Channel Catfish
Also known as: Channel Cat, Ole Whiskers, Channels, River Cat, Cat or Forked tail cat
Big Eyes, Omnivorous Feeder
Body color of Channel Catfish varies widely from silvery-grey on the top side to light on the underside, depending mostly on the clarity of the water. The body has dark pigmented spots that are usually less obvious on large adults and young fish. The tail fin is deeply forked. The anal fin is smaller than the standard length and usually has 24 to 29 soft rays. The eyes are large, but the head is small, slender and conic. The air bladder has two lobes that appear as one at first glance. The upper jaw is slightly longer than the lower jaw.
The Channel Catfish is omnivorous and opportunistic in its feeding, gorging on all manner of living and dead material. Large channel Cats feed almost exclusively on fish. Always hungry, they feed all day, but your best bet for a bite is probably dawn and dusk.
Because of its highly developed sensory system, it feeds by touch, taste and sight. For this reason it is frequently caught by anglers. In extremely muddy waters, however, they are prone to feed much less.
Rivers of Plenty
Found in rivers in southern Manitoba as well as rivers that feed Lake Winnipeg (on the east side). This fish can be found in good numbers in the Red and Assiniboine Rivers of southern Manitoba. During spring flooding Catfish have been known to ascend even the smallest streams to inhabit the larger pools in these creeks.
Expert’s Tip: The fresher (and stinkier) the bait during the summer, the more likely a Channel Cat will bite on it.
For more great tips on Channel Catfish fishing in Manitoba, check out our Catfish Tips & Tricks page.
Manitoba Record: This monster measuring 118 cm (46.5”) was caught in the Red River and released.
Get the all time records information from our Master Angler records.
