--- type: fish_guide title: "How to Catch Catfish in Minnesota: Channel Cats, Flatheads, Rivers & Limits" description: "How to catch channel and flathead catfish in Minnesota rivers and southern lakes, with baits, rigs, the best waters and the 2026 seasons and limits." updated: 2026-10-01 url: https://www.minnelakes.org/fish/channel-catfish --- # How to Catch Catfish in Minnesota: Channel Cats, Flatheads, Rivers & Limits ## Key Takeaways - Minnesota catfishing is mostly river fishing: the Red, Minnesota, Mississippi and St. Croix, plus lakes connected to them and some stocked southern and metro lakes. - Channel catfish are open all year with a 2026 inland limit of 5 and only 1 over 24 inches. Flatheads are open April 1 to November 30 with a limit of 2 and only 1 over 24 inches. - Channel cats eat cut bait and scent baits and bite day and night. Flatheads are night-feeding predators that want live bait near heavy wood. - Two lines are legal in open water on the Minnesota River below Granite Falls Dam and the Mississippi below St. Anthony Falls, which covers much of the best catfish water. - Border waters, including the Red River, lower St. Croix and Mississippi, have their own catfish limits. Catfish in Minnesota are river fish first. Channel catfish are widespread in the Red, Minnesota, Mississippi and St. Croix systems and in a number of stocked southern and metro lakes; flathead catfish are limited to the big southern rivers. Fish cut bait on the bottom above a hole for channel cats, and live bait tight to a logjam after dark for flatheads. In 2026 the inland limit is 5 channel catfish and 2 flatheads, each with only 1 over 24 inches, and the flathead season runs April 1 to November 30. ## Identification and habits | | Channel catfish | Flathead catfish | | --- | --- | --- | | Tail | Deeply forked | Squared to slightly rounded | | Head and jaw | Narrower head, upper jaw longer | Wide flat head, lower jaw protrudes | | Color | Gray to olive, small dark spots on younger fish | Mottled yellow, brown and olive | | Diet | Almost anything: fish, insects, crayfish, dead fish | Live fish, mostly at night | | Typical haunt | Current seams, holes, riffles, lake flats | Deep holes with large wood | Both species have smooth skin, eight whisker-like barbels and sharp spines in the dorsal and pectoral fins. Bullheads, far more common in Minnesota lakes, are small cousins with squared tails and a separate limit. Channel cats find food largely by smell and taste, which is why scent matters so much. Flatheads are solitary ambush predators. A good logjam might hold one large flathead, and when it is caught another may take months to move in. That makes big flatheads easy to overharvest. ## Where to fish ### Rivers - **Red River of the North.** The border river with North Dakota has a long reputation for large channel catfish, with access in Moorhead, at dams and at parks north toward the Canadian border. See [/lakes/clay-county](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/clay-county). - **Minnesota River.** From Granite Falls down through Mankato to its mouth in the Twin Cities, a muddy, snag-filled river that is the state's classic flathead water and full of channel cats. - **Mississippi River.** Channel catfish are present well north of the metro; flatheads show up from the Twin Cities downstream. The stretch below St. Anthony Falls through Pool 2 to Hastings and on down to Lake Pepin is productive and close to home for metro anglers. See [fishing near Minneapolis](https://www.minnelakes.org/guides/fishing-near-minneapolis). - **St. Croix River.** The lower river from Taylors Falls to Prescott holds both species and produced the listed state records for flathead. ### Lakes Channel catfish live in lakes connected to those rivers and in a scattering of lakes where the DNR stocks them, mainly in southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities. The Horseshoe Chain on the Sauk River in Stearns County is one well-known lake fishery. Check DNR LakeFinder surveys for a specific lake, and see [/fishing/stocked](https://www.minnelakes.org/fishing/stocked). In most of northern Minnesota's lake country, including the Brainerd Lakes and the Arrowhead, catfish are simply not part of the fishery. ## Season by season | Period | Channel catfish | Flathead catfish | | --- | --- | --- | | Late March to May | Feeding on winter-killed fish as water warms; cut bait in slack water and below dams is very effective | Season opens April 1; fish are sluggish until water warms into the 60s | | June | Pre-spawn feeding, then spawning in cavities; fishing gets spotty mid-spawn | Best pre-spawn bite, fish moving to feed at night | | July and August | Steady. Fish riffles and the heads of holes at dusk and after dark | Prime time. Night fishing near wood | | September and October | Fish bunch up and feed heavily; good daytime fishing | Feeding before winter, then moving to deep wintering holes | | November to ice-out | Slow. Some are caught through the ice in lakes and backwaters | Season closes after November 30 | ## Techniques and rigs ### The slip-sinker rig The standard rig for both species: a no-roll or egg sinker sliding on the main line, a bead, a barrel swivel, then a 12 to 24 inch leader to the hook. Use just enough weight to hold bottom, commonly 1 to 3 ounces in river current. A circle hook, 5/0 to 8/0 for big-fish baits, hooks fish in the corner of the mouth. Do not swing on the bite; let the rod load and start reeling. ### Channel catfish 1. Anchor or set up on shore upstream of a hole, an outside bend or a current seam and cast so the scent trail drifts down into it. 2. Bait with a fresh chunk of cut sucker or another legal bait fish. For smaller fish in lakes, a gob of nightcrawlers, chicken liver or a dip bait on a small treble or a ribbed worm works well. 3. Give a spot 20 to 30 minutes. Active channel cats find bait quickly. If nothing happens, move. ### Flathead catfish 1. Scout in daylight. Look for deep holes on outside bends with large logjams or root wads and slower current. 2. Set up at dusk upstream of the wood and place a lively bait such as a bullhead or sucker near the edge of the cover. Minnesota has specific rules about which fish can be used as live bait and where bait can be harvested and moved, so read the bait section of the regulations. 3. Be patient and quiet. One or two bites a night is normal. Use heavy gear and a locked-down drag to keep the fish out of the wood. ### Lines Statewide, open-water anglers get one line. The 2026 regulations allow two lines on the Minnesota River downstream of the Granite Falls Dam and on the Mississippi River downstream of St. Anthony Falls, and border waters with the Dakotas also allow two. ## Gear - **Channel cats:** A 7 to 8 foot medium-heavy rod, a baitcasting or large spinning reel, and 20 to 30 pound monofilament or 30 to 50 pound braid. - **Flatheads:** A heavy rod, a sturdy baitcaster with a bait clicker, and 50 to 80 pound braid with a heavy mono leader. - **Hooks:** Sharp, strong circle hooks sized to the bait. - **Extras:** Rod holders or bank sticks, a large net, long pliers, a headlamp with a red light, and a lip grip or gloves. - **A boat is optional.** Much of the best catfishing in the state is done from the bank at parks, bridges and dam tailwaters. See [shore fishing Minnesota lakes](https://www.minnelakes.org/guides/shore-fishing-minnesota-lakes). ## Minnesota catfish regulations for 2026 Verified against the 2026 [Minnesota DNR fishing regulations](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/regulations/fishing/index.html), effective March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027. | Water | Channel catfish | Flathead catfish | | --- | --- | --- | | Inland waters | Open all year; 5, only 1 over 24 inches | April 1 to November 30; 2, only 1 over 24 inches | | North Dakota border (Red River, Bois de Sioux) | Open all year; catfish limit 5, only 1 over 24 inches | Covered by the same catfish limit | | South Dakota border waters | Open all year; 5 combined with flathead, only 1 catfish over 24 inches | April 1 to November 30; no more than 2 of the 5 | | St. Croix, Taylors Falls Dam down to the Hwy 10 bridge | Open all year; 5, only 1 over 24 inches | April 1 to November 30; 2, only 1 over 24 inches | | Mississippi River border water and Lake Pepin | Open all year; 10 combined, only 1 catfish over 30 inches | April 1 to November 30; part of the combined 10 | Other rules worth knowing: - Catfish must be kept with head and tail intact while you are fishing or on the water. - Catfish may be speared from a dark house during the winter spearing season on most inland waters, but not on the North Dakota border waters. - Individual lakes and river reaches can carry special regulations. Limits and dates change. Confirm in the current booklet, and see [Minnesota fishing limits](https://www.minnelakes.org/guides/minnesota-fishing-limits) for how possession limits work. ## State records From the DNR [state record fish program](https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/staterecords.html): - **Channel catfish:** 38 pounds, Mississippi River, Hennepin County, February 1975. Listed as a non-certified weight record; the certified weight category is open. - **Flathead catfish:** 70 pounds, St. Croix River, Washington County, 1970. Also non-certified, with the certified category open. - **Flathead, catch and release:** 52.5 inches, St. Croix River, Washington County, August 2, 2017. The catch-and-release category for channel catfish is open. ## Handling and release - **Mind the spines.** On small catfish, the dorsal and pectoral spines are needle sharp. Grip from behind with your hand tucked behind the pectoral spines. - **Support big fish.** Hold a large catfish horizontally with one hand under the belly. Do not hang a heavy fish vertically by the jaw. - **Release the large ones.** A catfish over 24 inches has taken many years to grow in Minnesota's short season, and the one-over rule exists for that reason. Fish of 2 to 5 pounds are the best eating. - **Check consumption advice.** Large, long-lived river fish accumulate contaminants. The Minnesota Department of Health publishes fish consumption guidance by water and species; read it before making a habit of eating big river catfish. ## Bottom line - Go to the rivers. The Red for big channel cats, the Minnesota and lower St. Croix for flatheads, the metro Mississippi for convenience. - Fresh cut bait for channels, live bait by wood at night for flatheads, circle hooks for both. - Know which table applies: inland and each set of border waters have different catfish limits, and flatheads are closed from December through March. ## Top Minnesota Lakes for This Species | Lake | County | Acres | Lake Score | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [St. Louis River Estuary](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/st-louis-river-estuary) | St. Louis County | 10,255 | 82/100 | | [Lake St. Croix](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/washington-county/lake-st-croix) | Washington County | 8,393 | 83/100 | | [Lake Pepin](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/goodhue-county/lake-pepin) | Goodhue County | 12,299 | 76/100 | | [Cross Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pine-county/cross-lake) | Pine County | 925 | 54/100 | | [Pokegama Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/pine-county/pokegama-lake) | Pine County | 1,521 | 58/100 | | [Green Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/kandiyohi-county/green-lake) | Kandiyohi County | 5,569 | 75/100 | | [Island Lake Reservoir](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/st-louis-county/island-lake-reservoir) | St. Louis County | 8,001 | 58/100 | | [Big Stone Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/big-stone-county/big-stone-lake) | Big Stone County | 11,984 | 77/100 | | [Lake Traverse](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/traverse-county/lake-traverse) | Traverse County | 10,849 | 75/100 | | [Lac qui Parle](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/lac-qui-parle-county/lac-qui-parle) | Lac qui Parle County | 5,741 | 59/100 | | [Lake Byllesby](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/dakota-county/lake-byllesby) | Dakota County | 1,368 | 75/100 | | [Big Sandy Lake](https://www.minnelakes.org/lakes/aitkin-county/big-sandy-lake) | Aitkin County | 6,125 | 69/100 | ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the catfish limit in Minnesota? On inland waters in 2026 the possession limit is 5 channel catfish with only 1 over 24 inches, and 2 flathead catfish with only 1 over 24 inches. Border waters with the Dakotas, Iowa and Wisconsin have different limits, so check the border waters section of the DNR regulations. ### Is there a closed season for catfish in Minnesota? Channel catfish can be taken all year. Flathead catfish have a season that runs April 1 through November 30, which protects them while they are massed in wintering holes. Those dates are from the 2026 regulations. ### Where is the best catfishing in Minnesota? The Red River of the North is the best-known trophy channel catfish water, and the Minnesota River and lower St. Croix are the top flathead rivers. The Mississippi through and below the Twin Cities holds both species and is within a short drive of most of the state's population. ### What is the best bait for channel catfish? Fresh cut bait from legally used species such as sucker is the standard for larger channel cats. Nightcrawlers, chicken liver and commercial dip or punch baits catch plenty of eating-sized fish, especially in stocked lakes. ### How do you tell a flathead from a channel catfish? A channel catfish has a deeply forked tail and an upper jaw that extends past the lower. A flathead has a broad, flat head, a lower jaw that sticks out past the upper, a squared or slightly rounded tail and mottled yellow-brown coloring. ### What are the Minnesota state record catfish? The DNR lists a 38-pound channel catfish from the Mississippi River in Hennepin County in 1975 and a 70-pound flathead from the St. Croix River in 1970, both as non-certified weight records. The catch-and-release flathead record is 52.5 inches, from the St. Croix in 2017. --- *Source: [MinneLakes.org](https://www.minnelakes.org/fish/channel-catfish)*