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: 01/17/2025
Lakes
| NAME | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (>16") | (>24") | (>28") | (lbs.) | BR | |
| PARSONS CITY LAKE | 14.63 | 1.13 | 0.38 | 14.76 | E |
| GARNETT-CEDAR CREEK LAKE | 10.50 | 0.75 | 0.13 | 7.93 | E |
| WOODSON SFL | 8.67 | 0.83 | 0.25 | 13.50 | E |
| EUREKA CITY LAKE | 8.38 | 1.56 | 0.44 | 19.44 | E |
| CRITZER LAKE | 7.25 | 1.25 | 0.25 | 10.10 | E |
| CLARK SFL | 7.17 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.10 | E |
| MIAMI SFL | 6.33 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 6.82 | E |
| BUTLER SFL | 6.25 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 9.48 | G |
| FORT SCOTT CITY LAKE | 6.21 | 0.64 | 0.07 | 13.98 | G |
| BOURBON SFL | 5.86 | 0.57 | 0.29 | 8.65 | G |
| PLEASANTON WEST LAKE | 5.67 | 0.67 | 0.00 | 5.89 | G |
| COUNCIL GROVE CITY LAKE | 5.53 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 7.02 | G |
| HORTON-MISSION LAKE | 5.50 | 0.50 | 0.17 | 8.38 | E |
| WELLINGTON CITY LAKE | 5.40 | 0.20 | 0.00 | 5.53 | G |
| MOUND CITY LAKE | 5.00 | 0.67 | 0.33 | 10.84 | E |
| PLEASANTON WEST LAKE | 5.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.13 | G |
| OLPE CITY LAKE | 4.67 | 0.33 | 0.17 | 11.01 | G |
| PAOLA CITY LAKE-LAKE MIOLA | 4.67 | 0.67 | 0.00 | 8.76 | G |
| SCOTT SFL | 4.52 | 0.05 | 0.00 | 6.99 | G |
| GARNETT CITY LAKE-NORTH | 4.50 | 0.38 | 0.13 | 9.12 | G |
| MARION COUNTY LAKE | 4.42 | 0.33 | 0.08 | 15.09 | G |
| BROWN SFL | 4.38 | 0.38 | 0.00 | 6.05 | G |
| NEOSHO SFL | 4.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.14 | G |
| HARVEY COUNTY LAKE-EAST | 4.20 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 6.13 | G |
| WINFIELD CITY LAKE | 4.17 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 6.28 | G |
| LAKE LENEXA | 4.17 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 7.69 | G |
| LAKE AFTON | 4.17 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.43 | G |
| OLATHE-CEDAR LAKE | 4.08 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.89 | G |
| CHASE SFL | 4.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.11 | G |
| MIDDLE CREEK SFL | 3.78 | 0.50 | 0.11 | 8.56 | G |
| CENTRALIA CITY LAKE | 3.75 | 0.63 | 0.21 | 10.63 | G |
| CARBONDALE CITY LAKE-EAST | 3.73 | 1.73 | 0.27 | 11.99 | G |
| HOWARD-POLK DANIELS LAKE | 3.70 | 0.40 | 0.10 | 13.22 | G |
| PLEASANTON EAST LAKE | 3.70 | 0.50 | 0.10 | 10.79 | G |
| JEWELL SFL | 3.67 | 0.17 | 0.17 | 10.58 | F |
| DOUGLAS CO-LONESTAR LAKE | 3.59 | 0.12 | 0.00 | 6.17 | G |
| GRIDLEY CITY LAKE | 3.33 | 1.00 | 0.33 | 7.17 | G |
| MADISON CITY LAKE | 3.31 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 5.18 | G |
| BELLEVILLE-ROCKY POND | 3.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.69 | F |
| BANNER CREEK LAKE | 3.19 | 0.50 | 0.19 | 13.70 | F |
| DOUGLAS SFL | 3.06 | 0.19 | 0.00 | 5.57 | G |
| JEFFREY ENERGY CENTER-AUXILIARY LAKE | 3.04 | 0.04 | 0.00 | 5.27 | F |
| GARDNER CITY LAKE | 2.94 | 0.39 | 0.06 | 16.38 | G |
| HERINGTON CITY LAKE-NEW | 2.86 | 0.43 | 0.07 | 10.98 | G |
| WASHINGTON SFL | 2.83 | 1.25 | 0.67 | 12.04 | G |
| LAKE SHAWNEE | 2.61 | 0.43 | 0.13 | 15.00 | G |
| BONE CREEK LAKE | 2.58 | 0.73 | 0.19 | 16.81 | G |
| OSAGE CITY LAKE | 2.57 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 6.17 | P |
| ATCHISON SFL | 2.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.45 | F |
| COLDWATER LAKE | 2.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.42 | F |
| SPRING HILL CITY LAKE | 2.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.55 | G |
| WIFA-GRAHAM CO-TREXLER POND | 2.33 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 5.94 | G |
| ANTHONY CITY LAKE | 2.29 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.07 | F |
| SABETHA CITY LAKE | 2.25 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 5.28 | G |
| PRATT COUNTY LAKE | 2.20 | 0.33 | 0.07 | 8.33 | F |
| SABETHA-PONY CREEK LAKE | 2.17 | 1.00 | 0.75 | 18.87 | G |
| JOHNSON CO-SHAWNEE MISSION LAKE | 2.17 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 7.04 | P |
| GARNETT CITY LAKE-SOUTH | 2.17 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.31 | F |
| OTTAWA SFL | 2.13 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.33 | F |
| WILSON SFL | 2.11 | 0.22 | 0.00 | 6.93 | G |
| LAKE OLATHE | 2.06 | 0.22 | 0.06 | 10.89 | G |
| COWLEY SFL | 1.88 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 5.62 | G |
| BROWNING OXBOW | 1.83 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 6.35 | G |
| LYON SFL | 1.83 | 0.39 | 0.28 | 23.96 | G |
| MONTGOMERY SFL | 1.83 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.00 | G |
| ATCHISON CITY LAKE #23 | 1.75 | 0.25 | 0.00 | 5.31 | F |
| TUTTLE CREEK RIVER POND | 1.75 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.62 | G |
| GEARY SFL | 1.75 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 6.31 | F |
| YATES CENTER CITY LAKE-NEW | 1.72 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.09 | G |
| LOUISBURG CITY LAKE | 1.67 | 0.33 | 0.00 | 6.78 | G |
| OSAWATOMIE CITY LAKE | 1.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.49 | F |
| THAYER CITY LAKE-NEW | 1.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.53 | F |
| MELVERN RIVER POND | 1.50 | 0.50 | 0.00 | 7.39 | F |
| CHANUTE CITY LAKE | 1.50 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.72 | F |
| ALMA CITY LAKE | 1.43 | 0.29 | 0.14 | 7.75 | F |
| NEBO SFL | 1.40 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.67 | F |
| LEAVENWORTH SFL | 1.33 | 0.17 | 0.08 | 27.44 | P |
| STERLING CITY LAKE | 1.33 | 0.33 | 0.17 | 9.80 | G |
| GREAT BEND-VETS PARK LAKE | 1.17 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.04 | G |
| SHAWNEE SFL | 1.11 | 0.11 | 0.00 | 6.42 | G |
| MCPHERSON SFL | 1.10 | 0.07 | 0.00 | 5.85 | G |
| LEBO CITY LAKE | 1.09 | 0.18 | 0.00 | 7.00 | F |
| HOLTON-PRAIRIE LAKE | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.39 | P |
| GREAT BEND-STONE PARK LAKE | 1.00 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 13.94 | G |
| JEWELL CITY LAKE-EMERSON LAKE | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.80 | F |
| HARVEY COUNTY LAKE-WEST | 0.93 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.99 | P |
| POTTAWATOMIE SFL #2 | 0.92 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.11 | G |
| GRAHAM CO-ANTELOPE LAKE | 0.89 | 0.22 | 0.00 | 6.45 | G |
| BARBER SFL | 0.87 | 0.13 | 0.00 | 6.20 | F |
| YATES CENTER-SOUTH OWL LAKE | 0.76 | 0.12 | 0.00 | 5.17 | F |
| LAKE ATWOOD | 0.75 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.25 | F |
| MOLINE NEW CITY LAKE-NORTH | 0.72 | 0.22 | 0.22 | 11.09 | F |
| RICHMOND CITY LAKE | 0.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.81 | G |
| MINED LAND PIT 44A | 0.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.48 | F |
| THAYER CITY LAKE-OLD | 0.67 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.18 | F |
| MEADE SFL | 0.63 | 0.25 | 0.13 | 12.31 | F |
| ELLIS CITY LAKE | 0.60 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.68 | F |
| OSAGE SFL | 0.53 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.85 | P |
| JEFFREY ENERGY CENTER-MAKE UP LAKE | 0.44 | 0.06 | 0.00 | 5.13 | F |
| CRAWFORD SFL | 0.44 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.68 | F |
| KIOWA SFL | 0.38 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.89 | F |
| JOHNSON CO-LEXINGTON PARK LAKE | 0.33 | 0.33 | 0.33 | 9.09 | P |
| FORT SCOTT-GUNN PARK W POND-#2 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.28 | F |
| WICHITA-CHISHOLM NORTH LAKE | 0.17 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.99 | F |
| MOLINE OLD CITY LAKE-SOUTH | 0.14 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.55 | F |
| HORSETHIEF | 0.13 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.02 | F |
| EDNA CITY LAKE | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.54 | F |
| POTTAWATOMIE SFL #1 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.87 | P |
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: 01/17/2025
Reservoirs
* - Designates waters that were not tested during the current year.
| NAME | Density | Preferred | Lunker | Big fish | Bio rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (>16") | (>24") | (>28") | (lbs.) | BR | |
| BIG HILL | 8.07 | 0.77 | 0.10 | 9.05 | G |
| LOVEWELL | 6.36 | 1.05 | 0.11 | 11.81 | G |
| HILLSDALE | 5.74 | 0.64 | 0.07 | 11.01 | G |
| KANOPOLIS | 4.00 | 0.43 | 0.02 | 9.93 | G |
| MARION | 3.69 | 0.23 | 0.06 | 18.72 | G |
| WILSON | 3.40 | 0.48 | 0.02 | 10.11 | G |
| CHENEY | 2.70 | 0.50 | 0.10 | 14.81 | G |
| TORONTO | 2.69 | 1.86 | 0.47 | 11.33 | G |
| FALL RIVER | 2.10 | 1.58 | 0.68 | 11.21 | G |
| PERRY | 1.94 | 0.41 | 0.04 | 7.93 | G |
| MELVERN | 1.87 | 0.11 | 0.02 | 6.48 | G |
| GLEN ELDER | 1.86 | 0.47 | 0.16 | 16.60 | G |
| LACYGNE | 1.78 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 4.52 | G |
| POMONA | 1.65 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 11.96 | G |
| COUNCIL GROVE | 1.53 | 0.20 | 0.09 | 9.41 | F |
| CEDAR BLUFF | 1.50 | 0.35 | 0.05 | 14.15 | G |
| CLINTON | 1.29 | 0.17 | 0.00 | 5.86 | G |
| WEBSTER | 1.21 | 0.21 | 0.00 | 8.39 | F |
| KIRWIN | 1.19 | 0.22 | 0.03 | 10.72 | G |
| ELK CITY | 1.17 | 0.10 | 0.00 | 5.37 | G |
| JOHN REDMOND | 1.13 | 0.33 | 0.05 | 9.59 | G |
| EL DORADO | 0.70 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.84 | F |
| TUTTLE CREEK | 0.47 | 0.13 | 0.04 | 8.59 | F |
| MILFORD | 0.45 | 0.05 | 0.00 | 5.21 | F |
| WOLF CREEK | 0.38 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3.50 | G |
| SEBELIUS | 0.37 | 0.23 | 0.17 | 22.56 | G |