Channel Catfish — Michigan Fishing
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Channel Catfish Native

🔬 Ictalurus punctatus

Bottom feeder active at night. Stocked in many Michigan lakes.

1-5 lbs, 12-22 inches
Typical size
40 lbs
Michigan record
Summer
Best season
94
Listed lakes

🛡 Conservation Status

Native Stocked widely across Michigan. Numbers are strong in managed lakes and rivers.

🌿 Habitat & Behavior

Stocked in many Michigan lakes and slow-moving rivers. Bottom dweller preferring soft mud or sand.

🎣 Best Techniques

Chicken liver, stink bait, night crawlers on bottom

🌊 Where to Catch in Michigan

Lake County Population Notes
40th Street Pond St. Clair Good
Alma Impoundment Gratiot Good
Au Sable River Iosco Good
Austin Lake Kalamazoo Good
Bad River Saginaw Good
Belleville Lake Wayne Good
C. S. Mott Lake Genesee Good
Cass Lake
1,280 acres
Oakland Good
Cass River Saginaw Good
Cass River Tuscola Good
Chippewa River Midland Good
Croton Pond
1,605 acres
Newaygo Good
Detroit River Wayne Good
Flint River Genesee Good
Ford Lake Washtenaw Good
Geddes Pond Washtenaw Good
Grand River Clinton Good
Grand River Ionia Good
Grand River Kent Good
Grand River Ottawa Good

📦 DNR Stocking History

Total stocked: 1,803,237
Stocking events: 391
Peak year: 1988 (222,866)


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