What to bring
Tackle for channel catfish
Three picks from the catfish checklist that work for the fish here. Affiliate links: buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:
The fish
Channel catfish in Tennessee
Channel catfish are the most widespread catfish in Tennessee, found in every major river and lake and stocked in many small lakes. They bite day and night, take simple baits and are one of the best fish to target from the bank.
How to tell a channel catfish
Grey to olive with scattered dark spots on younger fish, a deeply forked tail and a rounded anal fin. The upper jaw sticks out past the lower. Also called channel cat, fiddler.
Where to catch them
Best channel catfish water in Tennessee
Where channel catfish fishing is strongest. Each page lists every public ramp, pier and bank access on that water, with directions.
Other lakes and rivers with channel catfish
Limits
Tennessee channel catfish limits
Statewide: No limit under 34 in a day, only one over 34 in. These 3 lakes and rivers have their own rules, which replace the statewide limit there.
| Water | Daily limit | Length | Where or when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel Hill LakeCatfish | 5 blue/channel combined | 14 in minimum | |
| South Holston LakeCatfish | 20 | Only one over 34 in | |
| Wolf River, Herb Parsons LakeCatfish | 5 blue/channel combined | 16 in minimum | Herb Parsons Lake |
From the 2026–27 Tennessee Fishing Guide (TWRA), in effect 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027, checked 25 September 2026. Rules change, so check the guide before you keep a fish.