🐟 Catfish · Fishing gear
Texas Catfish Fishing Gear Guide: Blues, Channels and Flatheads
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Catfish are one of the most-fished species in Texas and one of the easiest to start with. Lake Livingston, Lake Texoma, the Trinity River and countless stock tanks hold good numbers of channel, blue and flathead catfish.
Statewide catfish limits (2026-27)
- Channel and blue catfish (and hybrids): 25 per day in any combination, no minimum length, but only 10 may be 20 inches or longer.
- Flathead catfish: 5 per day, 18-inch minimum.
- Some lakes have special rules, so check exceptions for your water.
Source: TPWD Outdoor Annual, freshwater bag and length limits (valid Sept. 1, 2026 – Aug. 31, 2027).
The gear checklist
1. A medium-heavy rod with a strong reel
A 7–8 foot medium-heavy rod with a reel holding 20–30 lb line covers channel cats and most blues. Trophy blues and flatheads need heavier gear.
2. Circle hooks
Circle hooks usually hook catfish in the corner of the mouth. Let the rod load up instead of jerking a hookset.
3. Sinkers and rigs
A Carolina (slip-sinker) rig is the basic catfish rig. Use no-roll sinkers in current.
4. Bait
Channel cats eat prepared and punch baits. Blues like fresh cut shad. Flatheads prefer live fish (check bait-fish rules for your water).
5. Rod holders and a bell or bite alarm
Bank anglers often fish several rods. Check the rules for your water and keep rods secured.
6. Fish gripper, pliers and cooler
Catfish spines can puncture skin. A gripper and long pliers make handling safer. Ice your keepers right away.
TPWD freshwater limits · Solunar fishing times
Regulation details checked against the TPWD 2026-27 Outdoor Annual on October 23, 2026. Regulations can change mid-year. Confirm at tpwd.texas.gov before you go.
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