Channel Catfish Forecast
The channel catfish is the bread and butter of Kansas fishing. Found in nearly all waters from large rivers and reservoirs to small prairie streams, good channel cat fishing is never far away. State lakes are also popular places to catch channel cats. Department hatcheries produce millions of channel cats each year. The state record channel cat weighed 36 pounds, 8 ounces. The world record is 58 pounds.
Updated: 01/14/2026
Lakes
| CHANNEL CATFISH | (>16") | (>24") | (>28") | (lbs.) | Fishing Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAKE | |||||
| PLEASANTON W LAKE | 17.00 | 0.67 | 0.00 | 5.31 | G |
| PARSONS CITY LAKE | 14.63 | 1.13 | 0.38 | 14.76 | G |
| MOUND CITY LAKE | 9.33 | 3.17 | 0.67 | 11.34 | E |
| GARNETT - CEDAR CREEK LAKE | 8.13 | 0.50 | 0.13 | 11.10 | G |
| CLARK SFL | 7.86 | 0.32 | 0.09 | 10.24 | G |
| CRITZER LAKE | 7.25 | 1.25 | 0.25 | 10.10 | E |
| EUREKA CITY LAKE | 6.94 | 1.06 | 0.22 | 10.26 | G |
| FORT SCOTT CITY LAKE | 6.50 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 5.31 | E |
| MIAMI SFL | 5.89 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 6.82 | G |
| PLEASANTON OLD LAKE | 5.67 | 0.67 | 0.00 | 5.89 | G |
| WOODSON SFL | 5.67 | 0.58 | 0.00 | 8.03 | G |
| HORTON - MISSION LAKE | 5.50 | 0.50 | 0.17 | 8.38 | E |
| HARVEY CO LAKE - E | 5.13 | 0.38 | 0.00 | 8.30 | F |
| COUNCIL GROVE CITY LAKE | 4.87 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 7.02 | G |
| BOURBON SFL | 4.86 | 0.43 | 0.29 | 8.65 | G |
| MIDDLE CREEK SFL | 4.72 | 0.67 | 0.11 | 8.56 | E |
| COLDWATER LAKE | 4.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.15 | F |
| BUTLER SFL | 4.38 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 9.48 | F |
| CENTRALIA CITY LAKE | 4.29 | 0.96 | 0.21 | 9.87 | E |
| BANNER CREEK LAKE | 4.21 | 0.33 | 0.13 | 13.70 | G |
| DOUGLAS SFL | 4.19 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 7.44 | G |
| LAKE LENEXA | 4.17 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 7.69 | G |
| CARBONDALE CITY LAKE - E | 4.17 | 1.83 | 0.75 | 15.42 | E |
| OTTAWA SFL | 4.13 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 5.36 | G |
| HAIN SFL | 4.00 | 2.00 | 0.00 | 7.48 | F |
| CHASE SFL | 4.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.11 | F |
| WINFIELD CITY LAKE | 3.91 | 0.18 | 0.00 | 6.28 | G |
| SCOTT SFL | 3.90 | 0.05 | 0.00 | 6.99 | G |
| BELLEVILLE - ROCKY POND | 3.75 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.34 | G |
| PAOLA CITY LAKE - LAKE MIOLA | 3.72 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 8.76 | G |
| PLEASANTON E LAKE | 3.70 | 0.50 | 0.10 | 10.79 | G |
| NEBO SFL | 3.67 | 0.11 | 0.00 | 5.03 | G |
| MADISON CITY LAKE | 3.63 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 5.18 | G |
| LAKE OLATHE | 3.61 | 0.22 | 0.06 | 10.89 | E |
| HOWARD - POLK DANIELS LAKE | 3.50 | 0.83 | 0.08 | 8.32 | F |
| JEWELL SFL | 3.33 | 0.17 | 0.17 | 10.58 | G |
| OLPE CITY LAKE | 3.33 | 0.25 | 0.17 | 11.01 | G |
| GARNETT CITY LAKE - N | 3.25 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 9.12 | G |
| NEOSHO SFL | 3.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.14 | G |
| WASHINGTON SFL | 3.17 | 1.33 | 0.75 | 12.04 | E |
| LAKE SHAWNEE | 3.14 | 0.43 | 0.10 | 10.29 | G |
| JETMORE CITY LAKE | 3.00 | 0.75 | 0.00 | 6.01 | F |
| DOUGLAS CO - LONESTAR LAKE | 3.00 | 0.18 | 0.00 | 6.17 | G |
| GRIDLEY CITY LAKE | 3.00 | 0.67 | 0.17 | 7.17 | G |
| GARDNER CITY LAKE | 2.92 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 6.54 | E |
| HERINGTON CITY LAKE - NEW | 2.80 | 0.47 | 0.07 | 10.98 | F |
| GRAHAM CO - ANTELOPE LAKE | 2.67 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 4.93 | F |
| BONE CREEK LAKE | 2.63 | 1.13 | 0.25 | 16.81 | G |
| BROWN SFL | 2.60 | 0.40 | 0.00 | 6.97 | G |
| OSAGE CITY LAKE | 2.57 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 6.17 | G |
| WIFA - GRAHAM CO - TREXLER POND | 2.56 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 5.94 | F |
| WELLINGTON CITY LAKE | 2.40 | 1.00 | 0.40 | 9.54 | G |
| SABETHA - PONY CREEK LAKE | 2.39 | 0.78 | 0.50 | 18.87 | G |
| SPRING HILL CITY LAKE | 2.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.55 | G |
| ANTHONY CITY LAKE | 2.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.07 | F |
| MARION CO LAKE | 2.25 | 0.25 | 0.08 | 15.09 | G |
| LYON SFL | 2.22 | 0.61 | 0.50 | 23.96 | G |
| GEARY SFL | 2.17 | 0.42 | 0.00 | 8.57 | F |
| MELVERN RIVER POND | 2.14 | 0.57 | 0.00 | 6.85 | F |
| JEFFREY EC - AUXILIARY LAKE | 2.04 | 0.04 | 0.00 | 5.27 | G |
| HOLTON - PRAIRIE LAKE | 2.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.23 | F |
| SABETHA CITY LAKE | 2.00 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 5.28 | G |
| JOHNSON CO - KILL CREEK PARK LAKE | 2.00 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 7.20 | G |
| MONTGOMERY SFL | 1.92 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.38 | G |
| JOHNSON CO - SHAWNEE MISSION LAKE | 1.92 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 7.22 | G |
| COWLEY SFL | 1.88 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 5.62 | F |
| BROWNING OXBOW | 1.83 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 6.35 | F |
| PRATT CO LAKE | 1.80 | 0.50 | 0.10 | 8.33 | G |
| WILSON SFL | 1.72 | 0.22 | 0.00 | 6.17 | G |
| GREAT BEND - VETS PARK LAKE | 1.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.04 | G |
| LOUISBURG CITY LAKE | 1.67 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 6.78 | F |
| GARNETT CITY LAKE - S | 1.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.36 | F |
| THAYER CITY LAKE - NEW | 1.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.53 | G |
| ATCHISON SFL | 1.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.45 | F |
| JEWELL CITY LAKE - EMERSON LAKE | 1.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.52 | F |
| CHANUTE CITY LAKE | 1.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.72 | G |
| LAKE ATWOOD | 1.38 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 5.19 | F |
| OSAWATOMIE CITY LAKE | 1.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.14 | F |
| FORT SCOTT - GUNN PARK W POND - #2 | 1.22 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.28 | F |
| YATES CENTER CITY LAKE - NEW | 1.17 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.09 | G |
| ATCHISON CITY LAKE #23 | 1.14 | 0.14 | 0.00 | 5.31 | F |
| POTTAWATOMIE SFL #2 | 1.08 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.11 | G |
| HARVEY CO LAKE - W | 1.08 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.99 | P |
| LEAVENWORTH SFL | 1.06 | 0.11 | 0.06 | 27.44 | F |
| MCPHERSON SFL | 1.03 | 0.07 | 0.00 | 6.22 | G |
| FORD SFL | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.00 | F |
| ALMA CITY LAKE | 1.00 | 0.33 | 0.33 | 7.69 | F |
| GREAT BEND - STONE PARK LAKE | 0.94 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.81 | G |
| BARBER SFL | 0.93 | 0.20 | 0.00 | 6.23 | G |
| LEBO CITY LAKE | 0.91 | 0.36 | 0.18 | 10.70 | G |
| JOHNSON CO - LEXINGTON PARK LAKE | 0.83 | 0.33 | 0.33 | 9.36 | F |
| SHAWNEE SFL | 0.83 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 5.01 | G |
| YATES CENTER - S OWL LAKE | 0.76 | 0.12 | 0.00 | 6.54 | G |
| ELLIS CITY LAKE | 0.71 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.77 | F |
| MINED LAND PIT #44A | 0.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.48 | G |
| THAYER CITY LAKE - OLD | 0.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.18 | G |
| WICHITA - KDOT W BORROW PIT | 0.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.64 | P |
| MOLINE NEW CITY LAKE - N | 0.61 | 0.22 | 0.22 | 11.09 | G |
| STERLING CITY LAKE | 0.58 | 0.25 | 0.17 | 9.80 | F |
| KIOWA SFL | 0.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.89 | F |
| MEADE SFL | 0.40 | 0.10 | 0.00 | 5.37 | F |
| HORSETHIEF | 0.35 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.02 | F |
| MOLINE OLD CITY LAKE - S | 0.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.43 | F |
| JEFFREY EC - MAKE UP LAKE | 0.33 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 5.13 | F |
| RICHMOND CITY LAKE | 0.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.81 | F |
| OSAGE SFL | 0.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.85 | F |
| SYRACUSE - SAM'S POND | 0.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.30 | F |
| WICHITA - CHISHOLM N LAKE | 0.17 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.99 | P |
| POTTAWATOMIE SFL #1 | 0.11 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.40 | P |
| CRAWFORD SFL | 0.08 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.53 | G |
| HODGEMAN SFL | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.75 | P |
| EDNA CITY LAKE | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.54 | F |
Updated: 01/17/2025
Ponds
| NAME | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (>16") | (>24") | (>28") | (lbs.) | BR | |
| OVERBROOK CITY LAKE | 4.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 | 13.39 | P |
| PARKER CITY LAKE | 0.33 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 4.37 | F |
Updated: 01/14/2026
Reservoirs
* - Designates waters that were not tested during the current year.
| CHANNEL CATFISH | (>16") | (>24") | (>28") | (lbs.) | Fishing Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RESERVOIR | |||||
| BIG HILL | 8.60 | 0.83 | 0.17 | 9.56 | G |
| HILLSDALE | 6.50 | 0.62 | 0.07 | 11.01 | E |
| LOVEWELL | 5.18 | 0.70 | 0.07 | 10.72 | G |
| MARION | 4.00 | 0.15 | 0.03 | 18.72 | G |
| KANOPOLIS | 3.50 | 0.30 | 0.02 | 9.93 | G |
| WILSON | 3.38 | 0.37 | 0.00 | 8.87 | G |
| CHENEY | 2.76 | 0.43 | 0.08 | 12.42 | G |
| FALL RIVER | 2.33 | 1.77 | 0.73 | 12.19 | G |
| PERRY | 2.24 | 0.44 | 0.05 | 10.13 | G |
| LACYGNE | 2.22 | 0.05 | 0.00 | 6.12 | G |
| TORONTO | 1.92 | 1.14 | 0.17 | 9.89 | G |
| COUNCIL GROVE | 1.78 | 0.13 | 0.04 | 9.41 | F |
| MELVERN | 1.74 | 0.09 | 0.02 | 6.74 | G |
| CLINTON | 1.72 | 0.19 | 0.00 | 6.97 | G |
| POMONA | 1.67 | 0.03 | 0.00 | 7.53 | G |
| CEDAR BLUFF | 1.51 | 0.40 | 0.08 | 15.88 | G |
| GLEN ELDER | 1.45 | 0.42 | 0.12 | 16.33 | G |
| KIRWIN | 1.33 | 0.19 | 0.00 | 8.78 | G |
| WEBSTER | 1.22 | 0.22 | 0.00 | 7.45 | G |
| JOHN REDMOND | 1.15 | 0.39 | 0.08 | 12.29 | G |
| ELK CITY | 0.80 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.92 | G |
| TUTTLE CREEK | 0.62 | 0.15 | 0.05 | 13.80 | G |
| EL DORADO | 0.55 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.22 | F |
| MILFORD | 0.50 | 0.05 | 0.00 | 5.96 | F |
| SEBELIUS | 0.47 | 0.30 | 0.20 | 19.36 | G |
| WOLF CREEK | 0.44 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.50 | G |