The Largest Channel Catfish Ever Caught in Washington was a Whiskered Behemoth

Washington has wonderful fishing spots. Here you can find large fish, like catfish. Some of the best places to catch catfish in the state include the Columbia River, Snake River, Silver Lake, and Lake Wallula. Are you ready to discover the largest channel catfish ever caught in Washington? Follow along to discover more about this fish species, including the world record!

What is the Largest Channel Catfish Ever Caught in Washington?

The largest channel catfish ever caught in Washington weighed 37.70 pounds. Cole Abshere caught this impressive fish on August 20, 2019, in Lake Terrell in Whatcom County. Abshere’s record is also the largest catfish ever caught in the state. The second largest catfish in Washington State is a 22.8-pound flathead catfish. C. L. McCary reeled in this large catfish on June 28, 1981, in Snake River.

About Channel Catfish

Channel catfish are common in Washington State. This catfish species is the only one with a forked tail in the state. Channel catfish are so popular that the state of Washington stocks lakes. However, wild channel catfish are most common in the lower Yakima Rivers. You have a good chance of catching a trophy channel catfish in the Yakima and Snake Rivers. Before you go out and fish, it’s important to note that licenses are required for anglers above the age of 15. The best time to fish for channel catfish is during spring and summer. Channel catfish populations in Washington State peak in June and July.

Appearance and Size

Channel catfish are large North American fish, common throughout the eastern and central United States. These large fish have blue-grey and blue-green backs. Their bellies are white or creme. Channel catfish are known for their large mouths and whisker-like barbels. They have four long pairs of barbels that frame their face.

So, how big do channel catfish usually grow? Channel catfish range in weight and size depending on the region. They weigh between 2 and 58 pounds. Anglers rejoice when reeling in channel catfish weighing between 10 and 20 pounds. However, most channel catfish only reach about 2 to 4 pounds. These long fish can also easily surpass 2 feet long.

Distribution and Habitat

It’s easier to list places you won’t find a channel catfish than the places they live. Channel catfish are native to the Nearctic. They are very common in the eastern United States but are also found in central states. Channel catfish have been introduced to many countries, where they compete for resources with native species. Channel catfish are invasive species in some Asian and European countries. You can find these large forked-tail catfish in Romania and the Czech Republic.

Channel catfish aren’t picky. They live in murky lakes, rivers, and ponds. Channel catfish spend most of their time on muddy bottoms. They live in reserves with natural protection including trees and crevices.

Diet

These large catfish aren’t picky eaters. They mainly eat small fishes, insects, and aquatic vegetation. The diet of young and adult channel catfish varies a lot. For example, adults over 17 inches long, hunt for sunfish. They also eat snakes, birds, and seeds. Juvenile channel cats have a more vegetative diet.

Predators

There aren’t many natural predators that would dare go after channel catfish. These large fish are rarely attacked by other fish. They are too big and use defensive behaviors to get away from possible attackers. To scare away predators, a channel catfish will flick their tails and move their bodies quickly, making sound and movement.

Largest Channel Catfish Ever Caught in the World

Although Washington’s state record channel catfish weighed 37.70 pounds, this is nearly 20 pounds lighter than the world record. Using a bucktail jig, W.H. Whaley caught a massive 58-pound channel catfish in 1964 in Lake Moultrie, South Carolina. This lake is one of the best fishing lakes in the state. W.H. Whaley’s world record channel catfish also measured 47.25 inches long with a girth of about 30 inches. 

This world record channel catfish has nothing on the world record blue catfish. The largest blue catfish ever caught in the world is easily three times the size of the world record channel catfish. This stunning catfish weighed 143 pounds. Richard “Nick” Anderson caught this beast in Buggs Island Lake, Virginia in 2011. The year before, another amazing angler caught a 130-pound blue catfish. Greg Bernal caught this titan in the Missouri River.