The Channel Catfish is one of America’s most popular gamefish. Channel catfish swim in ponds, rivers, lakes, and creeks making them accessible to anglers across the country.
Channel catfish are known for their strong sense of smell, spunky attitude, and delicious flavor.
Here are the largest channel catfish ever recorded from every state in America:
| State | Weight | Angler | Lake | Year |
| Alabama | 40 lbs | Donald R. Cox, Oneonta | Inland Lake | 1967 |
| Alaska | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Arizona | 33 lb. 5 oz | Carson Pete | Upper Lake Mary | 2017 |
| Arkansas | 38 lbs., 0 oz. | Joe Holleman | Lake Ouachita | 1989 |
| California | 53 lbs 8 oz | Randall Gilgert Jr. | San Joaquin River | 2008 |
| Colorado | 43 lbs 5 oz | Jessica Walton | Aurora Resrvoir | 2010 |
| Connecticut | 23 lbs 6 oz | Appleton Barrows | Mashapaug Lake | 2004 |
| Delaware | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Florida | 44 lbs 8 oz | Joe Purvis | Unknown | 1985 |
| Georgia | 44 lb 12 oz | Bobby Smithwick | Altamaha River | 1972 |
| Hawaii | 43 lbs 13 oz | Dayton Miyamura | Lake Wilson, O’ahu | 1974 |
| Idaho | 31lbs | James Stackhouse | Riverside Pond | 2018 |
| Illinois | 45 lbs 4 oz | Todd Baumeyer | Baldwin Lake | 1987 |
| Indiana | 37 lbs 8 oz | Randy Jones | Lake, Vanderburgh County | 1980 |
| Iowa | 38 lbs 2 oz | Dustin Jones | Missouri River | 2005 |
| Kansas | 36 lbs 8 oz | Rick Barnow | Mined Land Wildlife Area | 2003 |
| Kentucky | 32 lbs | Kyle Estep | Ohio River | 2004 |
| Louisiana | 55 lbs | Craig Durbin | Red River | 2008 |
| Maine | 37 lbs 10 oz | Cole Abshere | Lake Terrell | 2019 |
| Maryland | 29 lbs 10 oz | Kevin Kern | Upper Potomac River | 1997 |
| Massachusetts | 26 lb 8oz | N/A | Ashfield Lake | 1989 |
| Michigan | 40 lbs | N/A | Houghton Lake | 1964 |
| Minnesota | 38 LBS | N/A | Mississippi River | 1975 |
| Mississippi | 51 lbs 12 oz | Tom Edwards | Lake Tom Bailey | 1997 |
| Missouri | 34 lbs 10 oz | Gerald Siebenmorgen | Lake Jacomo | 1976 |
| Montana | 34 lbs 8 oz | Dan Davenport | Fort Peck Reservoir | 2009 |
| Nebraska | 41 lbs 8 oz | John Cunning | Merritt Reservoir | 1985 |
| Nevada | 21 lbs 8 oz | Dennis Clark | Virginia Lake | 2013 |
| New Hampshire | 12 lbs 5 oz | Dave Kellam | Connecticut River | 2014 |
| New Jersey | 33 lbs 3 oz | Howard Hudson | Lake Hopatcong | 1978 |
| New Mexico | 36 lbs 8 oz | Julie Kulhan | Stubblefield Lake | 1999 |
| New York | 32 lb 12 oz | Julie Kulhan | N/A | |
| North Carolina | 23 lbs 4 oz | E.J. Bowden | City Lake | 1970 |
| North Dakota | 42 lbs 1 oz | Tina Willis | Moon Lake | 2009 |
| Ohio | 37 lbs 8 oz | Gus J. Gronowski | LaDue Reservoir | 1992 |
| Oklahoma | 35 lbs 15 oz | Gary Doak Jr. | Taft Lake | 2005 |
| Oregon | 37 lbs 8 oz | Boone Haddock | McKay Reservoir | 1980 |
| Pennsylvania | 35 lbs 3 oz | Austin E. Roth | Lehigh Canal | 1991 |
| Rhode Island | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| South Carolina | 58 lbs | W.H. Whaley | Lake Moultrie | 1964 |
| South Dakota | 30 lbs 1 oz | Drew Matthews | Farm Pond | 2019 |
| Tennessee | 41 lbs | Clint Walters, Jr. | Fall Creek Falls Lake | 1982 |
| Texas | 36 lbs 8 oz | Mrs. Joe Cockrell | Pedernales River | 1965 |
| Utah | 32 lbs. 8 oz. | LeRoy Mortensen | Utah Lake | 1978 |
| Vermont | 35 pounds, 15 ounces | Robert Scott | Lake St. Catherine | 2012 |
| Virginia | 32 lbs | Hugh Wyatt | Lake Chesdin | 1980 |
| Washington | 37 lbs 11 oz | Cole Abshere | Lake Terrell | 2019 |
| West Virginia | 33 lbs 7 oz | Michael Sears | Patterson Creek | 2005 |
| Wisconsin | 44 lbs | N/A | Wisconsin River | 1962 |
| Wyoming | 28 lbs 8 oz | Christian Cosby. | Flaming Gorge Reservoir | 2019 |