When is flathead catfish season in Indiana?

Indiana keeps flathead 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 flathead catfish?

The Indiana daily bag limit for flathead catfish is No daily limit in rivers + streams (incl. the Ohio River); 10 / day combined catfish in lakes. Only 1 flathead catfish 35 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 flathead catfish can you keep in Indiana?

The Indiana size rule for flathead catfish is 13 in min in rivers + streams (incl. the Ohio River); no minimum in lakes. No more than 1 flathead catfish 35 in or longer per day.. Trophy rule: IN state-record flathead 79 lb 8 oz — White River, Lawrence County, 1966, Glen T. Simpson (one of the oldest standing records in the Indiana book). Indiana caps the daily harvest at 1 flathead 35 in or longer; the Ohio + Wabash + White rivers are the premier flathead waters..

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

Yes. Indiana requires a valid fishing license to fish for flathead 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 flathead catfish in Indiana?

Yes. In Indiana, flathead catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, limblines, and juglines permitted for catfish under IDNR labeling rules; Live + cut bait most effective — flatheads ambush from woody cover + deep river holes; Rivers + streams: no daily limit, 13 in min; lakes: 10 / day combined catfish, no min; Only 1 flathead catfish 35 in or longer per day (trophy cap, all waters); Indiana Fishing Licence required ages 18+ ($23 res / $60 NR annual).

Do specific Indiana waters have different flathead catfish rules?

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

2026 regulation year

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

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Last updated May 30, 2026

Flathead catfish are native to Indiana's larger rivers — the Ohio River boundary, the Wabash River, and the East + West Fork White River systems hold the state's flathead population, an ambush predator that holds around woody cover and deep holes and takes live bait. The IN state-record flathead weighed 79 lb 8 oz, caught from the White River in Lawrence County in 1966 by Glen T. Simpson — one of the oldest standing records in the Indiana book. 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 flathead 35 inches or longer may be kept per day. The 35-inch trophy cap matches Kentucky's Ohio River rule under joint Ohio River Fisheries Management Team coordination.

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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 flathead catfish 35 in or longer may be kept per day.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: No daily limit in rivers + streams (incl. the Ohio River); 10 / day combined catfish in lakes. Only 1 flathead catfish 35 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 flathead catfish 35 in or longer per day.
Trophy rule: IN state-record flathead 79 lb 8 oz — White River, Lawrence County, 1966, Glen T. Simpson (one of the oldest standing records in the Indiana book). Indiana caps the daily harvest at 1 flathead 35 in or longer; the Ohio + Wabash + White rivers are the premier flathead waters.

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trotlines, limblines, and juglines permitted for catfish under IDNR labeling rules
Live + cut bait most effective — flatheads ambush from woody cover + deep river holes
Rivers + streams: no daily limit, 13 in min; lakes: 10 / day combined catfish, no min
Only 1 flathead catfish 35 in or longer per day (trophy cap, all waters)
Indiana Fishing Licence required ages 18+ ($23 res / $60 NR annual)

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Indiana waters:

East Fork White River
13 in min, no daily limit, 1 flathead ≥ 35 in/day; IN state-record flathead 79 lb 8 oz (White River, 1966)
Ohio River main stem
13 in min, no daily limit, 1 flathead ≥ 35 in/day; IN/KY reciprocity
Wabash River main stem
13 in min, no daily limit, 1 flathead ≥ 35 in/day; IN/IL boundary water
Lake Monroe
10 / day combined catfish, no min, 1 flathead ≥ 35 in/day
Patoka Lake (Dubois / Crawford / Orange Counties)
10 / day combined catfish, no min, 1 flathead ≥ 35 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 flathead catfish rules on this page are sourced from Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) — Division of Fish & Wildlife's official flathead catfish regulation page.

Visit official Indiana fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Flathead 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 flathead catfish season in Indiana?: Indiana keeps flathead 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 flathead catfish?: The Indiana daily bag limit for flathead catfish is No daily limit in rivers + streams (incl. the Ohio River); 10 / day combined catfish in lakes. Only 1 flathead catfish 35 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 flathead catfish can you keep in Indiana?: The Indiana size rule for flathead catfish is 13 in min in rivers + streams (incl. the Ohio River); no minimum in lakes. No more than 1 flathead catfish 35 in or longer per day.. Trophy rule: IN state-record flathead 79 lb 8 oz — White River, Lawrence County, 1966, Glen T. Simpson (one of the oldest standing records in the Indiana book). Indiana caps the daily harvest at 1 flathead 35 in or longer; the Ohio + Wabash + White rivers are the premier flathead waters..
Do you need a license to fish for flathead catfish in Indiana?: Yes. Indiana requires a valid fishing license to fish for flathead 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 flathead catfish in Indiana?: Yes. In Indiana, flathead catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, limblines, and juglines permitted for catfish under IDNR labeling rules; Live + cut bait most effective — flatheads ambush from woody cover + deep river holes; Rivers + streams: no daily limit, 13 in min; lakes: 10 / day combined catfish, no min; Only 1 flathead catfish 35 in or longer per day (trophy cap, all waters); Indiana Fishing Licence required ages 18+ ($23 res / $60 NR annual).
Do specific Indiana waters have different flathead catfish rules?: Yes. 5 named Indiana waters carry rules that override the statewide flathead catfish regulation, including White River, Ohio River, Wabash River, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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