The Largest Channel Catfish Ever Caught in Arkansas

In a world of records, there are always these competitions carried out to be the best one. When it comes to the world of fishing, there is always a friendly competition to see who can catch the biggest fish. The stories of fishermen claiming they caught fish the size of their entire bodies exist to this day. When it comes to channel catfish, the average size is only about 2-4 pounds, but some out there weigh much more. Let’s take a look at the largest channel catfish ever caught in Arkansas.

About Channel Catfish

Channel catfish are the most abundant species of fish in the United States. They are a blue-gray color with a black back and white stomach. They can live up to 15 years. In terms of size, they average 12 inches and 2-4 pounds, but of course, as we have learned, there are exceptions and outliers. These fish live in North America’s lakes, rivers, and reservoirs.

Largest Channel Catfish Ever Caught

Drumroll, please! On June 3, 1989, the largest channel catfish ever caught was a whopping 38 pounds. Joe Holleman was the winner when he was all smiles at catching the state’s record. It was a record broken after the biggest one to date had been caught for years prior in 1985.

Holleman went fishing in the upper section of the lake near Muddy Creek. The bait he and his family used was chicken liver and he wasn’t the only successful fisherperson on the boat. A total of 11 catfish were caught, although most of them were only about 3 pounds. Holleman caught the fish at around 3:00 A.M.

Where Was It Caught?

The largest channel catfish was caught in Lake Ouachita. Located in the center of the state, Lake Ouachita, which is in Lake Ouachita State Park, is actually a reservoir that was created when the Ouachita River was dammed. It is near Hot Springs, AR and it is the largest lake located entirely in the state of Arkansas. The lake has a surface area of 40,000 acres. It also has 690 miles of shoreline and there are 200 islands within the lake. It is also heaven for fishermen looking to catch some delectable fish — largemouth bass, bream, spotted bass, walleye, and catfish all roam around the lake.

Conclusion

And there you have it, the largest channel catfish ever caught in Arkansas was a jaw-dropping 38 pounds. That’s enough to feed a family of six and then have leftovers for days. If you get the chance to visit Lake Ouachita hoping to catch a big one, make sure you also enjoy some water activities besides fishing, like scuba diving or kayaking.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Brookieland/Shutterstock.com