When is channel catfish season in Indiana?

Indiana 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 Indiana?

The Indiana size rule for channel catfish is 13 in min in rivers + streams (incl. the Ohio River); no minimum in lakes. No more than 1 channel catfish 28 in or longer per day.. Trophy rule: IN state-record channel catfish 37 lb 8 oz — Vanderburgh County lake, 1980, Randy E. Jones. Indiana caps the daily harvest at 1 channel catfish 28 in or longer; the species is stocked statewide into community + urban ponds, the most accessible catfish for new anglers..

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

Yes. Indiana 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 Indiana license — compare resident and non-resident Indiana fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for channel catfish in Indiana?

Yes. In Indiana, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, limblines, and juglines permitted for catfish under IDNR labeling rules; Rivers + streams: no daily limit, 13 in min; lakes: 10 / day combined catfish, no min; Only 1 channel catfish 28 in or longer per day (trophy cap, all waters); Indiana Fishing Licence required ages 18+ ($23 res / $60 NR annual); Turtle Creek Reservoir: no bag limit on channel catfish.

Do specific Indiana waters have different channel catfish rules?

Yes. 5 named Indiana waters carry rules that override the statewide channel catfish regulation, including Turtle Creek Reservoir, Ohio River, Wabash River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

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

Ictalurus punctatus

Last updated May 30, 2026

Channel catfish are Indiana's most widespread catfish — found statewide in the USACE reservoir tier (Lake Monroe, Patoka, Brookville, Salamonie, Mississinewa), the Indianapolis metro reservoirs (Geist, Eagle Creek), the northern glacial natural lakes, and every major river (Ohio, Wabash, East + West Fork White, Tippecanoe). IDNR stocks channel catfish heavily into community and urban-pond programs, making it the most accessible catfish for new anglers. The IN state-record channel catfish weighed 37 lb 8 oz, caught from a Vanderburgh County lake in 1980 by Randy E. Jones. Under Indiana's catfish rules, rivers and streams (including the Ohio River) carry no daily limit but a 13-inch minimum, while lakes carry a 10-fish combined catfish daily limit with no minimum; in all waters only one channel catfish 28 inches or longer may be kept per day. Turtle Creek Reservoir is a special-regulation water with no bag limit on channel catfish.

Compare channel catfish regulations across all states →

Get change alerts

Watch Indiana Channel catfish and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide. Rivers + streams (incl. the Ohio River): no daily limit, 13-inch minimum size. Lakes: 10 catfish per day combined (channel + blue + flathead), no minimum size. Only 1 channel catfish 28 in or longer may be kept per day. No bag limit on channel catfish at Turtle Creek Reservoir.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: No daily limit in rivers + streams (incl. the Ohio River); 10 / day combined catfish in lakes; no bag limit at Turtle Creek Reservoir. Only 1 channel catfish 28 in or longer may be kept per day.
Possession: Twice the daily limit in lakes; no possession limit on under-size river fish

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 13 in min in rivers + streams (incl. the Ohio River); no minimum in lakes. No more than 1 channel catfish 28 in or longer per day.
Trophy rule: IN state-record channel catfish 37 lb 8 oz — Vanderburgh County lake, 1980, Randy E. Jones. Indiana caps the daily harvest at 1 channel catfish 28 in or longer; the species is stocked statewide into community + urban ponds, the most accessible catfish for new anglers.

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trotlines, limblines, and juglines permitted for catfish under IDNR labeling rules
Rivers + streams: no daily limit, 13 in min; lakes: 10 / day combined catfish, no min
Only 1 channel catfish 28 in or longer per day (trophy cap, all waters)
Indiana Fishing Licence required ages 18+ ($23 res / $60 NR annual)
Turtle Creek Reservoir: no bag limit on channel catfish

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Indiana waters:

Turtle Creek Reservoir
No bag limit on channel catfish (special-regulation water)
Ohio River main stem
13 in min, no daily limit, 1 channel ≥ 28 in/day; IN/KY reciprocity
Wabash River main stem
13 in min, no daily limit, 1 channel ≥ 28 in/day; IN/IL boundary water
Lake Monroe
10 / day combined catfish, no min, 1 channel ≥ 28 in/day
Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties)
10 / day combined catfish, no min, 1 channel ≥ 28 in/day

Official source

Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — Division of Fish & Wildlife publishes the authoritative 2026 Indianafishing 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 Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — Division of Fish & Wildlife's official channel catfish regulation page.

Visit official Indiana fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Channel catfish closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Indiana Department of Natural Resources's emergency-order feed — check it before any Indiana trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is channel catfish season in Indiana?: Indiana 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 Indiana bag limit for channel catfish?: The Indiana daily bag limit for channel catfish is No daily limit in rivers + streams (incl. the Ohio River); 10 / day combined catfish in lakes; no bag limit at Turtle Creek Reservoir. Only 1 channel catfish 28 in or longer may be kept per day.. The possession limit is Twice the daily limit in lakes; no possession limit on under-size river fish. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size channel catfish can you keep in Indiana?: The Indiana size rule for channel catfish is 13 in min in rivers + streams (incl. the Ohio River); no minimum in lakes. No more than 1 channel catfish 28 in or longer per day.. Trophy rule: IN state-record channel catfish 37 lb 8 oz — Vanderburgh County lake, 1980, Randy E. Jones. Indiana caps the daily harvest at 1 channel catfish 28 in or longer; the species is stocked statewide into community + urban ponds, the most accessible catfish for new anglers..
Do you need a license to fish for channel catfish in Indiana?: Yes. Indiana 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 Indiana license — compare resident and non-resident Indiana fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for channel catfish in Indiana?: Yes. In Indiana, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, limblines, and juglines permitted for catfish under IDNR labeling rules; Rivers + streams: no daily limit, 13 in min; lakes: 10 / day combined catfish, no min; Only 1 channel catfish 28 in or longer per day (trophy cap, all waters); Indiana Fishing Licence required ages 18+ ($23 res / $60 NR annual); Turtle Creek Reservoir: no bag limit on channel catfish.
Do specific Indiana waters have different channel catfish rules?: Yes. 5 named Indiana waters carry rules that override the statewide channel catfish regulation, including Turtle Creek Reservoir, Ohio River, Wabash River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

← Back to Indiana regulations overview