The Largest Channel Catfish Ever Caught in Michigan was a Whiskered Colossus

Michigan is a fantastic state for fishing. Anglers from all over the world travel to Michigan in hopes of catching large record-breaking fish. Here we have a massive record! Follow along to learn about the largest channel catfish ever caught in Michigan.

Interestingly, there are two records for the largest channel catfish ever caught in Michigan. The largest channel catfish ever caught in Michigan weighed 40 pounds in 1960. Four years later, in 1964, an angler caught another 40-pound channel catfish.

For nearly sixty years, no one has been able to beat either record. Fun fact, they were both caught in Houghton Lake in Roscommon County. Houghton Lake is a 20,044-acre shallow lake in Michigan. Its average depth is 7.5 feet, while its maximum depth is 22 feet. The lake has 30 miles of shoreline. Houghton Lake is in north-central Michigan, just off US 127 and near I-75.

About Channel Catfish

The channel catfish is the most common catfish species in the United States. These large fish are sometimes called channel cats. Four states list the channel catfish as the official fish, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Tennessee. Interestingly, channel catfish communicate using pheromones.

They produce and recognize pheromones, which can alert catfish of a species’ sex, age, and social status. They also make sound using their bodies. For instance, they rub against objects to make sounds and communicate. Aren’t these fish so interesting? Follow along to learn more about channel catfish.

Size and Appearance

Channel catfish have large grey-green, grey-blue, or brown bodies with white and silver bellies. Some channel catfish have black spots on their bodies. They vary in size depending on the region. An adult channel catfish can weigh as little as 1 pound or as much as 58 pounds.

While some channel catfish can reach about 40 to 50 pounds, any channel catfish 20 pounds or higher is impressive. Channel catfish above 50 pounds are rare. They also measure about 12 to 24 inches long, sometimes longer.

Distribution

So, where can you find channel catfish? Their native range is the Nearctic. They are especially common in parts of southeastern Canada and the eastern and northern United States.

Their native range also stretches to parts of Mexico. Channel catfish though have been introduced all over the world and are an invasive species, posing a threat to the environment as they consume smaller native fish.

Channel catfish aren’t picky. They live in different bodies of water including rivers, lakes, and ponds. In some lakes and ponds, they are stocked frequently. Channel catfish live in clear freshwater, saltwater, and brackish water.

Diet

Channel catfish are excellent hunters. Their diet consists of smaller fish, clams, crustaceans, small mammals, birds, insects, frogs, and snakes. Scientists have observed average-sized adult channel catfish consuming sunfish. While young channel catfish can eat small animals, much of their diet is plants.

Predators

Channel catfish are survivors. Against predators, they use loud sounds to surprise or scare them away. They don’t have many predators because of their large size and excellent hiding skills. In brackish water, they blend in well. Common predators include flathead catfish, humans, and American alligators. However, small and young channel catfish are vulnerable to small fish, birds, and snakes.

The Largest Channel Catfish Ever Caught in the World

Can you guess which state holds the world record for the largest channel catfish ever caught? This massive fish was caught in South Carolina. On July 7, 1964, an excellent angler caught a 58-pound channel catfish in the Santee-Cooper Reservoir (Lake Moultrie). It was a jaw-dropping 48 inches long with a girth of 29 inches. This means that in nearly 60 years, no one has beaten the record.

Other Fish in Michigan

Michigan is an angler’s paradise and dream. It’s home to over 11,000 lakes and ponds. At least 10,000 of those lakes cover at least 5 acres of land. Some of the best fishing spots in the state are Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Manistee River, and Burt Lake. Michigan offers great fishing opportunities. While on the water, you can catch trout, crappies, sunfish, bass, and catfish. Follow along to discover over fish you may find within Michigan. Maybe you’ll catch the next record!

Brook Trout

Starting our list is the brook trout. These small freshwater fish are native to Eastern North America, in the U.S. and Canada. This fish, though, has been introduced throughout the country and is a popular fish for anglers. Brook trout range in color, markings, and size depending on the body of water and region. Some live in the Appalachian Mountains, while others in the Great Lakes–Saint Lawrence system. Currently, a few subspecies and hybrids exist. For example, one hybrid is the tiger trout, which is a hybrid between a brook trout and a Eurasian brown trout.

Brook trout have a marbled coloration and are brown to dark green. They measure about 9.8 to 25.6 inches and can weigh as much as 15 pounds. However, most adult brook trout only reach between 0.66 to 6.61 pounds. The largest brook trout caught in Michigan weighed 9.5 pounds. It was caught in 1996 by ice fishing in Clear Lake using a minnow as bait.

Largemouth Bass

The next fish on our list is a popular game fish, the largemouth bass. This large bass has been widely introduced all over the world but is native to parts of eastern and central North America. Depending on the region, it goes by name names. You may hear someone call a largemouth bass a black bass, widemouth bass, green trout, southern largemouth, or bucket mouth.

Largemouth bass are olive-green and greyish fish with big mouths. They can measure up to 29.5 inches long and weigh 25 pounds. The largest largemouth bass caught in Michigan weighed 11.94. Technically, there are two records which tied. The fish were caught in both 1934 and 1959. However, the largemouth bass caught in 1934 was longer by an inch at 27 inches.

Northern Pike

Another fish you can find in Michigan is the northern pike. Northern pikes are long fish. They are members of the Esocidae family. These large fish live in many different environments but are native to the Northern Hemisphere. Michigan isn’t the only state with a healthy and large northern pike population. You can also find this long fish in Maine, Utah, Oklahoma, and Kansas.

Northern pike are dark olive green fish with yellow to white undersides. They are big fish with a large range in size depending on the region. Typically, northern pike in Europe are larger than those in North America. The largest northern pike caught in Michigan was caught using a spear and weighed 39 pounds. It was a whopping 51.5 inches long! This impressive catch was in 1961 in Dodge Lake.

Chinook Salmon

The last fish on our list is the chinook salmon. They are large Pacific salmon found in rivers from California to Alaska. They are also found in Asian rivers throughout Japan to Siberia. Chinook salmon has many names. They are also called chrome hogs, king salmons, and black mouths. 

Chinook salmon are about 24 to 36 inches long, sometimes larger, although uncommon. They can also weigh as much as 130 pounds, but 10 to 50 pounds is more likely. The largest Chinook salmon caught in Michigan weighed 47.86 pounds. Although nowhere near as large as 130 pounds, it’s still an impressive catch! An angler caught this large fish by trolling in Lake Michigan.