When is channel catfish season in Arkansas?

Arkansas keeps channel catfish open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What size channel catfish can you keep in Arkansas?

The Arkansas size rule for channel catfish is No statewide minimum size. Trophy rule: AR state-record channel catfish 38 lb — Lake Ouachita, June 3 1989, Joe Holleman. AGFC stocks channel catfish heavily into community + family ponds statewide, making it the most accessible catfish for new anglers..

Do you need a license to fish for channel catfish in Arkansas?

Yes. Arkansas requires a valid fishing license to fish for channel catfish, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Arkansas license — compare resident and non-resident Arkansas fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for channel catfish in Arkansas?

Yes. In Arkansas, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, limblines, juglines and yo-yos permitted for catfish under AGFC labeling rules; Combined catfish daily limit (channel + blue + flathead) = 10 / day statewide; no statewide minimum size; No daily limit on bullhead catfish; AGFC Fisheries Conservation Licence required ages 16+ ($11 res / $50 NR annual); Confirm current-year AGFC Fishing Regulations for the no-limit channel-catfish water list.

Do specific Arkansas waters have different channel catfish rules?

Yes. 6 named Arkansas waters carry rules that override the statewide channel catfish regulation, including Lake Erling, Marion McCollum Greenlee, Lake Chicot, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Arkansas Channel catfish 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Ictalurus punctatus

Last updated June 8, 2026

Channel catfish are Arkansas's most widespread catfish — found statewide in creeks, rivers, reservoirs and ponds, and stocked extensively by AGFC into community and family-and-friends ponds. The AR state-record channel catfish weighed 38 lb, caught from Lake Ouachita on June 3, 1989 by Joe Holleman. Channel catfish fall under the same combined statewide catfish daily limit of 10 fish (channel + blue + flathead together) with no statewide minimum size, but many waters have no channel-catfish limit at all: Lake Erling, Marion McCollum Greenlee (Monroe County) and Lake Chicot all drop the channel limit entirely, Grand Lake and the Mississippi River have no limit on any catfish, the Little River + Red River + Sulphur River have no limit on blue or channel catfish, and the Arkansas River allows 10 channel catfish in addition to the combined limit. Possession is triple the daily limit; there is no daily limit on bullhead catfish.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide. Daily limit: 10 catfish per day combined across channel, blue and flathead, with no statewide minimum size. No limit on channel catfish at Lake Erling, Marion McCollum Greenlee, Lake Chicot, Grand Lake + the Mississippi River; 10 additional channel catfish allowed on the Arkansas River.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 10 / day combined across channel + blue + flathead catfish statewide; no limit on channel catfish at Lake Erling, Marion McCollum Greenlee, Lake Chicot, Grand Lake + the Mississippi River; 10 additional channel catfish allowed on the Arkansas River
Possession: Triple the daily limit in possession

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum size
Trophy rule: AR state-record channel catfish 38 lb — Lake Ouachita, June 3 1989, Joe Holleman. AGFC stocks channel catfish heavily into community + family ponds statewide, making it the most accessible catfish for new anglers.

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trotlines, limblines, juglines and yo-yos permitted for catfish under AGFC labeling rules
Combined catfish daily limit (channel + blue + flathead) = 10 / day statewide; no statewide minimum size
No daily limit on bullhead catfish
AGFC Fisheries Conservation Licence required ages 16+ ($11 res / $50 NR annual)
Confirm current-year AGFC Fishing Regulations for the no-limit channel-catfish water list

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Arkansas waters:

Lake Erling
No limit on channel catfish (plus 10 blue catfish above the combined limit)
Marion McCollum Greenlee
No limit on channel catfish; largemouth bass must be released immediately
Lake Chicot
No limit on channel catfish; Arkansas's largest natural oxbow lake
Arkansas River
10 channel catfish in addition to the combined catfish daily limit
Mississippi River main stem
No limit on catfish
Lake Ouachita
10 / day combined catfish; AR state-record channel catfish 38 lb (1989)

Official source

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) publishes the authoritative 2026 Arkansasfishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

The channel catfish rules on this page are sourced from Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)'s official channel catfish regulation page.

Visit official Arkansas fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Channel catfish closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's emergency-order feed — check it before any Arkansas trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is channel catfish season in Arkansas?: Arkansas keeps channel catfish open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Arkansas bag limit for channel catfish?: The Arkansas daily bag limit for channel catfish is 10 / day combined across channel + blue + flathead catfish statewide; no limit on channel catfish at Lake Erling, Marion McCollum Greenlee, Lake Chicot, Grand Lake + the Mississippi River; 10 additional channel catfish allowed on the Arkansas River. The possession limit is Triple the daily limit in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size channel catfish can you keep in Arkansas?: The Arkansas size rule for channel catfish is No statewide minimum size. Trophy rule: AR state-record channel catfish 38 lb — Lake Ouachita, June 3 1989, Joe Holleman. AGFC stocks channel catfish heavily into community + family ponds statewide, making it the most accessible catfish for new anglers..
Do you need a license to fish for channel catfish in Arkansas?: Yes. Arkansas requires a valid fishing license to fish for channel catfish, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Arkansas license — compare resident and non-resident Arkansas fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for channel catfish in Arkansas?: Yes. In Arkansas, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, limblines, juglines and yo-yos permitted for catfish under AGFC labeling rules; Combined catfish daily limit (channel + blue + flathead) = 10 / day statewide; no statewide minimum size; No daily limit on bullhead catfish; AGFC Fisheries Conservation Licence required ages 16+ ($11 res / $50 NR annual); Confirm current-year AGFC Fishing Regulations for the no-limit channel-catfish water list.
Do specific Arkansas waters have different channel catfish rules?: Yes. 6 named Arkansas waters carry rules that override the statewide channel catfish regulation, including Lake Erling, Marion McCollum Greenlee, Lake Chicot, and 3 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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