Channel Catfish for Pond and Lake Stocking.  Lake Master Pros | (ictalurus punctatus)
 

Channel Catfish, a species native to North America, are known for their unique characteristics. The Channel Catfish have elongated bodies and soft, scale-less skin. Their color is typically dark with a light abdomen.

One of the most fascinating features of Channel Catfish is their barbels or whisker-like appendages. These barbels are equipped with thousands of taste buds and sensory pores that help the Channel Catfish detect prey and “taste” the water around them.

Channel Catfish have an extraordinary sense of taste. They have taste buds not only on their barbels but across their entire bodies. This allows the Channel Catfish to taste their surroundings, helping them find food in dark and muddy waters.

Channel Catfish use their taste buds for more than just finding food. They also use them to taste each other. Channel Catfish release pheromones to communicate with one another. When a Channel Catfish detects another’s pheromones, it can determine the other’s age, sex, receptiveness to breeding, and social hierarchy.

Channel Catfish are versatile in terms of habitat. They can survive in freshwater, saltwater, and brackish water. However, Channel Catfish usually prefer freshwater habitats like lakes, ponds, streams, creeks, and reservoirs. They are particularly fond of deeper habitats and water bodies with currents.

Channel Catfish are not only popular among anglers but also play a significant role in aquaculture in the United States. With around 8 million anglers targeting them per year, Channel Catfish are the most fished catfish species in the United States.

​