• Characteristics - silvery-gray above fading to lighter shades on the belly; body marked with dark spots (may be obscure in adults); tail fin deeply forked; may reach lengths of about 20 inches by 10 years of age
• Distribution - statewide in rivers, lakes, and ponds
• Foods - fish, aquatic invertebrates, plant material
• State Record - 36 pounds, 8 ounces - Middle Raccoon River, Dallas County, August 1993 - Ron Godwin, Earlham, Iowa
• Expert's Tip - the worse it smells the more likely a channel cat will bite on it

For more channel catfish information, see our printable pdf (128K) or Iowa Fish & Fishing.