When is channel catfish season in Tennessee?

Tennessee 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 Tennessee bag limit for channel catfish?

The Tennessee daily bag limit for channel catfish is No creel limit on catfish under 34 inches; only 1 catfish over 34 inches per day (one rule covering blue + channel + flathead combined). Mississippi River: same rule.. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size channel catfish can you keep in Tennessee?

The Tennessee size rule for channel catfish is No length limit on catfish under 34 inches; only 1 catfish per day may exceed 34 inches..

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

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

Are there gear restrictions for channel catfish in Tennessee?

Yes. In Tennessee, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, juglines, and limblines permitted with TWRA labeling rules; The catfish limit covers blue, channel, and flathead combined — only 1 fish over 34 in per day; TWRA stocks channel catfish into community / family fishing lakes statewide; Tennessee fishing licence required ages 13+ (resident annual $34 / non-resident all-species $99 or fish-only $50).

Do specific Tennessee waters have different channel catfish rules?

Yes. 5 named Tennessee waters carry rules that override the statewide channel catfish regulation, including Reelfoot Lake, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

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

Ictalurus punctatus

Last updated May 30, 2026

Channel catfish are Tennessee's most abundant and most widely distributed catfish — TWRA stocks them into community fishing lakes for family anglers, and they fill every reservoir, river, and farm pond in the state. Tennessee's statewide catfish rule is among the most generous in the country for keeping eating-size channel cats: there is no creel limit on catfish under 34 inches, with only one fish over 34 inches allowed per day, counted across blue, channel, and flathead combined. Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Reelfoot Lake, Cherokee, and the Tennessee + Cumberland River systems all hold dense channel catfish populations fished year-round on cut bait, nightcrawlers, and prepared baits.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide. No creel limit on catfish less than 34 inches; only 1 catfish over 34 inches may be harvested per day (the limit covers blue, channel, and flathead combined).

Bag & possession

Daily bag: No creel limit on catfish under 34 inches; only 1 catfish over 34 inches per day (one rule covering blue + channel + flathead combined). Mississippi River: same rule.

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No length limit on catfish under 34 inches; only 1 catfish per day may exceed 34 inches.

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trotlines, juglines, and limblines permitted with TWRA labeling rules
The catfish limit covers blue, channel, and flathead combined — only 1 fish over 34 in per day
TWRA stocks channel catfish into community / family fishing lakes statewide
Tennessee fishing licence required ages 13+ (resident annual $34 / non-resident all-species $99 or fish-only $50)

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Tennessee waters:

Reelfoot Lake
No creel limit, only 1 catfish over 34 in per day; earthquake lake catfish + crappie mecca
Kentucky Lake (Tennessee River impoundment)
No creel limit, only 1 over 34 in per day; KY reciprocity
Lake Barkley (Cumberland River impoundment)
No creel limit, only 1 over 34 in per day; reciprocal with KY
Cherokee Lake (Holston River)
No creel limit, only 1 over 34 in per day; East TN reservoir channel + blue catfish
Mississippi River (TN western boundary)
No creel limit, only 1 catfish over 34 in per day

Official source

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency publishes the authoritative 2026 Tennesseefishing 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 Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's official channel catfish regulation page.

Visit official Tennessee fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

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

Frequently asked questions

When is channel catfish season in Tennessee?: Tennessee 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 Tennessee bag limit for channel catfish?: The Tennessee daily bag limit for channel catfish is No creel limit on catfish under 34 inches; only 1 catfish over 34 inches per day (one rule covering blue + channel + flathead combined). Mississippi River: same rule.. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size channel catfish can you keep in Tennessee?: The Tennessee size rule for channel catfish is No length limit on catfish under 34 inches; only 1 catfish per day may exceed 34 inches..
Do you need a license to fish for channel catfish in Tennessee?: Yes. Tennessee 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 Tennessee license — compare resident and non-resident Tennessee fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for channel catfish in Tennessee?: Yes. In Tennessee, channel catfish fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trotlines, juglines, and limblines permitted with TWRA labeling rules; The catfish limit covers blue, channel, and flathead combined — only 1 fish over 34 in per day; TWRA stocks channel catfish into community / family fishing lakes statewide; Tennessee fishing licence required ages 13+ (resident annual $34 / non-resident all-species $99 or fish-only $50).
Do specific Tennessee waters have different channel catfish rules?: Yes. 5 named Tennessee waters carry rules that override the statewide channel catfish regulation, including Reelfoot Lake, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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