake Livingston, Lake Lyndon B Johnson, Lake Meredith, Lake O the Pines, Lake Palestine, Lake Ray Hubbard, Lake Somerville, Lake Tawakoni, Lake Texana, Lake Texoma, Lake Travis, Lake Waco, Lake Whitney, Lake Worth, Lavon Lake, Martin Creek Lake, Medina Lake, Navarro Mills Lake, O.C. Fisher Lake, O.H. Ivie Lake, Palo Duro Reservoir, Pat Mayse Lake, Possom Kingdom Lake, Proctor Lake, Ray Roberts Lake, Richland Chambers Reservoir, Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Stamford Reservoir, Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir, Toledo Bend, Twin Buttes Reservoir and Wright Patman Lake.

Most rivers in Texas also have good to excellent catfish fishing as do many small lakes and ponds.

Lake Texoma yielded the Texas state record blue catfish and the TX state record channel catfish was taken out of the Pedernales River. Lake Palestine was home to the TX state record flathead 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

Catfish Bait

Catfish Organizations & Resources

Catfish Conservation Group
Catfish Conservation
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 Texas catfish articles, please submit them for consideration. We will gladly give you credit for your contribution. If you have a fishing related business and would like to mention it within the context of the article, we will consider your request. For significant contributions we may offer complimentary display ads, please contact us if you are interested.

If you offer fishing guide services, you can choose from two listing options to promote your guide services, by visiting our Advertising section.

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

All About Fishing for Catfish in Texas.

58 lbs - 0 oz

36 lbs - 8 oz

65 - 90 Degrees

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

123 lbs - 0 oz

98 lbs - 8 oz

75 - 84 Degrees

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

124 lbs - 0 oz

121 lbs - 5 oz

68 - 80 Degrees

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